YOUTHPARLIAMENTS

There are strong and mutual links between public transport and young users: Young people are heavily dependent on public transport, it is often their only way to reach school, working places, sport facilities and any other location where they live and build their future. And through their view, we can predict accurately how Public Transport organizations will develop. UITP Youth Parliament initiative recognize the distinctiveness of youth cultures and ideologies and advocates participatory decision maker’s processes for juvenile policies. The Parliament initiative aims to provide opportunities for their full participation in society, and plans to set in place long-term strategic instruments that improve youngster’s social opportunities. UITP reaches organized and unorganized youth through a series of activities that are generated from the first session of each Parliament, in order to create and improve spaces where ideas and experiences are shared, to favor youth creative potential and recognize its uniqueness. With energy, ambition and belief in their own capabilities, young people can be powerful agents of positive changes. Including young people in issues that directly affect them, contributes to their self-confidence and allow them to take better decisions. This inclusion can help prepare young people to exercise the rights and responsibilities of adulthood and citizenship. And help them too, to develop a sense of identity. Collaboration with adults who share some of their views fortifies their ideas and values. The experience of contributing, to a cause, a decision, a group, can be a crucial part to the development of a sense of responsibility, purpose and self-worth. And youth participation is also essential to the development of successful programming. Panels of young people have been invited to be delegates in the following countries from the 7 UITP Regions : Helsinki, Karlsruhe, Guadalajara, Johannesburg, Vancouver, Milan, Istanbul, Taipei and Vienna. They have presented their report in every Closing session of UITP activities. A report from every closing has been realized and will be available on the website www.youthforpt.org (under construction!)