European Youth Card Association

Over the last two days, Andorra la Vella became a hub of dialogue and innovation as we gathered for the Partial Agreement Seminar on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, organised by the Council of Europe and the European Youth Card Association (EYCA). What we discussed 👉 The seminar focused on the intersection of urban youth participation and inclusive youth spaces, exploring how cities act as living labs for tackling societal challenges. We discussed how the European Youth Card connects governments, policymakers, youth organisations, and young people to create innovative solutions for youth engagement and mobility. The event emphasised the importance of youth participation in shaping sustainable urban environments, encouraging governments to join the Partial Agreement and prioritise youth mobility and active citizenship in their policies. A huge thank you to Carnet Jove Andorra, the Andorran Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, and all participants for making this an inspiring event. How can we further empower young people to lead the way in creating inclusive and sustainable urban communities? Share your thoughts with us below. 👇

How can young people be more engaged in the democratic process and in politics? Today, we went to Université de Namur and discussed it with students from Political Science, Communications and Law courses! Among the many ideas, TikTok videos to translate institutional language, PubQuizes with local politicians and simulations of the national parliament. Professor Laura Uyttendaele, also mentioned the important role Voting Advice Applications have - right Palumba EU?

⏳ Last Call! Applications for the EYCA Youth Panel are open until Sunday! Still have questions? We’ve got you covered! 🙌 Check out our Instagram – we just posted the most popular Q&A highlights from our session. 📲 Apply now – time’s running out! ⏰ https://lnkd.in/dQWJw5iE

We need a European Year of Rural Areas. Rural culture needs to be celebrated. And much like for the European Year of Youth, such a campaign would highlight the existing opportunities, enable the development of new ones and bring visibility to current challenges linked to rural areas. Especially with today’s political climate, we need to reduce polarisation between people from different areas. The European Youth Card Association event we hosted a couple of weeks ago brought together various experts and local actors to discuss how to boost rural youth. There are so many fun projects and programmes already happening locally, which often rely on tools set up at the EU & national level. But more needs to be done to join these initiatives and policies together for better impact. Rural areas are getting better attention nowadays, both in terms of policy development and in the news. We should ride this wave to bring even more visibility to rural development. Thanks to everyone who joined this conversation, and especially to Anna Strolenberg and Babis Papaioannou for their thoughts! PS. Bridie-Louise Full Circle Brussels is a great, informal venue space in Brussels – highly recommend it.

In September, we held the second edition of the Walk the Talk seminar in Visegrád, Hungary, where young people, cultural experts, and policymakers gathered to tackle the unique challenges rural youth face in accessing cultural heritage. Organised by the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card in collaboration with the European Youth Card Association, the Youth Department of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary, and the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, the event focused on making heritage accessible and engaging for young people. With sessions on key structural barriers and interactive experiences like a Visegrád treasure hunt, participants explored how to preserve, transmit, and transform heritage for a new generation. Find the report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dea3C4wx Council of Europe European Institute of Cultural Routes, Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme

How can we truly support young people in rural areas across Europe? Last week, our open conversation brought together youth organisations, institutional representatives, and passionate individuals dedicated to exploring the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural youth. 🌍 Rural youth face distinct issues that range from limited transport and cultural activities to accessible infrastructure. With these challenges in mind, the EYCA Youth Panel launched the Rural Youth Project to directly engage with young voices in remote areas—gathering their insights, ideas, and lived experiences. Our speakers, Anna Strolenberg, MEP and member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, and Babis Papaioannou, Policy Officer for Youth at the European Commission, shared their key perspectives on what can be done at the European level to address these pressing issues. 🔹 Tailoring solutions for the diverse demographics of rural youth, 🔹 Strengthening the tools and policies at the EU level, 🔹 Building stronger links between local communities and European institutions. This conversation is just the beginning. We’d love to hear your thoughts, too! How can we better address the needs of rural youth? What policies and practices have you seen that make a difference? #ruralyouth #youthEempowerment #europeanyouth #youthpolicies #EYCA

Last week, I joined an insightful discussion on rural youth challenges, led by Anna Strolenberg, MEP 🇪🇺, and Babis Papaioannou, Policy Officer at the European Commission. It was eye-opening to see the real struggles young people in rural areas face—lack of reliable transport 🚍, limited access to infrastructure 🏫, and fewer opportunities for cultural activities 🎭. European initiatives like the Rural Pact are crucial, but more work is needed to bridge the gap between EU policies and local communities. Together with youth panel members Hailey Ciantar, Dr Ally Zlatar, Kristina Tsankova, Nikitas Papadopoulos, Sara Vilhar, Stiven Domi, Tiago Barsan, Rafaela Nunes, José Juan Núñez Timermans and Coen V. we can better support rural youth with tailored policies and collaborative efforts. 💬 Big thanks to the European Youth Card Association Youth Panel for launching the Rural Youth Project and for creating a space to share ideas on this vital topic! 💪 Excited to see where these conversations lead! #RuralYouth #YouthPolicy #EU

✨ Big Announcement! ✨ Applications for the new EYCA Youth Panel are OPEN! 🚀 Are you a European Youth Cardholder aged 18-29 with a passion for youth representation and civic action? EYCA is looking for 11 new Youth Panel members for a two-year journey! 🌎 Develop new skills, lead projects, and represent young voices across Europe. 🔹 Q&A session: 📅 13 November at 18.00 CET – bring your questions! 🔹 Application deadline: ⏰ 17 November 2024. Click the link to get all the info and apply on time: https://lnkd.in/dQWJw5iE

Call for Participants! The Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card and EYCA invite you to the seminar ‘Urban Youth Participation and Inclusive Youth Spaces’, taking place 27-29 November 2024 in Andorra la Vella, Andorra! 🇦🇩 What to Expect: 🌍 Promotion of the European Youth Card as a tool for policy impact on youth at local, national, and European levels. 🤝 Good practice exchange from EYCA members focusing on urban youth participation. 📝 Engagement for policy change: Governments are encouraged to address 'youth mobility' as a key policy priority. Interested in joining? Send your expression of interest by Wednesday, 6 November 2024 to: youthmobility@coe.int 🔗 For the concept note and full programme, check here:

Last week, our members from Montenegro, Andorra, and Scotland visited Slovenia for an insightful study visit! 🇲🇪🇦🇩🏴🇸🇮 Together, they explored innovative approaches in youth card services, exchanging ideas on programmes, outreach strategies, and best practices to better serve cardholders. The visit was a unique opportunity for our members to learn, share, and get inspired by the Slovenian team’s impactful work, focusing on increasing access, engagement, and benefits for young people. By bridging our knowledge and experience across borders, we’re committed to building a stronger more connected European Youth Card community 🌐💡 #youthempowerment #EuropeanYouthCard #EYCA #studyvisit #members