This conference, organised with the support of Marko VEŠLIGAJ (HR/PES), Krapina-Zagorje county and Youth advisory board of Krapina-Zagorje county, gathered relevant local and regional stakeholders to discuss the issues of affordable housing and mobility policies for youth in Croatia and in the EU.
The morning part of the event focused on two thematic panel sessions discussing the current state of the affordable housing for young people and available initiatives and policies in the field. A presentation of innovative housing solutions as a potential answer to various financial and social barriers was included. The other discussion tackled issues like limited number of public transportation options in rural areas and the effects it has on urban-rural links and the quality of life in rural areas. Additionally, interesting examples of urban planning in youth-friendly cities as a way of overcoming mobility challenges were presented along with the available education and employment opportunities offered to youth.
The afternoon programme used interactive workshop format to reach objectives like encouraging creative problem-solving, fostering collaboration among the members of the target groups and generate innovative ideas. Through facilitated group discussions, prototyping and presentations, the participants implemented design thinking techniques to draft ideas and solutions for identified problems.
Speakers included:
- Željko Kolar, Prefect of Krapina-zagorje county,
- Ivan Hanžek, Mayor of City of Zabok,
- Fred Matić, member of the European Parliament (HR/PES)
- Hrvoje Debeljak, Youth advisory board of Krapina-zagorje county,
- Matej Mostarac, Mayor of City of Kastav
- Adelina Kunst, YEP, Primorsko- goranka county
- Darovan Tušek, Open Architecture cooperative
- Veronika Gajšek, Youth advisory board of Krapina-Zagorje county
- Martina Alihodžić, Agency for socially encouraged housing construction of the City of Koprivnica
- Petra Grgasović, project manager, Regional Energy and Climate Agency of Northwestern Croatia
- Mario Žuliček, advisor, Association of Cities in the Republic of Croatia
- Nuška Gajšek (SI/PES) , Mayor of Ptuj Municipality, European Committee of Regions
- Ivana Radanović, Network of Associationa - Zagor