Often youths feel like a lone voice crying in the wilderness, because they remain unheard by the so called decision makers. Can we give an instrument in the hands of youths that, like a megaphone, amplifies their voice? The solution is a format in which representatives of the youth community and the local and state authorities together forge policies. We called this format the Youth Advisory Board (YAB).

town of Vidin, Vidin district, Northwestern Bulgaria

We face two main challenges: on the one hand, changing the attitude of local authorities to be open to the involvement of young people in policy-making, and on the other hand, uniting the efforts of all organizations and institutions to improve dialogue between them and between them. decision-making institutions and to focus efforts on motivating young people to get involved in the life of the local community. This project aims to create a mechanism, which provides an opportunity for young people to express their opinions and make recommendations, will ensure effective representation of young people's interests in the formation, implementation and evaluation of sectoral policies at the district and municipal level.

The main target group are young people aged 16 - 29 from Vidin district. The benefits for informed young people from Vidin district 15-29 years, including the establishment of the YAB -Vidin represent the knowledge that a body is being established that can represent local authorities through quota representation on policies concerning the youth community at the district level. Included in the pilot staff of the YAB - Vidin 20 young people from Vidin district on a quota basis will gain experience in participating in public life and the formation, making, implementation and evaluation of decisions, as well as realize the responsibility for this. In this way, young leaders will build skills for implementing public policies and mastering decision-making processes.

From the very beginning public events will be organized to promote the project, the goals, and the activities. Working meetings will be organized with the municipalities in Vidin district and the interested parties where together we will determine the specific rights and obligations of the advisory council, its structure and the quota principle of its filling. The exchange of experience is important for the realization of the idea and for this purpose the next activity is to hold a working meeting with the Municipal Youth Council of Shumen and with the Youth Advisory Council of Pernik. After the meetings, activities are planned for the preparation of regulations related to the work of the Youth Advisory Council - Vidin, working and information meetings with young people from the 11 municipalities in Vidin and the formation of the YAB - Vidin.
After all the normative documents for the work of the council have been prepared, the first meeting of the YAB will be held, following its work, membership, attendance, procedural requirements and the decisions taken, certify the use of the developed mechanism.
In the implementation of the activities will be used methods for motivating young people from the field to participate in the project activities, discussions and active participation in the work of the YAB- Vidin, through volunteers of the association and other stakeholders.

The project contributes a lot in social terms, enabling young people to prepare and address their own demands and problems, by developing their own recommendations that satisfy them. The expected results in the implementation of this idea are:
-Developed operational mechanism for participation of young people in decision-making processes at the local level related to youth policies.
- Encoured the civic activity of the young people from Vidin district;
- Support to youth activities and initiatives related to the current needs of the youth community at district level.
- Ensured effective representation of the interests of young people in the formation, adoption, implementation and evaluation of policies at the district and municipal level concerning young people.

In social terms, the project will encourage the young part of society to look for ways to develop, in economic terms will direct the funds spent by the municipality on youth in the right direction. Guided by the principle "appetite comes with eating", we expect that young people will increase their activity. Young people will be involved through open meetings and discussions. Through representation we will guarantee the advocacy of all individual classes of the youth community. Involving young people from smaller settlements will ensure that the problems and needs of young people from these settlements, are addressed. Another method in the implementation of the activities that will be used is the successful communication with institutions and authorities.

The project team includes a management team as well as an expert team with the necessary expertise. The management team includes the chairman of the Active Society, who has many years of experience as a leader in the implementation of events and initiatives. Participates in forums, discussions and round tables on topics related to local and regional problems. The coordinator of the organization in his work he has been facing the problems of the local community and has observations on the needs of young people in the region.
Our mission is to motivate young people to improve their lives and the lives of those around them by informing, developing, working and participating in discussions and decision-making on issues that affect their lives.

The budget provides for expenditures as follows:
- Costs for the management team in the amount of 3,000 EUR.
- Costs for the expert team - 14,500 EUR.
- Costs for materials and consumables - 1500 EUR.
- Expenses for public events - 6000 EUR.
- Expenses for work meetings and seminars - 6000 EUR.
- Website costs - 1500 EUR.
- Public relations costs - 2000 EUR.

It will be incredibly useful for us to see how people accept our idea, what are its strengths and weaknesses, what feelings our idea evokes in them, whether they would apply it in their work in their community. We are very open to any ideas and feedback.