Our Voice, Our Kičevo – Young People Must Have a Say in Decisions That Affect Us!

Digital Participation Transparency Youth Voice

To: The Municipality of Kičevo, the Municipal Council, and the Relevant Local Institutions

We, the young people of the Municipality of Kičevo, call for more effective, transparent, and accessible mechanisms for youth participation in local decision-making, with a particular focus on the use of digital tools.

Decisions made at the local level directly affect young people’s everyday lives, including education, public transport, sports, culture, the environment, employment opportunities, and the quality of public services. Young people should therefore be informed in a timely manner, have opportunities to express their views, and receive feedback on how their proposals are considered.

Digital tools can make participation easier and more accessible, including for young people living in rural areas, those who face barriers to attending meetings in person, and those with other obstacles to participation.

Therefore, we call on the Municipality of Kičevo and the Municipal Council to:

1. Establish a regular digital communication channel through which young people can submit proposals, ideas, initiatives, and questions to local institutions.
2. Organise online consultations and digital surveys on issues affecting young people before important local decisions are made.
3. Enable young people to propose and support initiatives through electronic petitions and receive updates on their status and the actions taken.
4. Publish Council meeting agendas, relevant documents, and conclusions in a timely manner and in formats that are easy for young people to access and understand.
5. Organise regular youth forums, public debates, and online meetings with the Mayor, municipal administration, and municipal councillors.
6. Establish a follow-up mechanism to record whether each youth proposal has been accepted, rejected, or referred for further consideration, with an explanation of the decision.
7. Involve the Local Youth Council, youth organisations, informal youth groups, and young people from different settlements in developing and monitoring local policies.
8. Ensure that digital participation mechanisms are accessible, safe, and inclusive, with personal data protection and alternative participation options for young people without adequate internet access or digital devices.

Why does this matter?

Youth participation should not be limited to occasional consultations or symbolic attendance at events. Young people need genuine opportunities to influence local priorities, propose solutions, and monitor what happens to their ideas.

By using digital tools, the Municipality of Kičevo can improve transparency, strengthen trust between young people and local institutions, and create a more open and participatory decision-making process.

Support this petition! Your voice matters. Let’s build a Kičevo where young people are not merely observers of local change, but active participants in shaping it.