Youth from Europe and Central Asia share their views on the Impact of Covid-19 on youth participation

Youth from 12 countries in Europe and Central Asia joined a regional consultation on the Impact of Covid-19 on youth participation. COVID-19 is a global pandemic affecting all countries and people all over the world. 

COVID-19 brought an unprecedented crisis. Many people have been infected and many more are worried about their health. Authorities introduced measures to prevent the spread of the virus (like: handwashing, physical distancing, face masks, closing of shops, schools, building hospitals etc.). Soon we realised that the Covid-19 crisis is not just a health crisis, but also an economic and social crisis. The virtual consultation organised by UNICEF and GEYC explored more in detail these issues. 

”Policymakers should not wait for US to do something,  

but do something WITH us"

 

Key insights from the discussion:

• The participants acknowledged the challenges connected with distinguishing expert advice from media or leaders' opinions on COVID19 issues.

• The youth got involved in supporting the authorities for the COVID19 response through volunteering, but there is still room for more engagement.

• The COVID19 pandemic was connected with a large wave of disinformation.

• The youth called for a permanent structured dialogue with the policy-makers in the post-COVID19 recovery.

We would like the following participants for their active engagement and great insights:

• Davit Dadalyan from Armenia

• Sergey Mkhitaryan from Armenia
  

• Barbara Vukas from Croatia, UNICEF Junior Ambassadors for the Rights of the Children and Young People

• Ema Korotaj from Croatia, UNICEF

• Ana Sikhashvili from Georgia, Helping Hand
  

• Alexandra Nagy Lakatos from Italy, Leo Club Italia - Distretto Leo 108Yb, Leo Club Modica

• Alisher Kabylbekov from Kazakhstan
  

• Trina Hoti from Kosovo, UNICEF Kosovo Youth Reference Group

• Nuraiym Nurgazieva from Kyrgyzstan

• Nikolina Scekic from Montenegro, www.omladinskiforum.me
  

• Kristijan Popovski from Republic of North Macedonia

• Alexandru Draghia from Romania- Romanian Children's Board, informal group

• Sebastian Dodiţă from Romania, Romanian Children's Board, informal group

• Anna Kryzhanivska from Ukraine, Public Organisation 'Leader'

• Alisher Asrorov from Uzbekistan, U-Report Uzbekistan in UNICEF Uzbekistan

We would also like to acknowledge the efforts and support of the UNICEF Country Offices in ECA for identifying and mobilizing the youth delegates.

About the consultations

GEYC is partnering with the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to conduct a series of youth consultations in the context of the Covid-19 crisis. 

 

Four (4) online consultations took place on the 7th and 9th of July. During these consultations, young people from the Europe and Central Asia region were invited to share their views on issues of education, employment, mobility, participation, youth experiences and sentiments related to Covid-19, and how to build back better with young people. 

The consultations are being conducted in the context of a joint project by the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (UNICEF ECARO) and the European Training Foundation (ETF), aimed at understanding the impact of Covid-19 on the lives of young people in Europe and Central Asia Region, as well as identifying ways in which young people can be engaged to build resilient, sustainable and digital economies and societies in the post-COVID-19 scenario.