Young Mayor

Youth Participation and Democracy Award category

Organisation

Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira

Country

Portugal

WEBSITE

https://cm-feira.pt/

Project link

https://www.facebook.com/juventudesmf

General Overview

The Young Mayor project had its first edition in 2014, with Santa Maria da Feira pioneering the implementation of this active citizenship initiative in Portugal. The year 2024 was a milestone for the project, marking its 10th anniversary with a message from His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Dr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. During their term, the 2023/24 Young Mayor team was also received by Her Excellency, the Minister of Youth, Dr Margarida Balseiro Lopes. At the conclusion of the project’s first decade, all young participants who took part in this journey were honoured as “Citizenship Ambassadors of Santa Maria da Feira” in a commemorative ceremony.

The project aims to boost citizenship behaviours and appreciate the opinions of young people, as well as their ideas and perspectives for the future, through a process that results in the election of a Young Mayor and two Councillors from among 21 candidates. Young people aged between 11 and 17 can vote in the elections, and young people aged between 13 and 17 who study and/or live in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira can apply. Each year, we have almost 7,000 young persons voting in the election of the Young Mayor.

By assuming an active participation in the political decisions of their municipality, the elected young people will act as spokespersons for their peers and will be co-responsible for managing the €10,000 budget assigned to them, as they try to carry out the projects they designed, within a framework of dialogue and sustainability.

Thematic Category Correspondence

(50 points max)

How does this initiative (project, event, material) correspond to the thematic category

The Young Mayor, through non-formal education, aims to encourage the active participation of young people in local life; enabling young people to be architects of their own lives, supporting their personal development and growth towards autonomy, strengthening their resilience, and providing them with the necessary life skills to face a changing world. It aims to encourage young people and provide them with the necessary resources to become active citizens, agents of solidarity, and positive change inspired by EU values and a European identity.

By assuming an active participation in the political decisions of their municipality, the elected young people will act as spokespersons for their peers and will be co-responsible for managing the €10,000 budget assigned to them, as they try to carry out the projects they designed, within a framework of dialogue and sustainability. The young people build their ideas and begin to take all the necessary steps to turn them into reality. This is one of the main goals of the Young Mayor, as the young participants will be part of all phases (thinking, contacting and preparing, and realising).

The Young Mayor is also an official member of the Youth Council of Santa Maria da Feira.

Impact

(30 points max)

How did your project impact young people / your community?

Young people aged between 11 and 17 can vote in the elections and young people aged between 13 and 17 who study and/or live in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira can apply. Each year, we have almost 7,000 young persons voting in the election of the Young Mayor. At the end of the mandate, the group reflects on their work and considers improvements for the future. Usually, this young team will become active citizens in society. After their term as Young Mayor, they become involved in youth, cultural or sports associations, school associations, political groups, NGOs, European participation spaces, etc. They open their minds, receive a lot of information and opportunities, and share all this knowledge with the community.

Several initiatives implemented by the Young Mayor team over the years have had a significant impact on young people’s lives, with some projects still being replicated today due to their relevance. These initiatives include:

The creation and distribution of a physical Financial Literacy Game to all primary and secondary schools.

The provision of school supplies to every school in the municipality.

The introduction of a free online municipal youth card for all young residents of Santa Maria da Feira.

The commencement of the Skate Park construction.

Awareness sessions on gender diversity and inclusion.

Animal welfare awareness videos.

Support campaigns for institutionalised youth.

Drawing and photography contests.

After participating in the Young Mayor Project, all young individuals are invited to join the Santa Maria da Feira Youth Advisory Council—an informal and voluntary platform where they continue to collaborate with the Municipality’s Youth Office in shaping public policies aimed at young people.

Green Focus

(10 points max)

Did your project have any green focus and/or did you implement any eco-friendly measures when organising it?

When reflecting on their initiatives, the young participants of the Young Mayor Project analyse various areas of action, aligning them with the Youth Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. Environmental sustainability remains a key concern, leading to the implementation of several initiatives over the years, such as tree planting, river clean-ups, sustainable camping, and awareness campaigns on household waste management.