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Up 2 You(th)! Collaborating partners and local stakeholders

In Slovakia, the UP2YOU initiative has developed thanks to close cooperation with various key players in the field of youth and education. The success of our strategic partnership has been greatly enhanced by the active participation and support of partners such as the Košice Regional Government (KSK), the Regional Youth Center (RCM), and the Regional Youth Council (RMKK). In addition to these main partners, many local actors, including secondary schools, local politicians, and local government representatives, also played a key role in our project activities.

Dynamics of cooperation:

  • Košice Regional Government – Independent Region (KSK): As an integral part of our partnership, the KSK Youth and Education Department played a key role in supporting UP2YOUth activities. Since 2020, Youthfully Yours SK has been part of the KSK working group for non-formal education and youth. This cooperation was crucial in the creation and implementation of the “Concept for the Development of Youth Work in the Košice Self-Governing Region for 2021-2025.” During regular monthly meetings, we ensured that the UP2YOUth initiative was aligned with the strategic objectives of the concept. The initiative supported the local efforts of our working group by promoting dialogue between young people and political representatives and emphasizing active citizenship through mutual learning. We also organized activities aimed at raising awareness about the work of non-governmental organizations, the benefits of volunteering, and the advantages of democratic systems.
  • Regional Youth Center (RCM) and Regional Youth Council (RMKK): As key members of the working group, these partners provided valuable assistance throughout the UP2YOUth initiative. Their support was crucial in organizing activities, distributing surveys among young people, and sharing the project results. The RCM’s contribution was extended to include the secondment of two of its youth workers, Jakub and Roland, who led workshops focused on student parliaments and democratic values.
  • Local educational institutions and political representatives: Several schools and student parliaments from Rožňava, Michalovce, and Košice actively participated in the project. Their participation was essential in organizing local workshops and focus groups, which ensured the involvement of diverse young people from different backgrounds. The following were particularly involved:

In Rožňave:

  • Obchodná akadémia Rožňava
  • Stredná odborná škola zdravotnícka Rožňava
  • Gymnázium P. J. Šafárika Rožňava

In Michalovce:

  • Obchodná akadémia Kapušianska 2 Michalovce
  • Gymnázium Ľ. Štúra, Michalovce
  • Stredná odborná škola zdravotnícka Masarykova 27 Michalovce

In Košice:

  • Obchodná akadémia Polarna,
  • Gymnázium Trebišovská,
  • Gymnázium Šrobarova,
  • Gymnázium Poštová,
  • Gymnázium GT12 a
  • Gymnázium Alejová.

The participation of local authorities, including Ladislav Lorinc, Vice-Chairman of the Košice Self-Governing Region,

František Beer, Mayor of Košice-Myslava,

and Peter Berinšter, Member of the Regional Council and Košice City Council, brought real-life perspectives to our workshops and enriched the learning experience.

Added value of cooperation:

This extensive cooperation with regional authorities and local stakeholders increased the reach and impact of the UP2YOUth initiative. By integrating our efforts into existing regional strategies and directly involving local schools and politicians, we ensured that the project results were relevant, sustainable, and deeply rooted in the local context. The joint involvement of these partners brought diverse perspectives and expertise, enriching the project’s activities and results.

Event to disseminate results – joint effort:

Instead of separate events, we decided to integrate our dissemination activities into a regional conference on the recognition of youth work organized by KSK and NIVAM. This step ensured that our project results reached more than 90 stakeholders in the youth and education sector.

Key findings:

A cooperative approach led to successful workshops and focus groups that highlighted the need for continued dialogue and active youth participation in local government and civic activities.

Recommendations for local authorities:

  1. Maintain and expand cooperation: Continue to build partnerships with youth organizations such as Youthfully Yours SK in order to maintain the momentum of youth engagement.
  2. Take youth views into account in policy-making: Ensure that young people’s voices are heard in local government through regular meetings and interactive discussions.
  3. Support youth initiatives: Support and facilitate youth initiatives that promote active citizenship and community involvement.
  4. Focus on partnerships in education: Strengthen cooperation with schools to integrate civic education and participation into educational programs.

The UP2YOUth initiative in Slovakia demonstrates the power of collaboration in enriching youth-focused projects. Partnerships with regional government, educational institutions, and local authorities have not only increased the reach of our efforts, but also enabled sustainable engagement and empowerment of young people.

The project is co-financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. The support of the European Commission for the publication of this publication does not mean that the European Commission agrees with its content, which reflects solely the views of the authors, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use of the information contained in this publication. 2020-2-SK02-KA205-002569