Kaimo jaunimo socialinių problemų sprendimas Vilkaviškio rajone ; Solutions of Rural Youth Social Issues in Vilkaviskis District
Research scope: How to improve problem-solving process of rural youth social problems more efficiently and positively? Research object: the process of solving rural youth's social problems. Research aim: to analyse social problems of rural youth in Vilkaviskis district and prepare the plan of their solution means improvement. Research objectives: 1. To highlight specific characteristics of youth as a social group and its inherent problems; 2. To analyse the concept of social problems; 3. To review good practices of youth social problems solution in the European Union; 4. To identify social problems of rural youth in Vilkaviskis district; 5. To prepare a plan for the improvement of rural youth's social problems solution. Research methods: scientific literature, analysis of documents and statistical data and logic synthesis, comparative analysis, PEST and SWOT analysis, semi-structured expert interviewing method, youth questionnaire data analysis, problem tree, "5 WHY" technique, force field analysis, graphical presentation and summary. Research results: • Part One analyses characteristics of young people as a distinct social group expression in society, moral values and problems with regard to the scientific literature. It is also based on the insights of different authors analysing the social problems theoretically, starting with the concept of social problems and the identification, ending with social problem-solving capabilities. Also the foreign examples of good practice in youth social problems solving are provided. • Part Two introduces the situation of youth living in rural areas of Vilkaviskis district. The performed empirical research helps to determine the main social problems of rural youth in Vilkaviskis district and to identify the stakeholders who should be the problem solvers. • Part Three establishes the basic social problem of rural youth in Vilkaviskis district and where all the other youth social problems arise from, identifies stakeholders and prepares the improvement plan of youth's social problems solution means based on the empirical results of the study (according to youth and experts answers) and application of creative problem-solving methods. • The practical significance of the research is that it illustrates how creative problem solving methods can contribute to the solution of social problems. Furthermore, the prepared improvement plan of youth's social problems solution means may be a good means for the staff of Vilkaviskis district municipal administration responsible for the implementation of youth policy, rural community organizations, members of the local action group (LAG), youth and youth organizations and other stakeholders. Research period: 2011-2016. The research results were published: SIMANAITYTĖ, N., 2016. Social Issues of Rural Youth: The Case of Vilkaviskis District. Young Scientist 2016: Student research conference articles, 14 April 2016.