Lithuanian capital is incredibly young. Almost half of Vilnius population is younger than 30 years. We study, we follow latest technology, we are slaves to our smart phones, we desire to know the world and be the first ones to try something new. We increasingly believe in our ideas, we create "start-up" companies and secretly hope to become the new Steve Jobs or Mark Zuck-erberg.

It took only 22 years of independence and the capital of Lithuania has become an open, dynamic European city. City full of youthful potential. How to make the most of it?

It is an annual contest organized by the European Youth Forum at the end of which one city is awarded the title of European Youth Capital for the duration of one year.

European Youth Capital is a helpful meanin the quest for a more active participation of young people in public life and consistent implementa-tion of youth policy.

Rotterdam (Netherlands), Turin (Italy), Antwerp (Belgium), Braga (Portu-gal). This year European Youth Capital title belongs to Maribor (Slovenia), in 2014 it will be passed to Thessaloniki (Greece), in 2015 – to Cluj-Napoca (Romania).

Vilnius is annually visited by more than half a million foreign visitors. The nation's capi-tal is one of the most visited cities in East-ern Europe. It is the pearl of Eastern Europe – a city with unique architecture, well-de-veloped public transport infrastructure and a wide range of services for tourists. It is full of cultural events, other entertainment and the most important national and interna-tional political and business meetings take place in Vilnius.

Yes, the presidency of the Council of the European Union has helped Lithuania and Vilnius to be at the centre of attention in Europe for at least six months and to show the whole of Europe who we really are.

And we are not going to stop. In 2016, we want to raise a new, youthful flag, called "Vilnius European Youth Capital 2016". We strive for the best possible use of youthful potential, to inspire young people to

become more involved in political, civic and social life of the city, the country and the whole EU.

We strive to solve the problems at their very roots and to shake all youth-oriented city structures. And at the same time, of course, we want other countries to see Vilnius as a European city, pulsating with youthful potential.

FASTEN YOURSEATBELTS

City is like a game with a number of levels. In this game, you can be a novice, advanced or a professional. We strive to be the very best, so we will try to lift Vilnius young people and youth-oriented structures to a new, higher level.

Almost half of Vilnius is pulsing with youth-ful energy. However, that energy does not always reach the public and political life of the city. Most of our peers, young people do not participate in charity events, are not engaged in voluntary activities, most of them have never been a member of non-governmental organization and do not communicate with their neighbors. Most of them simply do not care about all this.

While Vilnius Youth is browsing the world on their computer screen, the city's public and political life passes by.

Tendencies listed above are reflected in the environment surrounding us. Most innova-tions are focused on personal well-being, not on social or cultural one. Moreover, the

social entrepreneurship is taking slow. Why should businesses invest in public welfare if such a large part of the public (the younger generation) does not care about its own issues?

Exactly the same situation exists in civic, political and economic life of the city. Young people do not have enough working skills, social and civic competence. There-fore, so many young people have no civic consciousness, are not interested in poli-tics, business and are not proactive. All these factors act like a fertilizer for inequa- lity. Is it a vicious circle?

Most of our peers’ indifference is inter-twined with the distrust of institutions and universal criticism of the education system. A typical young person is not satisfied with a community even if he does not participate in its activities himself. He rebukes the political system that does not interest him.

The answer to the question "Why Vilnius needs to become European Youth Capital 2016?" is very simple. Young people are like bricks for the city. What are we going to build if those bricks do not want to have anything in common? It is time to have our homework done.

Vilnius (Lithuania), Badajoz (Spain), Galway (Ireland), Ganja (Azerbaijan), La Laguna (Spain) and Varna (Bulgaria).

Organisations, Institutions and entities such as: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Europe-an Parliament Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), the Intergroup on Youth of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the Assembly of European Regions (AER),

We will seek for youth issues to become a higher priority for the city and national institu-tions. With the European Youth Capital title the city problems will attract more attention both locally and internationally. More attention, of course, will provide better conditions to create a youth friendly environment and it will be easier to bring in the necessary finances - whether from the EU, state funds or the private sector. There will be more opportunities for young people to realize their potential in Vilnius.

We will seek to elevate the already exis- ting youth structures to a new level. We will create an environment in which young people will not only enjoy a vari-ety of services, but also will be more informed and will participate more actively in cultural, social and political activities.

Vilnius European Youth Capital 2016 - the city, more attractive to Lithuanian and foreign youth.

We hope that Vilnius experience will inspire not only other Lithuanian cities, but also encourage other European communities. Vilnius can become an example and inspire not only nationally but internationally as well.

the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the Advisory Coun-cil on Youth of the Council of Europe, EurActiv, the university of Montpellier, The European Association of Craft, Smalll and Medi-um-sized Enterprises (UEAPME), the Romanian Youth Council, the Munici-pality of Cluj-Napoca, European Youth Forum.

Various sectors adapted to learning young people

Welfare services easily accessible to young people. An independent young person successfully living and working

Improved international and local cooperation between the authorities, organizations and young people

Include youth dimen-sion in other relevant

areas and sectors

Develop and improve the space and services for

young people

Develop and strengthen networks

Youth councils and organizations importancy recognised in advocacy, service and youth employment

Strengthen youthorganisations

Vilnius seeks to implement real and tangible changes. Changes relevant to all of us: young generation in Vilnius and Lithuania, the city government and the citizens themselves, other Lithuanian cities, the country's leaders and residents, guests of Vilnius and Lithua-nia, local and European institutions, and a wide variety of youth-oriented organizations.

We believe that Vilnius European Youth Capi-tal 2016 will help to attract more young people, it will be easier to get the funding and implement new or revive old projects for young people.

In order for us to achieve our objectives and for Vilnius to become European Youth Capi-tal 2016 it is not enough to deliver an ambi-tious plan. It is not enough to have golden ideas how to involve young people in the life of the city and provide young people with power and space for decision-making.

In order to become European Youth Capital and implement goals we need more assis-tance and support provided by the city, national and European authorities.

You may choose to write a supporting letter to us or the organizations curating Europe-an Youth Capital elections, perhaps share new ideas or insights. Or maybe you will share this book with your colleagues in other countries or just become our friends on “Facebook”. Any of your support is extremely important to us.

You can find more information, discussions and ideas about Vilnius of Youth:www.facebook.com/VilniusLevelUp

Or contact us by emaillevelup@vilnius.lt

Or phone+370 650 80798

Design: faux.ltPhotos: facebook.com/HumansOfVilnius