Providing for the ability of young persons to participate in society and contribute to the European and national agendas (social/political/economic) is of extreme importance, not only to their future but also to the future of Europe. Support services for youth have to be considered a priority, particularly in the present time when young persons find themselves faced with many barriers preventing growth, such as unemployment, discrimination, homelessness, rising school/university fees.
Across Europe right now, 5.5 million young people – one in five of those aged between 15 and 24 who are on the labour market – are without a job. In some individual member states, the situation is even worse. In Spain and Greece for example, youth unemployment rates are above 50 per cent. Youth homelessness is also on the rise. A more recent campaign on homelessness in the UK gave voice to young homeless people who feel that they have become "invisible" to society. Many young people, like Roma or those coming from different ethnic backgrounds, face yet more issues like social exclusion and discrimination.
For the first time in the modern age, the younger generations, far from hoping for a better life than that of their parents and grandparents, are sure that they will have a harder time of it. Social difficulties like the ones described above can leave permanent scars on Europe’s youth. Nevertheless, there are emerging at the same time examples of positive responses from institutions, civil society and, most importantly, young people themselves that seek to confront and tackle the challenges in place.
Picture by Pierre Metivier
Below are examples of the different types of ACTIONS (in orange) and POLICIES (in green) that aim to give support for youth.
AEGEE (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe/European Students’ Forum) - a student organisation that promotes cooperation, communication and integration amongst young people in Europe.
A global movement of young people, made up of regional/national networks, who want to lead a life based on spiritual values: “starting with ourselves, we want to help in generating a future of hope, peace and social engagement while maintaining an awareness of universal spiritual principles”.
To revitalise and energise Alfama and its communities, the A Linha project aims to develop levels of understanding and interaction as well as to create gardens and cultivation, organising shows and cultural activities that promote gastronomy, commerce, sport and leisure.
Auteur : Malou Weirich/Lorna Muddiman - Publié le : 2013-08-22 09:09 -
Cold Barn farm is a centre for youth activity, which is dedicated to children and young people and making a difference in their lives. The allotment project started in 2006 when a group of young people showed an interest in growing their own vegetables.
Auteur : Malou Weirich /Lorna Muddiman - Publié le : 2013-08-21 09:21 -
The Mazargues allotment gardens, situated on the Joseph Aiguier site, are part of the city of Marseille’s historical heritage. The Gardens and the allotments greatly contribute to community life - facilitating a healthier environment, social inclusion, access to food and more...
Auteur : Maria Jeliazkova - Publié le : 2013-08-14 12:46 -
The aim of the initiative (and the associated project) is to establish a configuration of social actors to support the creation and adoption of an adequate legal framework for the development of the social economy and social enterprises in the country.
Auteur : Maria Jeliazkova - Publié le : 2013-08-13 15:14 -
By working with and for people with disabilities, the project aims to provide equal opportunities and better life chances for them. The activities simultaneously increase the level of public awareness on issues of people with disabilities and lobby for their rights.
Auteur : Roman Kryvosheia / Lorna Muddiman - Publié le : 2013-07-16 13:42 -
The project deals with issues like the social exclusion of vulnerable groups of citizens, due to their limited ability to exercise their rights, and the exclusion of recent law graduates from the labour market due to a lack of work experience.
Providing solutions for job shortages and vacant property in the UK, Retail Ready People is a free 12-week skills development and volunteering programme which gives 16 – 25 year olds the chance to set up and run a high street shop in empty buildings in their local area.
Young Social Innovator's mission is to raise social awareness in Ireland by providing social awareness education through action and platforms for young people and those guiding them.
Auteur : Malou Weirich /Lorna Muddiman - Publié le : 2013-08-21 09:21 -
The Mazargues allotment gardens, situated on the Joseph Aiguier site, are part of the city of Marseille’s historical heritage. The Gardens and the allotments greatly contribute to community life - facilitating a healthier environment, social inclusion, access to food and more...
Intergenerational solidarity housing initiatives enable young students to be hosted cheaply by seniors in exchange of a small presence and services that can in no way however be a substitute for professional care services.
To revitalise and energise Alfama and its communities, the A Linha project aims to develop levels of understanding and interaction as well as to create gardens and cultivation, organising shows and cultural activities that promote gastronomy, commerce, sport and leisure.
Auteur : Malou Weirich/Lorna Muddiman - Publié le : 2013-08-22 09:09 -
Cold Barn farm is a centre for youth activity, which is dedicated to children and young people and making a difference in their lives. The allotment project started in 2006 when a group of young people showed an interest in growing their own vegetables.
Auteur : Malou Weirich /Lorna Muddiman - Publié le : 2013-08-21 09:21 -
The Mazargues allotment gardens, situated on the Joseph Aiguier site, are part of the city of Marseille’s historical heritage. The Gardens and the allotments greatly contribute to community life - facilitating a healthier environment, social inclusion, access to food and more...
The Project Rebeldia, a social center which was for two years without a space to carry out its activities, together with the Municipality of the Commons (consisting of groups and citizens' associations that have always worked with the Project Rebeldia) occupied a former paint factory (Ex Colorificio), located in an industrial area of a multinational of about 14,000 metres, and which had been abandoned for 5 years. The main purpose of the occupation was to return it to the associations and citizen groups as a shared and common good; a place for the provision of many different activities and services to the city.
Auteur : Roman Kryvosheia / Lorna Muddiman - Publié le : 2013-07-16 13:42 -
The project deals with issues like the social exclusion of vulnerable groups of citizens, due to their limited ability to exercise their rights, and the exclusion of recent law graduates from the labour market due to a lack of work experience.
Auteur : Louise Hain - Publié le : 2013-07-15 22:36 -
HacKIDemia is a mobile intervention Lab that enables children to learn by doing and playing during hands on workshops around new technologies, science and art.
Providing solutions for job shortages and vacant property in the UK, Retail Ready People is a free 12-week skills development and volunteering programme which gives 16 – 25 year olds the chance to set up and run a high street shop in empty buildings in their local area.
Auteur : Louise Hain - Publié le : 2013-05-27 14:10 -
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are free non-degree online courses with open unlimited global enrollment to anyone who desires to learn, and regardless of their current educational level.
Auteur : Louise Hain - Publié le : 2013-08-14 07:19 -
Youth Communal Councils or Children Communal Councils are participatory measures organized in many cities in Wallonia where Children/ teenagers are able to directly take part in the local life by providing to their local officials new ideas/projects for community well being and local life improvement.