We got the opportunity to sit down with newly elected Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament Wiktoria Orlicka to discuss her position as MSYP for Motherwell and Wishaw and her experiences at her first Youth Parliament sitting.
Wiktoria stood for election in June 2018 in a By-Election that came about when her predecessors stood down. When I asked about the role of the MSYPs Wiktoria explained “Being an MSYP is quite an experience. I have to go around with different surveys to get people’s opinions on different issues which can be quite awkward but at least I am helping and making that change” She went on to explain that lots of MSYPs work with outside organisations to promote the cause of young people ”SYP really promotes this year being the Year of Young People but they also work with Young Scot on many occasions as well as other organisations such as that ”
On top of all the work done by the MSYPs, this year is officially the Year of Young People in Scotland. Wiktoria explained that as an ambassador for the Year of Young People it expanded her role as a MSYP, helping and listening to the young people around her and carrying their views to a larger forum.
Talking about her first experience in the youth parliament, Wiktoria commented on the process by which motions are passed at the parliament. All MSYPs share consultations with their constituents and can propose motions based on the results. MSYPs then vote yes or no on the motion after some (heated) debate. Some of the motions discussed by the parliament include Paying for public toilets and knife crime. After a motion is passed it is recommended to the Scottish parliament and included in youth parliament policy.
Discussing her experience of her first sitting Wiktoria told me “it was exciting but also nervous, seeing all the people I know through social media debate over issues that are important to young people was really awe inspiring” Wiktoria’s next sitting is in march 2019 and wants to encourage all young people to get in contact and discuss their issues.
By Joseph Cruickshank and Wiktoria Orlicka
