EYC2013_Maribor_FINAL-REPORT-EYC-Maribor2013

EYC Maribor 2013: EPeKA hosted 2, KMŠ and EKTC 1 volunteer. Between EUR 8,000.00 and 15,000.00 were granted for these actions, through which European citizenship and active participation of the youth in the implementation of the EYC Maribor 2013 project were encouraged. Ø Europe for Citizens: From YU to EU In the framework of ‘European Youth Capital 2013’, which was hosted by the Municipality of Maribor in 2013, the project ‘From YU to EU’ was carried out under the ‘Europe for Citizens’ program. The main objective was to strengthen the bonds between Maribor’s twinned towns and other former Yugoslavian republics through long-term and productive cooperation in the field of employment. 3 events were prepared within the scope of the project, whereas all took place in Maribor: o

September 30 to October 4, 2013 – Employment in Europe and European

Citizenship; o

December 1 to 5, 2014 – Employment in Slovenia, the EU and partner

countries; o

April 6 to 10, 2014 – Project Conclusion and Future Strategies.

Ø From Active Citizenship to EuroCitizenship The common project of the Community Foundation and the Municipality of Bardejov: ‘From Active Citizenship to EuroCitizenship’ was developed within the framework of the European Commission’s ‘Europe for Citizens’ program. The main purpose of the project was to encourage citizens of towns to participate in the project, contribute to the shaping of a more interactive Europe, to develop the EU citizenship through exchange of experience and cultural diversity. One of the events was also held in Maribor: o

October 23 to 25, 2013 – Workshop: Young people.

Ø My Generation at work The Municipality of Maribor is a partner of the ‘My Generation at work’ project, which is carried out under the auspices of the European program URBACT for promotion of sustainable urban development. The project takes place in twelve partner cities from May 2012 to April 2015, whereas the city of Rotterdam is the project operator. The main objective of the project is to promote and foster youth 40

employability in a changing labor market. Special emphasis is devoted to the development of entrepreneurial skills, knowledge, approaches and views of youth in connection with companies, educational institutions, employment agencies and local authorities. o

How to encourage cooperation in StartUp entrepreneurship projects in the

university city of Maribor Within the framework of the project ‘My Generation at Work’ and the EYC Maribor 2013 project, solutions for entrepreneurship activation of young talents in Maribor were sought. Therefore, a public discussion on the development of an effective development environment for startup companies in Maribor was organized on October 14, 2013. Ø Housing Cooperative: Alternative solutions for housing issues Throughout the discussion, the results of the analysis of the housing situation in Maribor and the poll results were presented, whereas highlighting the proposal of a ‘pilot project cooperative building in Maribor’. In the second part of the discussion, examples of good practice from other cities were presented. The discussion was concluded with the opening of the visiting exhibition on housing cooperatives from Austria. This event, which was part of the EYX Maribor 2013 program, was held on November 14, 2013, in the Cultural Information Center.

Ø The contribution of municipalities towards the objectives of the National Program for Youth and the award of Youth Friendly Cities certificates for the period 2013–2017 The Youth Council of Ajdovščina in cooperation with the Community of Municipalities of Slovenia and the EYC Maribor 2013, under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, awarded certificates to youth friendly cities. Such certification was awarded for the first time in Europe. The Municipality of Maribor is a crucial member of the strategic cooperation of municipalities for the certification of the youth friendly cities. On November 28, 2013, the Municipality of Maribor hosted the award ceremony for the certification of the youth friendly cities for the year 2013.

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Ø December 2013: Magical December In December, Maribor was once again overcome with festive spirits. Throughout the month of December, city squares and streets, invited people to have a look at more than thirty festive stands offering unique products. The biggest Slovenian square hosted a series of concerts and the city was adorned with numerous magical events that took place on fairy tale squares, streets and courtyards. Furthermore, 28 outdoor concerts were organized. The EYC Maribor 2013 proved to be an opportunity for young artists to exhibit and sell their own products at the Christmas fair. Young artists could also showcase their skills, innovative and artistic spirit. Their unique products diversified the range of Christmas gifts offered on the streets of Maribor. Within the framework of the Magical December, Creative Workshops for the Production of Christmas Cards were also organized. Random passers-by with the assistance of the EYC Maribor 2013 volunteers were encouraged to produce unique Christmas cards in a pleasant atmosphere, which were later distributed to random persons on the streets of Maribor. In cooperation with UNICEF, the EYC Maribor 2013 volunteers prepared and distributed packages with small treats at primary schools, which were given to children from socially deprived families.

With the conclusion of the EYC Maribor 2013 project, the exhibition ‘We have been Co-Creating Opportunities in the Year of the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013’ was opened. Photos and different material about the EYC Maribor 2013 were selected with the help of the EYC Maribor 2013 organizations and volunteers, thus comparing the city of Maribor during the EYC 2013 and before that time. The city of Maribor in 2013 counted more than 4800 overnight stays related to different activities for young people in the European youth capital year.

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4 RESULTS The effectiveness and efficiency of the project are expressed through the achievement of the stated objectives. For the monitoring of the program results the following indicators were used: Result indicators that reflect the level of involvement of young people and youth organizations: -

The number of young people from the Municipality of Maribor, who actively participated in the preparation and implementation of the activities,

-

The number of young people from EU countries, who were actively involved in the preparation and implementation of the activities,

-

The number of young people with fewer opportunities actively involved in the preparation and implementation of the activities,

-

The number of projects that met the following criteria: joint development of the project, mutual preparation and implementation of the project, common staff (the term common refers to a young person and/or youth organizations and/or the Municipality of Maribor and/or other entities of the Municipality of Maribor),

-

The number of successfully registered projects by youth organizations in the Youth in Action and Europe for Citizens programs,

-

The number of projects that enhanced the cooperation between youth organizations at the local level,

-

The number of project proposals submitted to tenders and appeals,

-

The number of activities carried out by the local community Youth Council,

-

The total number of participants in the activities.

Result indicators that reflect the success of cross-border cooperation: -

The number of projects carried out and prepared by at least two EU countries.

The results of the indicators that are reflected through the promotion of the program: -

The number of visitors on the program website,

-

The number of responses on web networks,

-

The amount of distributed promotional and informational material,

-

The number of publications in the media,

-

The number of international promotional events. 43

Result indicators that reflect the sustainability of the program: -

The number of new jobs in the youth sector after 2013,

-

The number of new jobs due to the implementation of the ideas of young people,

-

The number of newly established ways of participation for young people in the local environment,

-

The number of public and private organizations that recognize the competences and skills acquired through youth work,

-

The number of new youth programs to be implemented after 2013,

-

The number of new memberships to youth organizations,

-

The amount of implemented ideas of young people,

-

The amount of financial resources in the Local Fund for youth.

In 2008, the Office of Culture and Youth of the Municipality of Maribor was established which covers the area of youth in the local community, thereby providing regulatory and other conditions for the development of proper content and fostering involvement of young people in policy-shaping processes. Furthermore, it encourages the active participation of young people, ensures co-financing of projects, programs and youth organizations and invests in youth infrastructure. Acts adopted by the Municipality of Maribor: Ordinance on Youth in the Municipality of Maribor, Regulations on Co-Financing Youth Activities and the Commission for Youth Affairs. Their purpose lies in targeted and systematic work in the field of youth, while ensuring the participation of young people and their representatives within the local community. The budget approved for 2013 amounted to EUR 728,661.00 of which EUR 450,000.00 were allocated to the public tender for co-financing of new programs in the youth sector for the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013. Due to the limited budget, youth organizations were compelled to streamlining of the program. Nevertheless, only slight modifications to project content were made, whereas the majority of the organizations limited their budget for promotion and publications. Therefore, all selected programs were implemented and successfully carried out.

Only one program had to be withdrawn from the call for tenders due to insufficient financial resources. 44

Moreover, the municipality recognized the importance of sustainable programs of the EYC Maribor 2013, therefore a budget of EUR 150,000.00 was approved for sustainable programs in 2014. Within the EYC Maribor 2013, cooperation with numerous twinned cities was intensified. Consequently, 50 young people from Kraljevo (Serbia) visited Maribor on a study visit in order to gain knowledge about youth organizations, youth workers and the youth in rural areas, whereas Slovenian comic artists attended an art exhibition in Osijek (Croatia). Young people from Maribor attended a four-day workshop with the title ‘Graffiti in the City’, which was organized in cooperation with the twinned town of Graz (Austria). The project enabled young people to artistically express themselves through the hip-hop culture. The EYC Maribor 2013 also cooperated with other cities, especially cities that hosted or will be hosting the EYC, such as the cities of Rotterdam, Turin, Antwerp, Braga, Thessaloniki and Cluj-Napoca, whose representatives attended the ‘European Youth Capital and its Link to EU Policy’ seminar. Maribor also participated in the project EuroPolis together with the city of Braga and other cities. Braga, Turin, Cluj-Napoca and other city partners also participated, together with Maribor, in the project ‘Connect Youth, Connect Europe’.

Among other cities, Thessaloniki and Cluj-Napoca cooperated in the project ‘Discover the Diversity and Excitement through Sport’. One of the organizations financed through the call for tenders for the EYC Maribor 2013, the Association for the Development of Film Culture, cooperated, among other, with Thessaloniki on the ‘European Photo Youth Capital’ project. The EYC Maribor 2013 had 12 programs dedicated specifically to the topic of active participation of the youth. One of the programs in another category, the Municipal Youth Parliament, was aimed towards the promotion of participation of young people in democratic decision-making systems, whereas the program represented a framework within which as many decisions and activities as possible were left to the young. The EYC Maribor 2013 encompassed 9 programs dedicated to non-formal education (Market of Skills, A Taste of Europe in Our Town, Litera(z)tura, School of Politics, 45

European Photo Youth Capital, Reading with Aunt Rosa, Youth: Together We Can Create a Better Europe, Hearing with Eyes, Blades of Grass) and 4 programs that incorporated intergenerational dialog into their activities (Recycling and Reflection, Dance and Sing with Me, We are Filming!, Year of Scout Activities/Scouts in the European Youth Capital). The EYC Maribor 2013 had 11 programs dedicated to the increasing of employability and employment among the youth. These programs were successfully carried out, as they were well perceived and the attendance of young people was really high. Besides these programs, the EYC Maribor 2013 was part of the URBACT ‘My Generation at Work’ project with the main objective to promote and foster the employability of young people in a changing labor market, with special focus on enterprising skills and attitudes. Several programs integrated multicultural aspects into their activities, among them: I Take Europe!, The Footsteps of Maribor, Strengthening of International Youth Work and The Rainbows of the World. The Youth in Action program ‘Connect Youth – Connect Europe’ was dedicated towards the social inclusion of youngsters with fewer opportunities. The Roma society Romano Pralipe Maribor was actively involved in this project.

The ‘Resolution on Creating Better Conditions for the Inclusion and Participation of Young People with Fewer Opportunities’ was written as a result of this project (see Appendix 2). Within the Youth in Action program, two EVS volunteers from Portugal and Italy participated in the EYC. Additionally, 2 volunteers from France also participated with the help of the ZNI Institute for New Age Education. Maribor hosted the General Assembly of the European Youth Forum and the ESN General Assembly. Cooperation with twinned cities and future and former European Youth Capitals should also be mentioned. Young people, who wanted to shape the EYC Maribor 2013, could become volunteers. Young people were especially keen on implementing their ideas, for 46

example: presentation of the EYC Maribor 2013 program, art exhibitions, and workshops on time management and about project organization, Christmas card workshops. Two members officially represented the EYC Maribor 2013 in the No-Hate Speech Movement national committee. The No-Hate Speech Movement is an online youth campaign promoting human rights, which is run by the Council of Europe’s youth sector from 2012 to 2015. It aims to combat online racism and discrimination by equipping young people and youth organizations with the competences necessary to recognize and act against such human rights violations. The movement follows the Council of Europe tradition of youth campaigns, notably the ‘All Different – All Equal’ campaign. Additional information about the EYC Maribor 2013 activities was provided through the following: - Website: http://www.mb2013.si/, - Facebook page: https://sl-si.facebook.com/mb2013si, - Twitter account: https://twitter.com/Maribor2013EPM. Several EYC Maribor 2013 activities and programs were also mentioned in the local Večer newspaper, on the Radios and on the TV Maribor broadcasting station. The Table 9 represents the target quantitative objectives in comparison to the achieved quantitative objectives. Some of the objectives were difficult to measure.

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Table 9: Target and Achieved Quantitative Objectives Target quantitative objectives

Achieved quantitative objectives

Active participation of at least 50−60 % of the

About 1,100 young people actively

youth aged between 15 and 29 in the preparation

participated in the preparation and

and implementation of the EYC 2013 program.

implementation of the EYC Maribor 2013 program.

Involvement

of

80

%

of

young

people

as

The presence of young people was

participants in one of the EYC Maribor 2013

monitored and recorded at specific

program activities.

events, but not at mass events.

Develop and establish 8 long-term youth programs to be implemented after 2013 in cooperation with young people, among them at least 2 in the fields of employment and housing policy for young

28 organizations will continue their programs after 2013.

people. Develop and establish at least 2 new international youth programs, which will be continued after 2013.

11 organizations will continue their programs after 2013.

Convince 2,000 young people from the European Union

countries

to

visit

Maribor

during

the

preparation and implementation of the EYC 2013

More than 2,600 young people from all around Europe visited Maribor.

program. 22 young people were employed by the Enable employment of 200 young people from the Municipality of Maribor on the basis of enhanced and acquired competences, skills and (learning) expertise.

organizations

in

which

they

participated. 14 startups, 1 NGO and self-employments were established in the field of employability. On the basis

of

enhanced

and

acquired

competences, at least 5 young people were employed in the public or private sector as well as NGOs.

Strengthen the role of the Youth Council, which

Increase of financial assets from EUR

brings together 90 % of youth organizations within

12,000.00 to 15,000.00.

48

the Municipality of Maribor. Increase the number of youth organizations within the Municipality of Maribor by 50 % and increase their membership by 20 % in comparison to the year 2010.

This objective was not reached, thus membership in youth organizations increased for about 5 %.

Improve the participation of young people and

The participation in the Youth in

youth organizations in the Youth in Action program

Action program and the Europe for

and the Europe for Citizens program by 300 % in

citizens program has increased, but

comparison to the year 2009.

we cannot provide exact numbers. The

Municipality

awarded

the

of

Maribor

was

Youth-Friendly

City

certificate in 2012 as one only 13 Develop and establish the Youth-Friendly City

municipalities.

Furthermore,

the

‘brand’.

Municipality of Maribor hosted the award ceremony for the certification of the youth friendly cities for the year 2013.

49

The Chart 1 represents the timeline of the events during the EYC Maribor 2013. Around 600 events were organized throughout that year. Due to the national summer holidays and the ongoing preparations for autumn activities, only a few events took place in August. Chart 1: Timeline of Events of the EYC Maribor 2013

EYC Maribor 2013 events 90

80

80

76

70 60

56

50

46

40 30

59 52

50

50

38

35

22

20 10

2

0

50

5 EVALUATION BY LOCAL YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS Organizations with their programs have had an important role in the shaping of the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 project. Therefore, participating organizations were invited to contribute to the evaluation processes of the project assessment and to present their proposals for improvements in the preparation and implementation of similar projects in the future. The EYC Maribor 2013 evaluation questionnaire was composed in electronic form and sent to 35 organizations via e-mail. 29 organizations completed the questionnaire amounting to 82.86 % of the total sample. The EYC Maribor 2013 evaluation questionnaire consisted of 4 sets of questions, namely: the first set accumulated general information about the organization and contribution of the organization's programs to the city of Maribor during the EYC Maribor 2013; the second part questioned the satisfaction with communication and supply of information between the Municipality of Maribor and the organizations during the preparation and implementation process of the EYC Maribor 2013 project; the third set of questions was related to the attainment of the stated EYC Maribor 2013 objectives; the fourth part assessed the overall satisfaction with the project and the possibilities of further cooperation.

Open- and closed-type questions were used in the questionnaire, whereas the data was analyzed with the help of Microsoft Excel. For the list of participating organizations in the evaluation process and the evaluation questionnaire see Appendix 3 and 4. As mentioned above, 29 organizations working in the field of youth in the Municipality of Maribor and at the state level have contributed to the evaluation. In the first set of questions organizations referred to general information about the organization and presented their contribution to the EYC 2013. The programs and activities prepared by organizations for the EYC Maribor 2013 provided the city of Maribor with a touch of youthfulness and liveliness. Therefore, the

organizations

promoted

intergenerational

cooperation

and

intercultural

integration, spread awareness about the environmental conservation and a healthy lifestyle. A significant number of young people, who were participating in the EYC Maribor 2013 project, attained significant experience enforcing independent lifestyle. 51

With the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities and by spreading the awareness of young people about the situation of young people with fewer opportunities, their struggle for greater independence and self-esteem enhancement was supported. A new generation of young photographers has emerged in the city, whereas their photos took the beauty of the city to other places in Slovenia, but also abroad. Young people were enabled to spread their social networks and become more susceptible to events in local, national and European environments. All programs by organizations were prepared in cooperation with young people who participated in voluntary activities and in such a way promoted the importance of volunteering among young people. The second set of questions referred to the communication between organizations and the Municipality of Maribor during the preparation of the EYC Maribor 2013 project. The Chart 2 showcases that 6.90 % of organizations did not possess enough information for program preparation, while 93.10 % of them had enough information in order to prepare their programs. Chart 2: The Amount of Information for Program Preparation

The organizations possessed enough information for program preparation

0.00 6.90 % % Don't agree at all Don't agree Agree

48.28 %

Tottaly agree

44.83 %

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The Chart 3 represents that organizations agree that the Municipality of Maribor’s response in providing information was quick, whereas only 3.45 % of the organizations do not agree with such a statement. Chart 3: The Municipality of Maribor's response in providing information

The Municipality of Maribor's response in providing information was quick

3.45 0.00 % %

Don't agree at all Don't agree

44.83 % 51.72 %

Agree Tottaly agree

It is evident from the Chart 4 that organizations were given enough time to prepare their programs. 58.62 % of the organizations agreed with this statement, whereas 41.38 % completely agreed that they had enough time to prepare their programs. Chart 4: The Amount of Time for Program Preparation

The organizations had enough time to prepare their programs

0.00 % 0.00 %

Don't agree at all

41.38 %

Don't agree Agree

58.62 %

53

Tottaly agree

The third set of questions was related to the attainment of the stated EYC Maribor 2013 objectives. More than 1,100 young people aged between 15 and 29 were involved in the preparation and implementation of the EYC Maribor 2013 project. The total number of members in organizations in 2013 compared to 2010 increased by about 500. Unfortunately, the exact number cannot be determined, because organizations did not forward sufficient data. During the preparation and implementation of the EYC Maribor 2013 programs more than 2.600 young people from all over Europe visited the city of Maribor, whereas about 500 attended the International Students’ Conference. 22 young people were employed within 13 organizations on the basis of the acquired competences, skills and knowledge within the framework of individual organizations. In most cases, they received community work placements, whereas others through different forms of employment, thus, unfortunately, not exactly defined by the organizations. The Chart 5 showcases the proportion of organizations that developed and established youth programs to be implemented after 2013 in cooperation with young people. 96.55 % of youth organizations will continue their programs after 2013. Chart 5: Development of a Youth Program

Has your organization developed and established youth programs to be implemented after 2013 in cooperation with young people?

3.45 %

Ye s

96.55 %

54

The Chart 6 illustrates the proportion of organizations that developed and established an international youth program to be implemented after 2013 in cooperation with young people. 37.93 % of the organizations have developed and established such programs, whereas 62.07 % did not develop such programs. Chart 6: Development of an International Youth Program

Has your organization developed and established an international youth program to be implemented after 2013 in cooperation with young people? 37.93 % Yes

62.07 %

No

The answer whether the number of members in the organization in comparison to 2010 has increased by 50 % or more is displayed in the Chart 7. The number of members increased by 50 % or more in 62.07 % of the organizations, whereas 37.93 % of the organizations did not reach that objective. Furthermore, it has to be stated that some organizations do not avail in a classical form of membership. Chart 7: Increasing Number of Members

Has the number of members in the organization in comparison to 2013 increased by 50 % or more?

37.93 % Yes No

62.07 %

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89.66 % of the organizations cooperated with other organizations in the preparation and implementation of the EYC Maribor 2013 project. The Chart 8 showcases that only 10.34 % of the organizations did not cooperate with other organizations in the preparation and implementation of the project. Chart 8: Cooperation with Other Organizations

Have you cooperated with other youth organizations in the preparation and implementation of the EYC Maribor 2013 project? 10.34 %

Yes No

89.66 %

The Chart 9 illustrates whether the cooperation with other organizations was worthy, meaningful or useful. 93.10 % of the organizations consider the cooperation and networking with other organizations as important, while 6.90 % of the organizations think that such cooperation was not useful or significant. Chart 9: Importance of Cooperation between Organizations

Was the cooperation with other organizations useful for your organization?

6.90 % Yes No

93.10 %

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The fourth set of questions attained the overall satisfaction with the EYC Maribor 2013 project among organizations and the opportunities for future cooperation in similar projects. At the end of the questionnaire, organizations could share their suggestions and proposals for improvements in the preparation and implementation of similar projects. The organizations were also asked about their opinion on the contribution to the EYC Maribor 2013 project concerning the functioning of the youth sector in Maribor. The Chart 10 showcases the proportion of organizations that wish to participate in similar future projects. 89.66 % of the organizations would participate in such projects, whereas 10.34 % would have to consider it. Chart 10: Participation in a Similar Future Project

Would you like to participate in a similar future project?

0.00 % 0.00 %10.34 % 24.14 %

Absolutely no No Neither no, neither yes Yes Absolutely yes

65.52 %

The EYC Maribor 2013 completely fulfilled the expectations of 10.34 % of the organizations, 48.28 % of the organizations agreed that the project met their expectations, whereas 20.69 % of the organizations could not decide. Nevertheless, the project did not fulfil the expectations of 20.69 % of the organizations. This proportion can be seen in the Chart 11.

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Chart 11: Fulfillment of the Expectations for the EYC Maribor 2013 Project

Has the EYC Maribor 2013 project fulfilled your expectations?

10.34 % 0.00 %

20.69 %

Absolutely no No Neither no, neither yes Yes

20.69 %

48.28 %

Absolutely yes

In the last set of questions the organizations had to decide whether the EYC Maribor 2013 project contributed to the functioning of the youth field in Maribor. Their opinions are summarized in the following paragraph. Most organizations agreed that the EYC Maribor 2013 project contributed to the functioning of the youth field in Maribor, thus there are still plenty of opportunities for improvement and better utilization of such projects. Positive effects, indicated by the organizations: -

Cooperation and networking between organizations,

-

Preparation and implementation of new projects, the realization of new ideas from the youth and active participation of young people,

-

Increased involvement of young people with fewer opportunities,

-

Young people gained new skills, knowledge and competences,

-

The needs of young people were shifted to the center of activities,

-

Better recognition of youth organizations.

Negative effects, according to the organizations: -

Reduced quality and quantity of programs due to the financial and temporal uncertainty of the project, 58

-

Incompetent project management during the first half of the year,

-

Political changes in the city,

-

A lot of bureaucratic work.

Suggestions for improvements Suggestions for improvements were collected at the end of the evaluation questionnaires. The suggestions were summarized in the following points: -

Stability of project funding in the youth field,

-

Competent leadership of the project,

-

More projects in the fields of natural science and integration of such areas into the industry,

-

Improved perception of the needs of young people in the city and the implementation of strategies in the field of youth,

-

Promotion of international youth work,

-

Employment of young people in youth organizations,

-

Call for tenders for the upcoming year should already be published throughout the current year,

-

Inclusion of a number of interested organizations and young people in the shaping of youth policies,

-

Promotion and introduction of innovative and high-quality content and methods of youth work,

-

Establishment of a youth center for young people between the ages of 15 and 18,

-

More effective promotion,

-

Unique information system,

-

Development of sustainable projects.

The results of the evaluation questionnaire have been presented to the organizations in April 2014. The representatives of organizations were given the opportunity to present their general overview on the EYC Maribor 2013 project, to point out important issues and discuss them with other organizations.

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6 SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT In the upcoming five-year period (2014−2019) the Municipality of Maribor will tackle the issues that were particularly highlighted during the EYC Maribor 2013. Therefore, the Municipality of Maribor has approved a budget of EUR 150,000.00 EUR for sustainable programs in 2014. A call for tenders for these programs was published in March 2014 and is still open for applications. After concluding the report for the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013, the Municipality of Maribor will start working on the local youth program. 6.1 PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH POLICIES Substantive guidelines for the second local youth program of the Municipality of Maribor will consist of four priority areas for the implementation of youth policies: employment, housing issues, education and mobility of youth. Employment Youth employment proved to be one of the key challenges. Employment allows young people to pursue their life and career goals as well as social and financial security, thus ultimately achieving autonomy. Especially the transition from educational institutions to employment is difficult for young people, what is reflected in the high unemployment rate and precarious forms of employment. The labor market is confronted with a mismatch between supply and demand, which is strongly connected with the process of entering educational programs.

In order to overcome the obstacles of transition from education institutions to employment, the issue of low employment among young people has to be addressed through direct policy planning in the local community, whereas the development of competences of young people has to be promoted in accordance with the needs of the local labor market, the networking between economic and education institution strengthened in the form of mentoring and internships. Furthermore, entrepreneurship has to be encouraged, a friendly business environment for young people created, whereas incentives for employment in (non-)economic activities provided in order to utilize the full potential of young people in the local environment.

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Housing issues Moving away from parents is one of the important steps in the liberation process of young people. Measures in the field of housing policy initiated by the local community can facilitate young people's access to the first apartment and enable ownership and emancipation, hence stop the emigration of young people out of the local environment. If we want to keep track of young people, it is vital to implement new, innovative and flexible forms of housing solutions. In the conversation with representatives of the local community, young people have expressed the opportunity of call for tenders for the allocation of non-profit rental housing, which could be carried out under the auspices of the public common housing fund at the Municipality of Maribor, with the establishment of housing cooperatives in Maribor, housing by larger companies or consortia-building ownership with the ultimate objective of lower rents for housing and additional encouragements or bonuses for lessors. Education The obtained educational level and high-quality interdisciplinary skills are closely connected with the employment opportunities for young people and, consequently, with their socio-economic situation.

Education can be roughly divided into the formal, which takes place within the formal education system and ensures generally recognized education and qualifications, and the informal, which takes place outside the formal scope of education and does not award recognizable education, although it is an important complement of the formal system. Non-formal education is to the greatest extent provided by non-governmental organizations, which are more flexible and more responsive to the needs of the environment, private institutions, employers and other contractors. Linking these two pillars of education should be of primary interest in order to form comprehensive education for young people. Mobility of youth Young people were asked to forward their suggestions and challenges on the mobility of young people. Especially, the transfer of good practice from abroad to the local environment, building of high-quality mobile infrastructure and raising awareness about the possibilities of social mobility were highlighted by them. Furthermore, connections and strong partnerships between youth structures and 61

other organizations in twinning towns, all with the purpose to develop individuals as well as the local community, were highlighted. Mobility enables the local population to perceive different cultures and strengthen their intercultural understanding, acceptance of diversity, furthermore, to enhance their knowledge and experience, and, above all, promote and establish a wide range of examples of good practice from elsewhere within the local environment. The Local Youth Program in cooperation with NGOs will examine the work and the results of the youth sector until that point. With the renewal of the sector more young people will be activated, thus leading to better results. 6.2 MladiMaribor (YoungMaribor) Since 2008, targeted actions of the city of Maribor facilitated a more active presentation of youth problems to the local, regional, national and European public. After the conclusion of the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013, we were given the chance to present an example of good practice in the field of active involvement of young people to other European cities. Therefore, we want to reshape our city into a cosmopolitan city for young people.

With all the acquired knowledge and experience from previous years, we have finally reached the point of being able to proudly open our city and our quality programs to not only young people from Maribor, but also to young people from other parts of Slovenia, Europe and the world. With the conclusion of the EYC Maribor 2013, the idea for the YoungMaribor festival arose through which the city of Maribor in the future could develop as a cosmopolitan city for the young and the young at heart. The festival, which took place from May 18 to 31, 2014, offered young people a variety of activities and events. The main objective of the festival, which was held under the auspices of the Office of Culture and Youth of the Municipality of Maribor and co-organized by the Maribor Youth Cultural Center, was to strengthen the youth field of the city. The purpose of the festival was to raise the quality of life in the city, promote active participation of young people, intergenerational integration and to promote the city of Maribor. The festival underlined the sustainable impact of the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 and is one of the steps towards the long-term erection of Maribor as a place for young people. 62

Several quality events are organized in Maribor, as this festival was created on the basis of cooperation and integration. Youth organizations, primary, secondary schools and colleges, museums, galleries and others, who are active in the field of youth, cooperated within the festival. More than 50 organizations and other individuals helped with the organization of the festival. The first YoungMaribor festival connected young people at 25 different venues and at more than 70 events. It gave them the opportunity to capture the pulse of the Municipality of Maribor, experience the city and thoroughly explore the city in theory and practice. They were encouraged to do a lot for themselves and their personal development, for the life of the city and in the city. This objective was reached through urban culture, sports, concerts, exhibitions, travel lectures, local cuisine workshops, theater, intercultural integration and intergenerational integration. For more see our new web page www.mladinmaribor.si 6.3 Network of EUROPEAN YOUTH CAPITALS Between May 28 and 31, 2014, during the 1.festival Mladi Maribor, Maribor hosted an official meeting of the European Youth Capital cities.

Representatives of the following cities participated in this event: Turin - 2011 (Italy), Braga - 2012 (Portugal), Maribor - 2013 (Slovenia), Thessaloniki - 2014 (Greece), Cluj-Napoca - 2015 (Romania) and Ganja - 2016 (Azerbaijan). The following topics were discussed during the meeting: resolving open issues of the EYC network, the statute and visual identity of the EYC network, open tasks in different fields of work of the EYC network and the future operational plan. Local youth organizations, who participated in the EYC Maribor 2013 project, presented themselves during the meeting.

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7 FINANCIAL REPORT - 2013 The approved budget for 2013 amounted to EUR 728,661.00, whereas EUR 450,000.00 were allocated to the public tender for co-financing of new programs in the youth sector for the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013, EUR 104,225.00 for the EYC Maribor 2013 projects (EVS, Infopoint, From YU to EU, FEXUGA, Youth in Action 1.1 and Youth in Action 4.3) and EUR 174,436.00 for the rest of the program. The total actual expenditure in 2013 was EUR 653,214.42, thus the largest part of the expenditure was spent on the public tender for the EYC Maribor 2013, namely EUR 440,954.33. EUR 47.538,87 was spent on the EYC Maribor 2013 projects and EUR 164,721.22 on the rest. One of the biggest, but classified expenditures consists of the EYC Maribor 2013 promotional costs, namely EUR 94,873.33. Labor costs amounted to EUR 47,423.76, travel costs to EUR 9,982.39 and the entertainment expenses to EUR 2,215.38. As before mentioned, the approved budget for 2013 amounted to EUR 728,661.00 of which EUR 450,000.00 was allocated to the public tender for co-financing of new programs in the youth sector for the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013. All selected programs were implemented and successfully carried out. Only one program had to be withdrawn from the call for tenders due to insufficient financial resources.

For the presentation of the actual expenditures and revenues of the EYC Maribor 2013 see Appendix 5. The Chart 12 represents the actual expenditures of the EYC Maribor 2013 in 2013. The total actual expenditure in 2013 was EUR 653,214.42. The public tender for cofinancing of new programs of the EYC Maribor 2013 represents 67.51 % of the total expenditures. Moreover, promotional costs represent 14.52 % and labor costs 7.26 % of expenditures. 7.28 % were spent for the EYC Maribor 2013 projects, 1.53 % for travel costs, and 1.31 % for other costs. Less than 1 % was spent for the General Assembly and entertainment expenses.

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Chart 12: Actual Expenditures of the EYC Maribor 2013 in 2013 General Assembly; € 1,690.13 Entertainment expenses; € 2,215.38 Other; € 8,536.23 Labor costs; € 47,423.76

Actual expenditure of the EYC Maribor 2013 in 2013

Public tender for new EYC Maribor 2013 programs; € 440,954.33

Promo:onal costs; € 94,873.33

Travel costs; € 9,982.39 € EYC Maribor 2013 projects; € 47,538.87

The Chart 13 represents the actual revenues of the EYC Maribor 2013 in 2013. The biggest financial support was granted by the government and represents 80.42 % of all revenues, whereas 18.77 % of the revenues were awarded through EU projects and less than 1 % from donations. Chart 13: Actual Revenues of the EYC Maribor 2013 in 2013

Actual revenues of the EYC Maribor 2013 in 2013 Dona:ons; € 505.00

EU projects; € 11,750.00

Government; € 50,332.00

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8 CONCLUSION The beginnings of the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 date back to the year 2010, when the city of Maribor submitted the application for the acquisition of the European Youth Capital 2013 title to the European Youth Forum. With the application, Maribor embarked the city and its local authorities to strategically develop the city in the direction of a youth friendly city. Therefore, the Municipality of Maribor committed itself to create conditions for the development of an environment in which young people could evolve and implement their ideas, to provide adequate infrastructure for the implementation of a wide range of youth activities, to facilitate young people's participation in decision-making processes, which are strongly connected with the life of young people in local communities, and to encourage young people to create programs for the European Youth Capital 2013. The European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 enabled the youth to be regularly informed, actively involved in the society or in the local community and to create new opportunities for a better future. The project embarked several positive qualities: the improvement of the everyday life of young people ranking among the most important aspects not only during the EYC 2013 activities, but also later.

General objectives were pursued with the implementation of the European Youth Capital 2013 program: the strengthening of youth to evolve into proactive participants in the shaping and development of the society. In addition to the general objectives, also other strategic objectives were sought, related to the development of the youth sector and the strategic objectives related to the strengthening of the youth. The program has been designed in two parts. The primary part focused on the improvement

of

employability,

encouragement

of

voluntarism,

multicultural

cooperation and active participation of young people. Great emphasis was also devoted to the integration of young people with fewer opportunities, Roma population and the long-term unemployed young people. The secondary part of the program focused on the implementation of free-time activities, such as concerts, festivals, exhibitions, etc. The majority of energy, time, and work were spent on programs that were implemented by non-governmental organizations in cooperation with volunteers. 66

The monitoring of the progress towards the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 objectives was carried out throughout the year or, respectively, after the completion of the activities of individual programs. The goals were more or less achieved, thus in certain segments, even exceeded. Nevertheless, there were also some areas where the objectives were not achieved, which shall be defined as possibilities for future improvements. Following the invitation by the Municipality of Maribor, the organizations that participated in the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 project contributed to the assessment of the project. Their view on the implementation of the project is extremely important, because they expressed satisfaction with the cooperation, highlighted the positive and negative effects of the project and presented suggestions for improvements in the evaluation process. The aim of the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 was to improve the quality of life of young people in the city and to foster the participation of youth in decisionmaking processes at the local level. The Municipality will continue to (financially) support good programs of youth organizations, especially those carried out in the most critical areas of youth in the city: employability, housing issues, youth mobility and education.

The city of Maribor as the European Youth Capital Maribor 2013 was visited by numerous young people. Freshness and liveliness were conveyed through the energy of young people, therefore one of the most important future tasks is to store and develop such an image.

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APPENDIX Appendix 1: Leaflet four thematic sections Appendix 2: Resolution on Creating Better Conditions for the Inclusion and Participation of Young People with Fewer Opportunities Appendix 3: List of participating organizations in the evaluation process Appendix 4: Evaluation questionnaire Appendix 5: Presentation of the actual expenditures and revenues of the EYC Maribor 2013 Appendix 6: Total expenditures and revenues of the EYC Maribor 2013 (2010 - 2013) Appendix 7: Press Releases + special edition of local newspaper Večer Appendix 8: Pictures of events of EYC Maribor 2013

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