Youth Participation as a Public Policy Instrumentat Local Level. Ukrainian Experience

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the modern concepts on the development of youth policy in Ukraine, the tools to encourage young people to participate in city’s public life and participation in urban development. The authors of the article analyzed the various forms of youth participation in the activity of city councils in Ukraine and found 12 modifications of the structural forms of youth councils. The purposes, tasks and possible forms of youth participation in urban development in accordance with Ukrainian legislation are analyzed. It is determined that for successful participation in urban development, young people must have certain civic competences. The authors of the article suggest to attribute such civic competencies, which are important for participation in self-government at the regional level, as: ability to make decisions; the set of individual abilities required to achieve the goal; possession of a young person with relevant competence and attitude to the object of activity; integral personality quality manifested in ability and willingness to act. Non-formal and informal education tools that can help to form civic competences for young people are proposed.The authors present an example of youth self-government in the city of Lviv, namely, the activities of the Lviv Youth Council. The article analyzes the internal structure of the Lviv Youth Council, its activity over the last two years, and the attitude of Lviv City officials to other activities of the youth council. The article proposes the tools for youth participation in urban development processes in Ukraine. The list of tools is made on the basis of the legislation of Ukraine and the practice of the Lviv Youth Council. These tools of public participation change the role of youth in urban development processes from self-governing actors to urban policy makers.