You probably know the Garrotxa for its beech forests,
its volcanoes or its villages built on the rocks.
Today I have been invited to talk about a less idyllic topic:
youth participatory budgets.
A budget is about the money that a municipality can allocate
to do something in its town or city.
Participatory or to participate means to take part in something.
And there are plenty of young people in Garrotxa.
This means: young people take part in deciding something
about the budgets of their town or city.
"IDEALA" Spot Participatory Budget ad for TV and social media
What is your name? - Judit. Pau.
I am Aniol, pleased to meet you. Can I ask you a couple of questions?
Are you into politics? Are you interested in the subject?
I'm very interested in the topic, but we are not involved in politics.
I'm aware of what's going on in the country and in the village as well
I don't like it at all.
- Do you know what participatory budgeting is? - No...
- Yes, yes
No, I've heard of it, but I don't know what it is.
The municipality donates about 2,000-3,000 euros,
and it's a matter of deciding what this could be spent on.
And this is the task of the young people.
Last year we were lucky enough, from SÀGOE, to be able to use this money.
And we took advantage of the opportunity to promote "Cultures". It had a very good social impact.
Have you participated in any participatory budget?
With my group of colleagues we started to think about an event
that had to do with circus, with nature and music.
What was the procedure you followed to make it happen?
Introduce it to the City Council. Brainstorm together with the city council.
And see what could be implemented.
Finally, here in the Park we set up a party: the "Arrels festival".
We started to organize ourselves from SÀGOE, an afro-descendant young group,
We like to make ourselves known,
by giving social empowerment to all young people who do not see themselves represented,
or who would like to see themselves more represented.
We organized this cultural event, and a lot of people came.
A lot of people really liked it. And if we can do it again we would love to do so.
What would you do with the money from the participatory budget?
I would try to put more equipment in the park so that the children can play better.
More youth revitalization in the city of Olot.
I think that currently the social aspect is a bit lacking. It would be necessary to improve it.
Do you know any proposal that has been approved from participatory budgets?
Yes, a few years ago a zip line was installed in the park, here in La Solfa.
The skate park, too. And solidarity soccer tournaments
We came to Olot to talk to Marta, one of the people driving the budgets
Here in the region, it started in Olot, and has been done in other villages afterwards
The idea is that all young people who are interested in submitting a proposal
can do so with a ballot or through an online survey.
Many different ideas come up, and from there an assembly is held with young people aged 12 to 29.
The proposals that have the most impact and are of greatest interest
to the majority of young people are voted on.
[MUSIC FESTIVAL / AFRICAN FASHION FESTIVAL]
It is the young people themselves who carry out the activity.
They develop it, execute it and evaluate it. If they need, they can receive support of youth workers.
participation, project, proposal
lots of "P" words!
I say it's good... despite the Pandemic.
all young people can participate in Participatory Budgets,
not only here, but in all the towns!