Resolution 237/1992

of The Permanent Conference of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe adopted

The Chart of Young People Participation to Local and municipal Life:

ANACEJ (National Association

MASTER FORUM
of Youth and Children Councils) Association

European Union, PHARE for

Democracy Program

CENTRAS (Assistance Center

9 Cimpineanu,
for Non-Governmental
Bucharest,
Organizations)
010031 Romania
FDSC (Civil Society
Development Foundation)
Phone/Fax:

Solon Foundation from

Switzerland

FRT Valcea (Youth Roumanian 4-021-3144827

E.mail:
Foundation Valcea)
paltin@dnt.ro
Youth PLANET
www.paltin.ro
J&R (Jeunesse &
Reconstruction)

Dont
ignore
us!

FDEC (Fund for The

Development of the
Carphathian Euroregion)
Open Society Foundation
Stability Pact
FDSC (Civil Society
Development Foundation)

FOUNDERS:

PARTNERS:

"municipalities and other territorial communities will create adequate

institutional conditions for the participation of the young people in decisionmaking and debates on problems of interes to them, will create and
support youth councils that functions as a structure of active
participation"

The steps in the creation of a Youth Local Council

The designation of the local coordinator

Providing the local coordinator with the documentary materials

available. The establishment of the parameters in the
implementation of the project: number of schools, number of
classes and pupils, list of persons willing to get involved teachers, local counselors, other local public officials, journalists,
business people/potential sponsors.

The presentation of the project to the

main local actors
obtaining the agreement from the Mayor,
the Local Council, the Ministry of
Education local representative; it is
necessary that the Local Council gives a
decision of agreement to the creation of
the Children/Youth Local Council.

3
Discussions over the project with the people to be involved in its application
the designation of the team of local project coordinators (assignment of the responsible
persons/teachers for the organization of the council elections in each of the town's schools).

The preparation
of project application
Advertisement of the project through
local means (newspapers, radio,
television, street posters). Explanation of
the project given to the beneficiaries future voters. Civic education teachers,
tutors, active members of local
associations (civic, youth, etc.) and
parents associations may be of
important support. Each class of pupils
is to be presented the project; video
tapes with the voting and elections
procedures are available. With the help
of the Timioara Soros Foundation a
Voter's Guide was published and can be
distributed to all voting pupils.

The organization of Council elections

The first step is the drafting of the electoral law and the publicizing of the law.
Following steps include: the creation of the electoral bureaus - formed of pupils - and
their training, the multiplication of the forms for candidates, setting the deadline for
announcing the candidates and registering them, the publishing and posting of the
voters' lists, creation, multiplication and distribution of the voters' cards, designation of
the posting areas for the electoral campaign and the monitoring of it, organization of
voter-candidates meetings, setting the election day, organization of the polling centers
and of the election day, organization of the public meeting for the validation of the
election results - with the presence of the Mayor, the Local Council, the media and
other invitees.
The 5th phase can take up to 3-4 weeks. A good cooperation with the City Hall is
necessary for the organization of the election day (obtaining the ballot boxes,
voting booths, stamps); it is also desirable that a person designated by the Mayor
to technically assist the PAL-TIN project local coordination group.

MASTER FORUM can:

1. offer the existing documentation, translated or
adapted;

2.

4.

organize training of volunteers willing to get involved in the

creation of the councils;

5. participate, along with the local coordinators, in the design and

put the evaluation studies regarding the

functioning of the councils at the disposal of groups

interested in the creation of youth councils so that
difficulties can be avoided;

3. provide consultant services to local

administrations interested in getting involved in the
creation of such councils;

support of the activity of the local councils, providing assistance

during the implementation of local projects;

6.

organize experience-sharing meetings, seminars and

workshops for the initiators of such councils;

7. elaborate presentation materials, recommendations and

documentation for the organization of elections for youth local
councils.