European Network for Regional and local Youth Platforms – II Erasmus Project

Project Title

European Network for Regional and local Youth Platforms – II

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

The ENRYP II project builds on the findings and outcomes of the Erasmus+ ENRYP project led by Umbria Youth Forum in Italy and developed between 2017 and 2019. A key finding was the need for establishing a different kind of network, more flexible and including several stakeholders. The concept of the network should overcome the existing traditional ones, such as umbrella organisations composed only of youth organisations or youth representative structures; instead, it should have a multi-stakeholder approach by including, besides youth organisations, also municipalities, CSO, youth workers, youth academics and informal groups of young people.

On youth participation, current debates and developments include the growing importance of self-expression, diversity and social inclusion, how young people learn about participation, understanding the concept of new and innovative forms of participation (Crowley, Moxon 2017). The last SWD (169, 2018) “Situation of young people in the European Union” states that while young people are described as being more disenchanted with politics, especially regarding traditional modes of participation (i.e. those related to the representative democracy), increasing numbers of young Europeans are exploring new routes to political engagement and expression, in particular, those made available by the Internet and the social media. The document also shows how youth participation has become more individualised, ad-hoc and issue-specific. Young people have come to favour more flexible and issue-based forms of participation, being more active in non-governmental organisations rather than in political parties.

The main goal of the ENRYP II is to increase youth social and political participation in Portugal, Italy, UK, Hungary and Romania in order to achieve positive changes in young people’s lives and to build better societies.

The specific objectives of the project are:
– to establish a European network as a common space where young people but also relevant stakeholders exchange practices and explore together topics such as youth participation, active citizenship and EU awareness and identity
– to broaden and deepen political and social participation and understanding of at least 175 young people at the local and regional level in the 5 countries of the partner organisation
– to enable at least 175 young people to connect with, express their opinions to and influence elected policy-makers, public administrators, interest groups and CSOs within any of the political or social processes affecting their lives
 
TARGET GROUPS
The activities will target young people from 20 to 30 years of age, both organised and unorganised
In addition to it, the following will be involved:
– youth (representative) organisations
– informal groups of young people
– youth workers and experts (researchers, academics)
– decision-makers at the local and regional level
– public authorities and educational institutions
– interest groups on issue-specific topics

The main activities will include the realisation of 3 Intellectual Outputs namely
IO1 – European Network of Regional and local Youth Platforms – to offer young people a concrete space where they can express themselves and engage in meaningful dialogue with elected policy-makers, public administrators, interest groups, CSOs or individual citizens within any of the political or social processes affecting their lives
IO2 – Good practices Compendium – a collection of practices that were developed at the local and regional level with a two-fold aim: to increase an active participatory culture among young people and to explore new forms of political and social participation at the local and regional level.
IO3 – Youth Activist Kit – to support young people in acquiring knowledge and understanding of their position in a certain community, develop social and civic competences, active listening, learning to learn, a more positive attitude towards active participation, as well as skills to motivate and empower other young people to take meaningful part in the life of their communities
1 short-term staff training, 3 blended mobility activities and 6 multiplier events.

The overall impact and expected results during and especially after the project lifetime are:
– increased understanding of youngsters of the importance of participation in its various forms and of the diversity of contexts in Europe
– more connected young people with their peers at local and transnational level and with policy-makers, public administrators, interest groups within any of the political or social processes affecting their lives
– increased capacity of stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue with young people
– more responsible and autonomous youngsters that are able to take the lead in a process and empower their peers.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 202500 Eur

Project Coordinator

MUNICIPIO DE CASCAIS & Country: PT

Project Partners

• FORMA.AZIONE SRL
• Youth Focus North West Ltd
• Forum Regionale dei Giovani dell’Umbria
• FUNDATIA JUDETEANA PENTRU TINERET TIMIS
• EUROPA JOVOJE EGYESULET