International Youth Think Tank’s Post

Join us for our webinar: The (HE)ART of Participation 🗣️👥 on 16th JUNE 2024, 14:30 - 16:00 CET. We'll dive into crucial topics: ❓ Where to find the right young people to be involved? ❓ How to ensure representativity and inclusion of less privileged youth? ❓ How to empower young people to be able to give their voice and influence municipal decisions? ❓ How to motivate them and keep them engaged? How to support them in their further carrier? Don't miss out on strategies to enhance youth participation! Register here: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/deYmVinD

To empower rural youth voices, it is essential to: - Start at the grassroots level to connect young people at national & EU levels - Establish interconnected platforms, such as youth councils and parliaments, to ensure effective communication & representation - Ensure diverse representation through various mechanisms, such as appointing ambassadors, to amplify voices that may otherwise be marginalised - Enhance digital connectivity & training to enable rural youth to engage meaningfully in national and EU-level discussions What are the approaches to bridge youth and policymakers? Find insights in the highlights report of our dedicated Good Practice Webinar: https://bit.ly/3YyhqZE

🌍 The EU Youth Dialogue (EUYD) is the biggest youth consultation process in Europe, taking place since 2010. 💡 What are its key achievements? 💬 How does it promote youth participation in the EU and bring youth voices in the policy debate? 📖 Find out in our latest publication: Review of the 9 Cycles of the EU Youth Dialogue (2010-2022) to find out more. 📥 Link to the publication: https://go.coe.int/UesPU

In May 2024, I had the privilege of attending the World Expression Forum (WEXFO) in Norway and moderating two sessions on youth and freedom of expression. I heard what young people from around the world (many much younger than me) have to say, what questions they're asking, what their fears and hopes are, and what they think the path forward is in terms of freedom of expression - but also in terms of justice, development, peace, and more. I share key insights I've gathered as a way to answer the question: How can we make the kids – and our future – alright?

📖 SUNDAY READ 📖 - Rising to the Challenge: Building Democratic Resilience and Countering Pessimism In an era of democratic backsliding and rising authoritarianism, this article by Sara Lehtiniemi explores how political systems can remain resilient against anti-democratic challenges. By focusing on examples from the US, Turkey, and several other EU countries, this piece argues that optimism is essential for fostering democratic resilience, which can be promoted by increasing historical awareness, combating mis- and disinformation, as well as fostering education to reinforce democratic values and citizen participation. Read the full article via the website: https://lnkd.in/ejVWrFuX

🌍 European Week in Unna: Traffic Signs of Justice - Together for Europe, Together for Justice 🌍 As the countdown to the European Elections is on, we're also counting the days to our European Week "Traffic Signs of Justice - Together for Europe, Together for Justice" taking place from May 13 to 17 in Unna, Germany. There are still 5 spots available! This unique workshop is aimed at educators, teachers and cultural multipliers from across Europe, focusing on creative teaching methods, cultural exchange, and fostering a deeper understanding of democracy and justice. It's an incredible opportunity to: 🎭 Experience artistic workshops led by experts in the field, including Johannes Volkmann of “Das Papiertheater.” 🌐 Embrace cultural diversity and work on cross-border projects. 📚 Enhance your skills in planning and implementing cultural educational offerings. 💬 Explore democratic values and processes through artistic expressions. 🤝 Network with fellow educators, teachers and cultural multipliers passionate about shaping contemporary educational spaces. Highlights Include: - Creative learning through collage theater and paper theater exploring themes like opinion and freedom. - Integration of local students in workshops for a real exchange of ideas and culture. - A creation of an artistic installation in the town square, fostering community engagement and cultural education. - Strategies for implementing workshop learnings in your own school and city, with a focus on democratic empowerment and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The workshop is free, including a welcoming dinner, light lunches, refreshments, and materials to bring home. Accommodation is not included, but a recommendation is provided with a special rate. Don't miss this chance to be a part of a Europe-wide initiative to foster creativity, political engagement, and cultural education in contemporary educational spaces. Register by April 13, 2024, to secure your spot! For more information and to register, visit: www.url.nrw/TSJ. 📅 Let's make a difference, together. #TogetherForEurope #EducatorsUnite #CulturalExchange #JusticeThroughArt #EuropeanUnionValues

1️⃣4️⃣ years, hundreds of thousands of #young people, tangible contributions to EU decision-making (the Youth Guarantee, the eleven youth goals, the Commission #youthcheck...), this review confirms that the #EUYouthDialogue, funded by #Erasmus+, remains an effective instrument for #youthparticipation. Of course, there are ways to make it even better! The review concludes that: 🎯 at national and EU level, more can be done to close the feedback loop and communicate better on the results of the Dialogue, 🎯 the Dialogue should evolve as a #youthmainstreaming instrument and more policy makers from fields other than youth need to take part in it, 🎯 monitoring and data collection can be further improved, which will help us get a better picture of the Dialogue's impact, 🎯 the role of international non-governmental youth organisations should be clarified and their contribution funded appropriately. Happy to have contributed with Marta Touykova to this review. As legacy of the European Year of Youth the European Commission committed to strengthening the Dialogue further. Stay tuned for me.

Happy #InternationalYouthDay! 📕https://lnkd.in/giHxgcbw 🧑🤝The engagement and participation of young people in our political systems is crucial for democracy - despite many people thinking that young people aren't interested in democracy! ❓ Discover the survey, 'How young people facing disadvantage view democracy in Europe', which unpacks myths on young people facing disadvantages backgrounds perceptions of democracy. It focuses on the perspectives of over 100 young people who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage and their relationship with politics and democracy in Ireland 🇮🇪, Poland 🇵🇱, and Spain 🇪🇸, with complimentary case studies in Hungary 🇭🇺, and France 🇫🇷. ⤵️ With insights from over 50 experts in politics, youth work, and academia, we find 🔻Young people value democracy... 🔻 but feel distanced from formal democratic processes 🔻 this has manifested in protest-based direct action on issues How can this be resolved? 🪧A youth test for EU policies 🙋♀️enhanced youth representation in political parties  📈increased financial and educational support 🎯 direct engagement with politicians and utilising digital platforms for participation 📕 Read "How young people facing disadvantage view democracy in Europe"! https://lnkd.in/giHxgcbw

This Research Fellow will support a comprehensive research initiative studying youth civic engagement collaboratives across multiple states. The fellow will work closely with our team at CIRCLE and our research partner Youth Engagement Fund to gather, analyze, and synthesize data that will inform the development of state-based youth civic engagement infrastructure. Learn more here: https://buff.ly/4g53XNQ

I had a great conversation at the Council of Europe Mediabox about youth participation in democratic processes and the importance of meaningful engagement. Role of Youth Delegates: Emphasised the importance of Youth Delegates as representatives, outlining their functions and responsibilities within the Congress to amplify youth voices and perspectives. Skill development for effective contribution: Advocated for a shift in focus from mere inclusion to actively developing the skills and competencies of young people, ensuring they can meaningfully contribute to discussions and decision-making processes. Active involvement in solution co-creation: Highlighted the necessity of engaging youth, not only in voicing concerns, but also in actively participating in co-creating solutions to address societal challenges, fostering ownership and innovation in problem-solving. Check out my interview where I share insights on our work on promoting youth participation and finding innovative solutions to global challenges.