The research examines the role of local self-government in supporting young people with high potential and outstanding achievements in specific fields, using the Municipality of Ankaran as a case study. In the thesis, the concepts of giftedness and talent are used in accordance with the selected theoretical framework: giftedness primarily refers to broader intellectual abilities or above-average capacities of an individual across several areas simultaneously, while talent refers to more highly developed abilities or achievements in a specific field of human activity. The aim of the research was to examine which measures the Municipality of Ankaran implements to support such young people, how it cooperates with other stakeholders in this process, and how young people perceive the existing forms of support. The research is based on a qualitative approach. Document analysis and the method of semi-structured interviews were used. The interviews included municipal representatives involved in the planning and implementation of support programmes for young people, professionals in the field of education, and young people from the local environment who are users of the support activities provided by the Municipality of Ankaran. The findings show that the Municipality of Ankaran is developing an interconnected network of support measures, including universal scholarships, mentoring, enhanced educational programmes, and participatory mechanisms. Cooperation with Ankaran Primary School and Kindergarten and the University of Primorska plays an important role, as it enables the early identification of children’s and young people’s potential, including at the preschool level, as well as the development of adapted support activities and individualized work plans for gifted pupils. Young people evaluate municipal support positively, as it helps them pursue educational, creative, sports-related or other developmental goals, strengthens their motivation for learning, creative work and participation in support programmes, and increases their sense of belonging to the local community. At the same time, the research highlights several challenges, such as the uneven identification of gifted and talented young people, limited opportunities for their direct participation, and the need for additional programmes, particularly mentoring, international exchanges and creative spaces. In conclusion, the Municipality of Ankaran may be regarded as an example of good practice in local support for young people with high potential or outstanding achievements, while also having further opportunities for development in the areas of youth inclusion and the systematic monitoring of the effects of support measures.
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