We give a voice to those who are often not heard!
NGO Sa Suudad creates again Youth Council (we're still thinking about the name), to provide a voice for young people who have had contact with the legal, healthcare, educational or social systems throughout their lives – young people whose voices often tend to be marginalized in society.
It is CAB project with further development, centered on valuing and empowering young people's experiences and hopefully making changes to the system based on this.
The Youth Council aims to provide a safe and supported space, where young people can share their experiences, express their opinions, and make suggestions that help shape a more child- and youth-friendly society.
We believe that these young people have the important knowledge and experience that today's systems need to function more effectively.
The project is supported by Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps Agency from the Erasmus+ programme.
Who are we waiting for?
We are looking for up to 15 young people aged 18 to 24 to join the Youth Council. 14–26, who have had previous contact with different support systems – be it the police, the courts, mental health services, child protection work or difficulties at school. We believe that it is the personal experiences of these young people that help change the systems more effective, supportive and truly child and youth-friendly.
What are we doing together?
- We generally meet every two months, where young people can share their experiences and offer solutions.
- We meet with specialists and decision-makers to bring the voice of young people to decisions
- We conduct developmental workshops, such as teamwork, public speaking, and self-expression.
- We carry out outreach activities such as social media campaigns, articles and focus groups
- Youth Council members will have the opportunity to organize a conference themselves, where 100 participants will come together around young people's ideas and stories.
What does it give?
The Youth Council helps strengthen sense of belonging, self-confidence and social engagement. Young people have the opportunity to:
- understand that their experiences have value – turn their difficult experiences into a superpower!
- to highlight problems they have experienced – and present real-life solutions to them
- contribute to policymaking and raising awareness in society
For example, several MTÜ Sa Suudad youth have participated in in discussions on amendments to the Child Protection Act, providing valuable input directly to decision-makers.
Young people who participated in CAB (i.e. the previous youth council) have pointed out that through being part of the youth council, young people have started to talk more about their thoughts and feelings, are able to stand up for themselves more and encourage other people to stand up for themselves. In addition, they pointed out increased tolerance towards others, improved cooperation skills (e.g. one young person considered himself more of a lone tinkerer before). It was also pointed out that communication with strangers has become easier, who are in a position of power - a feeling has arisen that we are all actually equal.
Project period:
August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2027
We have started the search for Youth Council members. In the fall of 2025 – before that, we made preparations to ensure that the format of the youth council would be as clear and youth-friendly as possible!
If you are interested in participating or know someone who might be interested – Follow our activities and contact us, either on social media or by writing to info@sasuudad.ee!
The project is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.
The project is supported by Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps Agency from the Erasmus+ programme.