Creating a Future for Russian Youth

The program is implemented in two regions of the Russian Far East: Khabarovski and Primorski krais. In Primorski krai, unemployment is 1.8 times higher than in the rest of Russia, while in Khabarovski krai, 61% of women and 36% of youth aged 16-29 are unemployed. Living and environmental standards adversely affect the health of youth. In Primorski krai, half of the children aged 7-9 and more than 60% of high school youth have chronic diseases. They also boasts one of the highest abortion rates in the world, and drug and alcohol use is 25% higher than in the rest of Russia. The rate of HIV/AIDS transmission is also on the rise.

The Russian Far East provides fertile political ground for comprehensive youth programs to flourish. The 2003 federal law on Local Self-Governance allows for more direct community decision-making and action, and both krais have Youth Development Policies, which provide the legal basis for youth activities and budgets. However, youth and NGOs still lack an understanding of the policies and the ability to advocate for their implementation. Winrock has been implementing a program that focuses on institutionalization of LIDER's good practices with local governments, within the education system, and through NGO capacity strengthening.

The goals of the program extension are:

1. Fostering the long-term sustainability of youth NGOs to promote and deliver youth-friendly services in their communities; and
2. Institutionalizing youth-focused best practices and innovative models identified through the LIDER project.
   

LIDER focuses on improving health and social services through a solutions-based, three-fold approach: strengthening NGOs in organizational and technical areas; encouraging partnerships between NGOs, government, and business to help youth advocate for changes in legislation and policy; and replicating successful programs and services that engage youth in the RFE. The program addresses long-term sustainability of developed systems and approaches through institutionalization of best practices with local stakeholders.

LIDER engaged 36,753 young people ages 14-20,  facilitated the development and submission of seven legislative proposals to local authorities,  and strengthened 47 local NGOs serving youth.
 
Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) unite 22 young leaders from Khabarovski and Primorski krais. Quarterly meetings were organized to allow participants to share their experiences, plan and analyze activities and establish links between different initiatives. YAC members successfully organized multiple community events for youth which reached at least 650 youth. In addition, YAC members conducted eight trainings on youth engagement for 173 young leaders.
A total of eight cross-sector projects addressing youth problems in areas of ecology, employment and entrepreneurship, public health, and youth self-governance were supported through LIDER partnership grants. 815 youth actively participated in projects' realization.  Eight legislative initiatives on issues important to youth - volunteerism, public health education, water quality monitoring, entrepreneurship and other topics - were initiated.