Ouvrir Les Horizons is a non-governmental organisation created on May 24, 2014, in Kindia by young people with a passion for development, with the aim of contributing to the improvement of living conditions for various communities in Guinea, especially children, youth, and women. The organisation works in the fields of health, education, environmental preservation, and the promotion and protection of human rights through information, education, and communication activities, as well as capacity-building, advocacy, and support on various issues primarily oriented towards children, youth, and women.
Why Ouvrir Les Horizons?
- In Guinea, 75% of the thirteen million citizens are under the age of fifty-five. However, alarming observations show the low participation of young men and women in shaping public policies and the high abstention rate in major electoral events.
- The low involvement of young people in decision-making processes concerning them leads to conflicts, significantly increases their vulnerabilities, and fails to provide sustainable solutions to the difficulties they face daily.
- Democracy in Guinea is held hostage by practices such as corruption, embezzlement of public funds, silencing of private media, and encroachments on the freedom of public demonstration.
- This project will improve young women and men democratic participation through capacity strengthening, advocacy, democratic culture development and creation of a framework for collaboration and dialogue with local stakeholders.
Objectives and activities
- Improving the access for young people to information, tools, and spaces for exchange, action, and learning to enable massive and effective participation in civic and political life.
- Strengthening a climate of trust and understanding in the relationships between young people and local elected officials/decision-makers in terms of civic and political participation.
Activity 1: Training for active youth participation
120 young people (web activists, State workers, politicians, civil society workers and journalists) will be trained on civic tech, human rights, citizen monitoring of public action and participatory governance.
Activity 2: Civic tech training MOOC and exchange forum
A training MOOC on Civic Tech, youth civic and political participation will be created and a discussion forum will be open online. The online platform will provide resources in various formats on civic tech, youth political participation, and the Menu of Possible Commitments.
Activity 3: Promotion of the Menu of Possible Commitments
A sensitisation and vulgarisation campaign will be organised on the commitments of the Menu of Possible Commitments and on Human Rights, targeting 5.000 students in 5 universities and highschools.
Activity 4: TV and radio broadcasts
TV and radio shows on youth participation in public affairs and the commitments of the Menu of Possible Commitments, will be produced and broadcasted in French and local languages.
Activity 5: Community consultations with young people
10 community consultations with young people will be held to identify issues faced by young people and determine their needs regarding civic and political participation.
Activity 6: Dialogues between local elected officials, decision-makers and young people
Workshops will be organised at local level with the participation of local leaders, civil society and young people on youth political participation aiming at the adoption of commitments from the Menu by political leaders.
Activity 7: Civic tech project competition
A Civic Tech projects competition will be organised on the topics of youth civic participation and participatory governance. The five best applications will be supported with fundings to implement the projects.
Activity 8: Lessons-learned workshop to share project results
A lessons-learned workshop will be organised in order to review conducted activities, improvements, results, impacts, obstacles and best practices.
Main deliverables
- 120 young individuals with diverse and relevant backgrounds trained on the topics of Civic Tech and human rights.
- Awareness and popularisation campaign about the commitments of the Menu and human rights led, benefiting 5000 students. In total, 05 universities and 15 colleges/high schools reached.
- 10 interactive radio and television shows (round tables) produced in collaboration with the 5 most popular media among young people and elected/decision-makers.
- 10 community consultations led to identify the issues, obstacles, and challenges faced by young people in terms of participation in public life.
- A civic tech competition organised, awarding the 5 best applicants with funds to set up their project.
Don’t miss any of their activities