YouthMetre - Youth (e-)Participation in Evidence-Based Decision Making and Advocacy

Citizens, and not only the young ones, need access to information and especially suitable insights into matters that concern them, should be connected with other citizens and receive their feedback, and be involved in discussions with decision makers in order to effectively promote and advocate for their ideas for public good. The YouthMetre (including mobile application GeoCitizen) is a project addressing all these needs and providing solutions to them. By combining online and offline tools it aims at helping all citizens to get their voice heard and make a change.

The goal of YouthMetre is to provide accessible information to young people living in the EU and to empower them with tools so they are able to interact with policy makers as well as other citizens, and using these connections and information to make a positive change in areas that concern them. Also public authorities shall use the YouthMetre tools to get feedback from citizens and connect with them.

The project team believes that effective advocacy requires access to, simple insight in, and the successful use of open information generated by public authorities. The YouthMetre closes the gap between youngsters and policy implementation, shifting power from the hands of policy makers to those of youth. The approach recognises that training and local meetings bringing together young people and decision makers are needed to make best of the YouthMetre/GeoCitizen tools and help with creating direct dialogue and exchanges between youngsters and policy makers.