YOUTH VALUES, NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS: CASE OF SAKIAI DISTRICT

Lithuanian rural areas are rapidly aging. This phenomenon is influenced by the decrease of youth in rural areas. Post-industrial society values, norms and attitudes are fundamental changing in Lithuania, like in other EU countries. Recent changes form new challenges and uncertainties of rural development decision-makers and practitioners. To maintain a viable Lithuanian rural areas in the future, rural policy and management tools have to be more oriented to the needs of young people. The aim of research is to perform youth needs and moral values and the analysis based on the area of youth policy priorities in Sakiai district. Research object - needs and attitudes of 12-30 years old residents' and youth organizations activities in Sakiai district. To determine youth needs, values and attitudes were used literature and secondary data analysis, questionnaire, focus group interviews, analysis and synthesis, SWOT analysis, expert evaluation, comparison, logical modeling, visualization and other methods. The analysis of questionnaire surveys, focus groups, interviews and document analysis, allow to determinate the priorities of youth integration into the Sakiai district public life.