The document summarizes a youth civic education and community participation project implemented in Georgia and Romania from 2010-2011. The project aimed to promote responsible citizenship and community participation among youth aged 14-18. It engaged over 200 youth, including girls, boys, national minorities, socially vulnerable children and those with disabilities. The project provided training in skills like leadership, human rights, advocacy and volunteerism. Lessons learned included emphasizing volunteerism, connecting youth initiatives regionally, and enhancing life and employment skills for marginalized youth.

1. Youth Civic Education and Community Participation - YCECP(2010-2011) Georgia February, 2011

3. Demands of Modern Youth Culture Active citizens Collaborators Creators Leaders of tomorrow YCECP PROJECT GOAL: Support promotion of responsible citizenship and community participation for youth in Georgia and Romania Initiators

4. Project Locations: Kutaisi Batumi Telavi Constanta

5. Target Groups: Gender Distribution: Girls-131 Boys-84 9 National Minorities 14 Socially vulnerable children 15 Children with disabilities 5 Children living and working on the streets Over 200 Youth of age 14-18 , including: 3 Internally displaced students 28 children from villages 3 children in conflict with the law

6. Project Partners: Applying Romanian best practices to the Georgian reality World Vision Romania Romanian Youth organizations Telavi, Batumi & Kutaisi Youth Centers Children’s Federation of Georgia Identifying local needs & contextualizing/ best practices Fostering involvement of beneficiaries of both projects in cross-cutting activities

7. How do YOUTH benefit from the Project? Skills for 21 st Century Non-formal learning Learning to Learn Conceptual learning Foreign languages Critical thinking Problem-solving Greater participation Greater involvement Intercultural & Global awareness Improved social & civil competences Collaborative skills Communication skills Creativity Teamwork Self direction

8. Project Progress: 6 Youth Councils (YCs) in Georgia and 1 Youth Initiative Group (YIG) in Romania Youth Councils’ directors elected and YCs’ ToRs developed Civic education curriculum Essay contest Study visit of YCs representatives to Romania Youth Initiatives and Projects Romanian Partners visit to Georgia International Exchange Visit

9. Trainings in… Focus group discussions Advocacy Leadership Human rights Healthy lifestyle Volunteerism Conflict resolution Promoting ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

10. Lessons Learned Idea of “Including Excluded” helped promotion of the project with different stakeholders Early coordination with the Children’s Federation of Georgia would have resulted in better cooperation in the framework of the UNDP funded projects More incentives should be proposed for teachers, so they would support civic engagement of students in the activities