Youth in Action Programme
Action 1 – Youth for Europe Encouraging young people’s active participation, mobility and sense of citizenship • Youth exchange • Youth Initiatives • Youth democracy
1.1 Youth Exchange Youth Exchanges allow one or more groups of young people to be hosted by a group from another country in order to participate together in a joint programme of activities. These projects involve the active participation of young people and are designed to allow them to discover and become aware of different social and cultural realities. It also encourages participants to learn from one another and reinforce their feeling of being European citizens.
Youth Exchange • Aimed at participants aged 13-25 years • Bilateral Exchange: minimum 8 participants per group • Trilateral Exchange: minimum 6 participants per group • Multilateral Youth Exchange: minimum 4 participants per group • UK €40/pnpp • WATCH Change How The Story ends
1.2 Youth Initiatives Youth Initiatives supports projects where young people participate actively and directly in activities which they have devised and play a key role, in order to develop their initiative, enterprise and creativity. The key concept is that the young people have control over all aspects from beginning to end and that the project responds to the needs and interests of the local community. In this way, a Youth Initiative project can help young people gain skills and experience that are transferable to work or educational environment.
Youth Initiatives Applications for Youth Initiatives projects should clearly show: An idea or theme that has been created by young people • How the young people will run it • A European dimension, that is, issues of common value to young people of different countries • Ideally, some potential for networking and establishing partnerships with like-minded groups throughout Europe • Contact person in the group must be a young person participating in the project • Legal representative may be a youth worker or coach •
Examples of Youth Initiatives • producing a DVD on theme of common interest • creating a support network to act on a common social problem in Europe • producing a European CD by recording music from different countries • preparing a film/video showing different realities in Europe • preparing a common performance/festival on music, dance, theatre, paintings, etc. • producing a virtual newspaper, collecting articles from different countries in Europe
Funding for Youth Initiatives Funding in the United Kingdom National Y.I €6,900 Transnational Youth Initiatives €10.100 Coach €1,250 * Festivals/South London United
Action 1.3 Youth Democracy This sub-Action supports young people's participation in democratic life. It aims to encourage the active participation of young people in the life of their local, regional or national community or at international level. Youth Democracy Projects enable young people to learn about democratic processes and become active citizens in their local communities or at European level. They learn to critically analyse political or social issues, and to make their voices heard. The projects allow them to try out ways of influencing the reality they live in and to make the world a better place.
Examples of Youth Democracy projects • Creation of networks for exchange and development of good practice in the field of youth participation • Consultations by and of young people, with a view to find out their needs and wishes on matters relating to participation in democratic life • Information events/seminars/debates for young people around the mechanisms of representative democracy at all levels. • Meetings between young people and decisionmakers or experts in the field of participation in democratic life
Action 2 - European Voluntary Service The aim of European Voluntary Service (EVS) is to develop solidarity and promote active citizenship and mutual understanding among young people
What is EVS? • EVS enables young people to carry out voluntary service for up to 12 months in a country, other than their own country of residence. • Beyond benefitting local communities, volunteers learn new skills and languages, and discover other cultures
An EVS project has 3 phases 1. Planning and preparation 2. Implementation 3. Evaluation (including reflection and follow-up)
How does EVS work? EVS is based on a partnership between a host project, the volunteer and a sending organisation. Volunteers carry out their volunteering placement in a host project outside the UK. Volunteers choose from accredited EVS projects that interest them. Host projects select volunteers for the vacancies they have. Applications for funding are made on the volunteer's behalf by either the host or sending organisation.
What are the benefits? Gain confidence and independence • Experience a different culture • Learn new skills and develop competencies • Contribute to the local host community • Enhance employability (Youthpass certificate on completion •
How much will it cost? It is free. Travel, accommodation, food and insurance are all covered by an European grant. (volunteers may be asked to contribute 10% of their travel costs) Volunteers receive a small personal allowance each month. Exceptional costs can be covered for y.w.f.o Watch our EVS project ‘’CREATIVE INCLUSION’’
Action 3 – Youth in the world • 3.1 Neighbouring countries • 3.2 Other countries of the world Watch our project BLACK BUTTERFLY
Action 4 – Training and Networking Activity
Uses
Duration
Participants
Job Shadowing
For youth workers, policy makers, etc. To 10‐20 working days, excluding travel exchange good practice and build youth work skills and capacity with another country
Up to two partners from two different countries
Feasibility Visit
For partners already in contact to develop Between two and three days excluding travel their project ideas and prepare the application
Up to two representatives per partner
Evaluation Meeting
A meeting to evaluate past Between two and 10 days, excluding travel meetings/seminars/training courses. This is an opportunity to discuss potential follow‐up work.
Between one and 50 participants representing each partner
Partnership‐building Activity
Brings together potential partners to facilitate Between two and 10 days, excluding travel the development of new projects
Between one and 50 participants representing each partner
Study Visits
Visits based around a youth work theme, to establish contacts and set up projects
Between two and 10 days, excluding travel
Between one and 50 participants representing each partner
Seminars
Exchange of good practice within an international group. Participants undergo a learning process and have a platform for discussion on themes linked to the objectives of the Youth in Action programme
Between two and 10 days, excluding travel
Between one and 50 participants representing each partner
Training Courses
To develop the skills and capacities of project Between two and 10 days, excluding travel organisers in practical aspects of international youth work
Between one and 50 participants representing each partner
Networking
Combination of activities aiming to create new networks, or to strengthen and widen existing networks
Six partners from different countries with no limitation on participants
Between three and 15 months
Action 5 – European Co-operation • 5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy • National Youth meetings (15 pax) • Transnational Youth seminars (30 pax) • Participants should be aged 15 – 30 • Include 5 programme countries for a TS
Deadlines Projects submitted to a National Agency the three deadlines per year are: Projects starting Application deadline 1 May and 31 October 1 February 1 August and 31 January 1 May 1 January and 30 June 1 October For projects submitted at a European level (EACEA) Projects starting between Application deadline 1 August and 31 December 1 February 1 December and 30 April 1 June 1 March and 31 July 1 September
Training • www.salto-youth.net • SOHO Training Courses