16-year-old Jennifer Nygren and her classmates in Lycksele wanted more parking spaces at the school, but that did not happen.
- When you try to influence things, nothing happens, she says.
"Screaming for young people"
Many young people feel the same way as Jennifer.
And to increase the influence of young people, the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society Affairs, MUCF, has started a five-year project together with seven municipalities, including Lycksele.
- The parties in Lycksele are screaming for committed young people who want to be involved and influence.
Young people's perspectives risk being lost in politics.
We want to show what opportunities young people have to influence through the democracy that exists locally, says Adrian Lundkvist, project manager at Umeå municipality.
Missing local youth unions
It can be about, for example, writing citizen proposals or joining a youth union.
Right now, there are no political youth unions in place in Lycksele and that is one reason why the threshold for getting involved can feel too high, says Adrian Lundkvist.
Through dialogue with young people, municipal activities and political actors, it is intended that the project will find solutions to what today prevents young people from getting involved, politically or in other ways.
When will we see more committed young people in Lycksele?
- Hopefully already for the election next year, but it is a project that will last for a long time, says Adrian Lundkvist.
Hear more about the project and what some Lycksele youths say in the clip above.