This SAD project consists of three levels: 1) youth research; 2) empowerment, capacity-building and exchange; and 3) youth projects. The objective of the project is twofold: to study the social problems of Russian youth as well as their attitudes to their living conditions, and to take concrete steps to improve their situation. The first geographical focus of this study is on the Caucasus.

Some 35 million young people currently live in the Russian Federation. They have been disproportionately affected by rapid social change since the fall of the Soviet Union, and as a result, suffer from a widespread loss of orientation and future opportunities. The situation is especially drastic in the northern Caucasus region, where young people are affected by particularly high unemployment rates (up to 80%), a loss of clear values and norms, and a high everyday incidence of violence.

Research objectives

• Studying current living conditions, values and future opportunities for young people in Russia.
• Scientific compilation of data as the basis for targeted and effective youth promotion programmes.

Research schedule

SAD has been conducting this youth research and promotion project with its long-term partner, the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences (MSSES), since 2005.
Research focuses on three areas: an all-Russia empirical study investigates living conditions, values and future opportunities of youth in Russia. Together with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Moscow and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the study also considers human trafficking. Finally, in conjunction with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Moscow, the study will also take up the issue of violence.

The study is practice-oriented and broad-based. Results flow directly into concrete projects run by SAD and local partners.
In five regions of the Caucasus (North Ossetia, the Krasnodar region, Dagestan, Armenia and Azerbaijan), focus group discussions are held on the problems and concerns of young people. The results form the basis for youth promotion activities in the Caucasus (cf. Subproject II).

Target Group(s)

Russian youth (15 - 29 years)

Partners

Jacobs Foundation
Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation
DEZA
IOM
MSSES
Levada Center