Project title
Pro-Elect: Youth participating in elections
Project period
September 2024 – December 2024
Implementor
Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) in partnership with Equal Rights & Independent Media (ERIM) with the financial support of the European Union
Issues addressed by the project
Due to low awareness about the importance of participation, confusing information on social media or low traditional civic engagement, young people in the RM show low interest in elections. The project addresses the fact confirmed in studies and surveys that many young people in the RM feel disconnected from politics and decision-making processes in society believing that their vote does not matter hence the worrying result on youth participation in the 2023 elections.
According to data published by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), 69,854 young people aged between 18 and 25 participated in the first round of the November 2023 general local elections. In total, 268,295 eligible voters were registered in this age group, which meant that 26.03% turned out to vote on November 5. For comparison, the participation of the 66-75 age group was almost 63%.
Brief about the project
The project “Pro-Elect: Youth participating in elections” aims to address the above issue by motivating and empowering young people to participate in the October 20, 2024 elections.
Focusing on 10 rural communities in 10 districts of Moldova, the project aims to increase youth participation in the upcoming presidential elections.
The main goal of the project is to change the way young people see and understand the importance of elections by motivating them to make use of their constitutional right to elect their president and express their opinion on the referendum for/against EU membership.
Using interactive methods (communication tools, networking and a language that resonates with young people), the project will educate 10 young people in 10 communities who will, in turn, directly train other young people in civic and voter education. The 10 local youth leaders will play a crucial role in equipping and motivating young people. Approximately 500 young people will benefit from this project as a result of the project’s extended activities.
Through the project activities, we aim to empower young people to be more informed, proactive and enthusiastic about the voting process and community involvement in general.
Project partner communities
10 communities from 10 districts of Moldova
