Pogradec Youth Survey Report

The project aims to strengthen and sustain six partner municipalities (Bulqizë, Cërrik, Dibër, Kamëz, Librazhd, and Pogradec) through activities that contribute to preventing social exclusion, violent extremism, radicalization, marginalization, recruitment, and conflict. A key aspect of the project's work with local communities is engaging with youth, with the goal of developing and empowering them. The PLGP has supported the establishment and formalization of six Local Youth Councils, composed of volunteer and active youth in their respective communities. The project aims to empower these youth through various activities and training programs that focus on their development and growth through modern techniques and methods. One of the issues identified by the youth is their security, particularly in dealing with pressure exerted on them through various information channels. As a result, the PLGP and the Center Against Violent Extremism conducted a survey with 1,354 youth from these communities, including those from Pogradec Municipality, at the end of 2019. The survey was conducted through a questionnaire that included 23 specific and quantitative questions related to evaluating the current situation of media use and its impact on youth, their online security, relationships with family, school, and community. The collected information was confidential and used only for statistical purposes of this study. The gathered and processed information will serve to organize a positive campaign with the six youth councils and youth activities aiming to empower youth to become informed and engaged citizens in their communities. The survey report presents the findings from the survey conducted with 115 girls and boys aged 14-19 from Pogradec Municipality. It is worth noting that the interview with youth in schools included members of the Pogradec Youth Council, who did an excellent job with their fellow classmates. The survey found that the majority of the youth (91%) believe that family has the greatest influence on their lives, with opinions having a lot of importance. Only 7% of the youth think that family opinions have some importance. In second place, in terms of influence on the youth's thinking, is school. 52% of the youth consider the opinions of teachers to be very important, 37% think they have some importance, and 11% think they have little or no importance. Regarding the importance that youth give to the opinions of respected people in the community, 20% of them believe it has a lot of importance, 44% think it has some importance, and 34% think it has little or no importance. Considering the age of adolescence and the influence of peers at this stage of their development, 20% of the youth value the opinion of their friends very highly, and 49% think it has some importance, while around 31% think it has little or no importance. The youth also think that the influence of religious representatives comes next, with 16% believing it has a lot of importance, 21% thinking it has some importance, 35% thinking it has little importance, and 28% thinking it has no importance at all. Finally, in terms of the importance of the opinion of civil society organizations, only 13% of the youth believe they have a lot of importance, 28% think they have some importance, and 63% think they have little or no importance. The youth also identified several issues that require solutions in the next five years, which can be grouped into three main categories: issues related to youth, issues related to their community, and issues related to the country's development and progress. Issues related to youth include education, employment, and social welfare. The youth believe that these issues are crucial for their development and well-being. Issues related to their community include infrastructure, healthcare, and environmental protection. The youth think that these issues are essential for the quality of life in their community. Issues related to the country's development and progress include corruption, poverty, and economic growth. The youth believe that these issues are critical for the country's future and their own future prospects. Overall, the survey highlights the importance of addressing the needs and concerns of youth in Albania, particularly in terms of their education, employment, and social welfare. The findings also emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the country's development and progress, including issues related to corruption, poverty, and economic growth.