The European Youth Card Association (EYCA) has 40 member organizations in 38 countries. All are committed to promoting youth mobility and active citizenship for young people. EYCA member organizations believe that the young people they work with are not citizens of the future, they are citizens of Europe today and, as such, should be fully involved in decisions and developments that affect them. Member organizations develop and promote participation opportunities for young people – opportunities that give young people the chance to influence their communities, organizations at local and national levels, and what happens in society at large.
Here are some examples of how EYCA member organizations are promoting youth participation. These show how they are working with young people to identify needs, come up with innovative and creative solutions, and plan action within communities of interest and organizations.
SOCIAL INCLUSION and DEVELOPMENT- The EYCA member in Romania has a proven track record in creating projects for young people, which focus on non-formal education and the development of business skills. In 2012, EURO26 Romania completed a five-month project, M-Power: Community, Entrepreneurship, Citizenship, based in Bucharest. It aimed to increase the chances of social inclusion and integration in the labor market for 30 young Roma people aged between 18 and 30. Natalia Porubin from the EURO26 Association explains the project’s main objective: “The training was designed to help develop the personal, professional, and social skills of young people who have few opportunities. In three levels of coaching, we focused on personal growth, entrepreneurship education, and civic responsibility
YOUTH POLICY AND STRUCTURED DIALOGUE- Another new feature of the Structured Dialogue will be the possibility for young people to apply for funding and run their own local discussion on the selected theme and on the future national youth strategy for 2014-2020.