To conduct research on the knowledge, experience, and attitudes of young people, youth workers, youth affairs specialists, policymakers, and municipalities in the field of youth civic participation, focus groups were organized in Latvia, Czech Republic, and Slovenia in Spring 2024. About 60 participants took part in the focus groups, seeking answers to the following questions:
- How would you describe the opportunities for young people to participate at the national and municipal levels?
- Name specific participation mechanisms at the national and municipal levels that you consider effective and actively used. Why are these mechanisms successful?
- Mention youth participation mechanisms that you personally find ineffective and unsuccessful. Why?
- What skills, knowledge, competencies, and character traits must a young person possess to effectively use existing participation mechanisms? How can these skills be developed? Which skills and knowledge are most underdeveloped among young people?
- Does the society and environment in Latvia/Czech Republic/Slovenia promote youth awareness of participation opportunities and strengthen civic participation skills? If possible, provide specific examples.
- How would you describe the youth participation mechanisms available to young people from the age of 16: participatory budgeting, collective petition, municipal referendum, residents’ councils?
- How should municipalities be strengthened to successfully promote youth participation mechanisms? What support is needed and who could provide it?
- How would you describe the role of the institution or organization you represent in implementing, popularizing, and strengthening the previously mentioned participation mechanisms?
Representatives from the municipalities of Riga, Dobele, Jelgava, Krāslava, and Dienvidkurzme took part in the focus groups in Latvia. The results of the focus groups were presented at the design thinking workshop in Pilsen (Czech Republic) on April 16, 2024, and are being used in the research and idea generation for the simulation game Civic Participation Trainer.