Kuldīga youth to debate proposals in council simulation

Young people in Kuldīga municipality will get the chance to act as councillors and make decisions in a simulated council meeting, as part of a project designed to teach them how local decision-making works, LSM reported.

The project, called Tilts, also gives young people a chance to put forward proposals to the municipality. At a youth forum and hackathon, participants developed ideas and competed for funding to put them into practice.

Young people have asked for more events aimed at them, better work opportunities and transport that would let them get home after school clubs, sports training or other activities, said Artis Roberts, deputy chair of the Kuldīga municipal council.

Tilts is an Erasmus+ project run by Vilis Plūdons Kuldīga Secondary School. It involves participants aged 13 to 30 and aims to build a bridge between young people and decision-makers, project coordinator Mārtiņš Stebulis said. Participants have already learned about the work of councillors and municipal specialists.

The next step is a council meeting simulation. Young people can apply with an idea until October 30. The authors of the 15 best proposals will work in committees, present their initiatives and consider others’ ideas before making decisions at the simulated meeting.

At the hackathon, participants developed proposals that could compete for €500 in funding. One of the two €500 prizes went to an idea for a smart bench where Kuldīga residents, young people and tourists could charge their phones around the clock.

Another proposal was to restore a table in Alsunga that had been burned down and add a shelter so people could sit there in the rain. The other prize-winning proposal was an event to revive skatepark culture and the open-air stage.

Tags: Kuldīga, youth, local government