SALTO-Youth Participation - EuroMed Youth Programme IV

good practice 1.3
A big
step for
youth
participation
shadow elections
5th – 8th October 2009 was the first time that
wide range shadow elections were held in Estonia.
“Youth Shadow Elections in Tallinn and Tartu
before the Election of Local Governments” was a
citizen education project organized by the Estonian
National Youth Council and granted by the Youth
in Action programme under the youth democracy
project sub-action.
Needs and aims
Why do we tend to think that some
things have to be clear without any
learning or practice It is not like that
with reading or riding a bike, but it
seems to be like that when making a
choice about elections. There is actually
no possibility of practising before
the time comes to make that significant
choice. Obviously then it is
necessary that the choice made is the
choice that is truly right in the eyes
of the one that makes it – conscious
and knowledge based. But how does
a young person know how to make
that kind of choice if he/she has never
had a chance to learn or practise
The Estonian Youth Council understood
the need to give young people the
possibility of trying this decision making
process, the feeling of taking action,
making a choice, participating, getting
the sense that what a person does, makes
a difference. Therefore, the shadow
elections project was created and carried
out. The aim of the project was to
support and enhance young people’s
participation in society and to increase
youth interest in daily social matters
around them, to help them to notice and
take action, not to remain in a stand-by
position on issues concerning their own
lives. From another point of view – it
was important to show that young people
have their opinion and they want to
show it. All this was achieved through
a non formal learning experience.
Partnership and activities
The project initiators got the idea
for the activities that would help to
reach their goal from the article that
described successful shadow elections
in Finland. What could be more suitable
than learning a new method to
increase youth participation from those
who already practise it Mutual benefit
would increase by sharing the results
and analyzing differences and similarities.
A partnership with Finnish youth
organisations Allianssi and Helsinki City
Government was born, and to make
a real impact - Tallinn and Tartu City
Governments and Tartu Youth Council
were also included as equal partners.
The main activity of the project was
shadow elections that gave young people
(from age 14) in the two biggest cities in
Estonia (Tallinn and Tartu) the possibility
to vote for local election candidates
and to learn how to make a conscious
choice based on their own preference
and point of view. This was a real experience
that included choosing between
real candidates, and even if it all was
just a game to learn – the young people’s
opinions were broadcast and published
in the media. As we know, a salad does
not taste perfect without oil and salt,
and the shadow elections also needed
supportive activities and debates, simulation
games and information days to
accompany them, plus specific leaflets
and a webpage. The aim of these activities
was to encourage and support young
people in their decision making, so that
they would really have a chance to understand
the importance of taking action
and finding the candidate whose point of
view they supported. All this to enhance
youth participation and to help them
make conscious decisions in the future.
Difficulties and value
• One local government overreacted
and did not allow project
activities into its schools.
• Some politicians were not ready
for such a youth initiative.
• The project team confirmed that this
project was like a valuable training
course that can never be bought in.
• More then 1700 youngsters got
the possibility to practise a real
decision making process.
• The project was awarded by the
Network of Estonian Non-profit
Organizations and the municipalities
of Tallinn and Tartu.
• The President of the Republic of
Estonia highlighted that it is important
that young people participate in
projects such as shadow elections.
• The project increased awareness of
youth participation and the youth
democracy projects sub-action.
the sense thAt
what a person
does, makes a
difference
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Therefore let’s keep in mind and make
our own efforts in light of the words
of Henry David Thoreau : “How could
youth better learn to live than by at
once trying the experiment of living ”
Nele Mets
YiA Programme Estonian National Agency
Coordinator of Actions 1.2, 1.3 and 5.1
Contact
nele.mets@archimedes.ee
Estonia
05.10.2009 — 08.10.2009
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