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Challenges addressed by this paper
Limited social, economic and political participation Fragmented policy delivery // There is a need
// Youth information supports young peoples access for more coordination and coherence together
to youth rights and opportunities (i.e. mobility), and with concrete cooperation mechanisms to consult
enhances their active citizenship and participation in stakeholders and to create synergies between and
decision-making processes (i.e. structured dialogue). within public administrations at all levels.
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Right
RECOMMENDATION 1
to information: To offer free accurate, reliable and youth-
providing quality friendly information for all!
youth information to all young Take necessary steps to ensure the access
people across Europe of young people to youth information and
counselling services and the sustainability of
these services in order to contribute to the full
1. Youth information: a tailored-made service enjoyment of their rights.
for young people (with young people)
1.1 The EU and its Member States should
A speciality and great asset of youth information is support existing European networks of Youth
a certain form of translation. Often, and especially Information Services that are present at
when it comes to complex information and topics the grassroots level, in direct contact with
that concern rather formal or legal issues such as young people and staffed with qualified youth
education, family affairs, contracts, rights and duties information workers. We need to ensure that
the information provided is not easy to access and these services are accessible and available to all
understand. In those situations, youth information young people.
does not create the information itself but acts as an
interpreter and facilitator. 1.2 Recognise the key role that EYCA, ERYICA
and EURODESK play as main European youth
Youth Information has to consider individualsneeds; its information networks in enhancing the quality
methods and enviroments must be flexible, welcoming of these services by supporting capacity
and adaptable to the needs of different kinds of building, training, and peer-learning; as well as
young people. One of the tasks of youth information by pooling resources to ensure (cost) efficiency
is therefore to inform young people about all the and a strong multipliying effect and impact.
services that are tailored for them to strengthen their
knowledge about them so that they can grasp related 1.3 We call for a renewed European
opportunities. Youth Portal that provides youth-oriented
information, especially regarding youth mobility
Youth information plays a crucial role in the opportunities with local, regional, national and
curation of information because young people EU sources of information. It shall ensure that
are finding it difficult to effectively process, use young people are aware of their rights and the
and critically evaluate information. They may lack services available to them by offering a one-
the competences to navigate the overload of stop-shop.
information which is not always reliable, accurate
and does not meet the needs of the individual4. It is 1.4 Support and implement youth
therefore essential to offer young people accurate, participation mechanisms so that young
reliable and youth-friendly information directly people are involved in youth information
targeted at them. However, it is important that we creation and provision, and have the resources
do not rely on technology as the sole supplier of to empower themselves.
information, but that we provide human resources
to accompany young people in discerning the
veracity and quality of the information they receive,
produce and disseminate digitally.
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Guiding Framework of the Vth Structured Dialogue Cycle, EU
Youth Conference organised by the Dutch Presidency of the Council
of the EU in Amsterdam in March 2016
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2. Towards a comprehensive and integrated RECOMMENDATION 2
approach to youth information To ensure a comprehensive and integrated
approach to the provision of youth
There is a visible necessity to raise awareness among information
young people about the importance of their right
to accurate and reliable information in the exercise Ensure a comprehensive, coherent and
of their rights and freedoms. Youth information coordinated approach to youth information
and counselling should be a transversal priority delivery as an integrated and overarching
of European and national/regional youth policies. aspect of youth policy at all levels. Such policies
The principles of the European Youth Information should be developed in partnership with youth
Charter5 constitute a basis for minimum standards information services and structures, youth
and quality measures which should be established organisations, youth researchers, and young
in all countries as elements of a comprehensive, people through efficient consultation channels.
coherent and coordinated approach to youth
information work, which is an integrated part of 2.1 We call for an ambitious Youth
youth policy. Information Strategy targeted at young people
and especially aimed at reaching out and
In order to release the potential of youth involving young people who are further away
information in Europe, it is necessary to gain from the opportunities offered. This strategy
a deeper understanding of the information should be a pillar of the upcoming EU Youth
behaviour of young people to design and deliver Strategy and build on the success and lessons
the best possible services adapted to their needs. learnt from the current one. Our networks
Research on youth should underpin youth policies are ready to join forces to contribute and
and youth work. It can encourage a deeper implement such a strategy.
reflection on the role of youth information services
and on the competences required by youth workers 2.2 The EU and its Member States should
(professionals and volunteers) to effectively support support research and studies at national
young people. and European level aimed to gain a deeper
understanding of the information needs of
We also call for further research on the needs young people, the way they access information
of young people, especially those with fewer and communicate, the sources they trust, how
opportunities, on the impact and effectiveness of they create and disseminate information, and
youth information and the added-value of youth the role that professionals and volunteers in
mobility. ERYICA, EYCA and EURODESK regulary the youth field play or can play in the process.
collaborate with researchers, thanks to Horizon Recommendations can be drawn from this
2020 projects (i.e. MOVE, EUth) and the European research to support evidence-based policy-
Platform of Learning Mobility (EPLM). They making and practices.
emphasise the need to strengthen this cooperation
and give the field of youth information the 2.3 The EU and its Member States should
opportunity to propose areas for further research offer all young people easy access to free,
and enquiry. comprehensive, coherent and coordinated
youth information services by supporting
youth information structures on European,
national, regional and local level. The EU
Structural Funds should support the setting up
of youth information services where gaps exist
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European Youth Information Charter, Adopted in Bratislava (Slovak while the Erasmus+ programme should support
Republic) on 19 November 2004 by the 15th General Assembly of the exchange of good practices.
the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA)
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3. Ensuring that young people know and exercice spread of radical propaganda and hate speech
their rights and develop critical thinking online. However, it is essential to allocate sufficient
human resources and develop/support digital
ERYICA, EYCA and EURODESK conceive the right environments that address this challenge by offering
to information as instrumental as it enables the non-formal and informal media education. Youth
assertion of youth rights. Youth information builds information workers should be equipped with the
on the fact that it is not possible to make a sound necessary competences to accompany young people
decision without being informed about ones options in this learning process.
and opportunities. In this context, it provides young
people with guidance and support, which will help
them lead their choices constructively, develop
critical-thinking and enhance their autonomous RECOMMENDATION 3
decision-making. To prioritise media literacy and critical
thinking of young people
A function of youth information, that has become
ever more important over the years, is contributing The Council2 recently acknowledged the
to the information and media literacy of young importance of supporting young people
people. Young people have to be aware of the in enhancing their media and information
necessity to challenge the information they find, of literacy skills in order to develop critical
how information can be biased and manipulated, by thinking and to understand the sources and
developing their critical thinking. Without access to agendas behind the information obtained,
proper information and competences, young people including propaganda and hate speech. Youth
can be misled and negatively influenced in their life information services play a key role in that
options, opinion formulation, access to rights and respect, including supporting young people as
the ability to exercise their active citizenship.1 responsible media content producers.
In the digital era, a critical approach to information has 3.1 Recognise the importance of actively
become even more important as a significant part of encouraging young people to develop a critical
young peoples life takes place online. Young people use of media and information skills thereby
are not only information users, they also play a key role enhancing their autonomy and resourcefulness.
in creating and disseminating information. Therefore, Media education should be a key element of
there is an urgent need to enhance their ability to youth policy.
challenge the information they have access to and to
provide them with the necessary skills to produce and 3.2 Reinforce youth information services
disseminate information in a mindful manner. capacity to deliver non-formal learning to
young people, especially related to information,
Youth information Services strive to integrate media media and digital literacy. Partnerships
education, not only in their own work, but also in between youth information services and non-
developing different methods and environments formal and formal education providers, should
aimed to transmit the relevant life skills to young be particularly supported, notably within the
people themselves. In this sense, these services fulfil Erasmus+ programme.
a remarkable educational and preventive function
that constitutes a great added value to society; for
instance, youth information can play a key role in
the fight against youth violent extremism and the 2
Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the
Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council,
on the role of the youth sector in an integrated and cross-sectoral
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Guiding Framework and Guiding Questions of the Vth Structured approach to preventing and combating violent radicalisation of
Dialogue Cycle - EU Youth Conference Amsterdam, 2016 young people (9041/16)
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4. Guidance and Counselling: reaching out to all people where they are.
young people and providing them with a life
compass RECOMMENDATION 4
Quality guidance to reach out
Inclusion is a common principle of youth mobility to all young people
and youth information/counselling. Despite
different youth work policies and role given to Youth information is about delivering
youth information in EU countries, there is common information to all young people, which requires
ground on the principle that the starting point a specific effort in reaching out to those in
is addressing young peoples needs and seeing vulnerable situations. It is also about the
information as a catalytic tool making participation capacity of youth information services, and
and inclusion possible. Therefore, youth information youth work in general, to reflect on their own
has to be understood as a tool that can support an practices and to adapt to the needs of various
equal distribution of opportunities. groups (including the use of peer-to-peer
activities).
In particular, generalist youth information services
at local and regional level deal on a day-to-day basis 4.1 Support and equip those to whom
with topics that mainly concern the inclusion of young people may turn to for assistance in
young people: housing, employment, education, order to enable them to respond effectively to
financial issues, health (physical, emotional the changing and diverse needs of young people.
and mental) and well-being (including suicide They should also be prepared to cooperate in
prevention). Through giving information, counselling multi-sectoral/multi-professional partnerships
and guidance to young people, they promote (health, justice, employment, social affairs,
their access to all services and support measures etc.). In particular, EU Structural Funds should
available. This is particularly important as children support the training of youth information
and young people are generally considered to be workers.
one of the most vulnerable groups exposed to the
risk of poverty and social exclusion in Europe and 4.2 Support online and offline initiatives
beyond. aimed to reach out to young people especially
those who have fewer opportunities or some
Youth workers, youth information workers, and limitations to use the services offered. Create a
educators are often confronted with questions from welcoming culture so that young people feel
young people, sometimes complex and sensitive they can share their views in a safe and open
ones, and by default they do not necessarily environment without being judged.
possess the skills and information to answer them
adequately. It is crucial to enhance the provision of 4.3 Encourage the development, use and
quality youth information through trained youth knowledge of innovative methodologies and
information workers, youth organisations, mentors, environments aimed to reach out to targeted
volunteers, civil society organisations working within youth thanks to the exchange of best practices
the youth field, and young people themselves. In between Member States (OMC), stakeholders
particular, research is needed to support a common and youth workers through the involvement
understanding of the level of competences for youth in European (research) projects and European
information workers. networks.
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Mobility
is needed to reach out to young people with fewer
for young opportunities. Young people are not a homogenous
people: group; in order to meet a large variety of their needs
and expectations, it is essential to develop an
a right, not a privilege efficient and diverse set of tools to encourage
and facilitate youth mobility.3
However, figures vary significantly from one country 5.1 We call for youth mobility to be
to another and not all young people benefit from recognised as one of the key pillars of the
such opportunities. In fact, the percentage of young renewed EU Youth Strategy. We strongly
people going abroad is still relatively low, especially believe that this would highly encourage all
when it comes to young people with fewer Member States to mainstream youth mobility
opportunities. This is the case of cross-border in their national policies, thus developing
volunteering (which we know has a major impact in programmes and opportunities that would offer
youth development and employability2) that remains access to a learning, volunteering or working
inaccessible for many young people, especially the mobility experience to all young people.
ones with disabilities, from rural areas, or those from
disadvantaged economic backgrounds. 5.2 Every young citizen should have the right
to participate at least once in European
EYCA, ERYICA and EURODESK have joined and international mobility programmes.
efforts to support and encourage youth This means supporting those from
mobility through all available communication disadvantaged groups to overcome potential
channels. The three platforms have been promoting barriers to have access to mobility opportunities.
mobility opportunities via their online channels,
with the support of youth information workers, by 5.3 The Erasmus+ programme should be
engaging grassroots actors such as educators, local expanded as it represents one of the greatest
authorities, front line providers of youth services or successes of the European integration process
of young people themselves and yet greater support and can enormously contribute to build a
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Commission Staff Working Document Situation of young
people in the EU, accompanying the Communication from the 3
The European Youth Card (EYC) for example enhances and pro-
Commission Draft 2015 Joint Report of the Council and the motes youth mobility, active citizenship and participation beyond
Commission on the implementation of the renewed framework for borders. Being in direct contact with 6 million cardholders, their
European Cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018), 2015 vast majority non-organised young people, the EYC is a one-of-a-
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Evaluation of the EU Youth Strategy and the Council Recommen- kind source of information on all aspects of young peoples lives
dation on the mobility of young volunteers across the EU, March and a direct channel of communication with young people across
2016 Europe.
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more open, tolerant and resilient society. We countries and socio-economic groups, more highly
therefore call for an amibitious programme for educated respondents being more likely to say
education and youth in the context of the future that they have heard of the various tools5. Youth
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). information therefore plays an important role in
raising awareness about the supporting tools
5.4 We recommend to develop programmes aimed to an increased transparency and recognition
that allow young Europeans, migrants and of competences and qualifications, as well as to
refugees to interact and engage more with ensure their acknowledgement by employers and
each other. These aspects would contribute educational providers alike.
to social inclusion, to fight youth violent
extremism, and eventually to build more Finally, it is essential to support mobile students
tolerant and open communities. when it comes for instance to health and housing;
to ensure they can make the best of their learning
experience. Specific tools should support the social
2. Youth mobility and transition to adulthood and cultural integration of young mobile people into
the host country.
The quality opportunities for youth mobility have
significantly increased youth employment across the RECOMMENDATION 6
EU. Tools such as EURES and Europass contribute to To enhance youth autonomy through
support an increased mobility of young people on the mobility
EU-28 labour market. Although these measures were
not part of the EU Youth Strategy 2010-2018, they Having a working or volunteering experience
are strongly linked to youth needs and demonstrate abroad represents a strong asset for any young
the added value that youth mobility brings in person and significantly increases his/her
other sectors of our societies. However, these employability. Moreover, a mobility opportunity
opportunities remain known to a limited number develops key competences - such as intercultural
of young people and do not always reach the ones understanding, negotiation skills, critical
that need them the most. A better coordination thinking - which foster autonomy, independence
between priorities of the next EU Youth Strategy and self-confidence.
and other policy measures would contribute to
stimulate youth mobility beyond the youth sector. 6.1 Recognition and validation of
competences gained in youth mobility
The modernisation of education policies should also programmes highly contribute to increasing
aim for an increased recognition of competences employment, social inclusion, European
and qualifications across countries. Indeed, an citizenship awareness, and participation among
important obstacle to learning mobility is the lack young people. We strongly recommend a
of recognition of the learning outcomes that better development of tools, as for example
result from it. The validation of non-formal and Europass Mobility, and systematic efforts
informal learning is a priority of the EU4. Reforms of to encourage employers to recognise these
education and qualification systems have promoted evaluation instruments and the added
an increased recognition of non-formal and informal value of youth mobility (i.e. Pact4Youth).
learning and several European instruments have
been developed such as Youthpass and Europass. 6.2 Support the development of specific
These tools are seldom known by young people; mobility tools, such as the European
overall, 3% of EU citizens say that they have heard Youth Card, by building capacities for the
of the Youthpass with important differences across organisations and institutions to constantly
engage young people and ultimately facilitate
4 Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation their economic and social inclusion.
of non-formal and informal learning and Resolution of the Council
of 18 May 2006 on the recognition of the value of non-formal and
informal learning within the European youth field. 5 European Area of Skills and Qualifications, Special Eurobarometer
417, European Union, 2014
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3. Adding new perspectives to youth mobility Our three organisations possess a Europe-wide network
and youth information services of local, regional, and national partners which may
serve as supporting structures for mobile youth by
The final decision of going abroad, beyond financial providing guidance in aspects such as housing, legal
barriers, is linked to a young persons inner feeling advice, cultural activities, etc.
of being mobile, the so-called concept of motility
related to ones attitude and behaviour in relation to
mobility. Indeed, young people often hesitate about RECOMMENDATION 7
going abroad for volunteering, studying or gaining To reinforce the services offered by youth
a new experience due to the insecurity that facing information
unknown, unfamiliar or challenging situations may
cause. Especially during adolescence, changing ones The EU and its Member States should
life means entering in a new sphere of personal invest more in equal and quality free youth
independence1. It is therefore important to provide information services that can support mobile
quality youth information and counselling adapted to young people before, during and after the
their specific needs. mobility experience. In order to encourage
young people to be mobile, it is also crucial to
The experience of youngsters who have already develop innovative methods, such as peer youth
had an international encounter or volunteered can information and support.
help strengthen motility and give hesitating young
people the power to face the challenge by sharing 7.1 The EU and its Member States should
their experience. They can also convey the benefits encourage the development of combined
of intercultural experiences even to those who will sending and hosting youth information
not take the final step to move abroad. Our three services. Our networks can support such an
networks strongly believe that working with peer initiative by coordinating the work of their
youth information is, beside the existing services, national, regional and local members and
an excellent tool to motivate young people to multipliers.
challenge themselves through mobility.
7.2 Innovative methods such as the use of peer
Young peoples lifestyles are entrenched in technology. youth information and support within youth
This impacts the way we design and deliver youth information services can make a difference in
information services and the way of communicating encouraging young people to become mobile.
youth mobility opportunities. Innovative online The EU and its Member States should support
services, combined with face-to-face counselling, innovative practices in the field.
should be developed in order to reap the opportunities
offered by new technologies in reaching out and 7.3 Young people who have experienced
engaging more young people. The use of testimonials, mobility should have the capacity to receive
for example, can be further used on online specific support (i.e. under Erasmus+)
environments in order to convey the benefits of learning to develop initiatives and act as mobility
mobility. ambassadors back in their communities.
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Communication on Radicalisation2, Paris
Conclusion Declaration3, EU Elections 2019);
More awareness of the importance of
Our three networks firmly believe that young people developing validation mechanisms (2018
who are not informed about their rights or that do not target, Council Recommendation on
know how to make use of them are more vulnerable Validation of 20124);
to suffer from discrimination, intolerance, lack of More evidenced-based policy-making
opportunities, and negative influences. and practices ;
Better coherence of youth policies and
Youth information is an essential right. Therefore, we between actors in the field thanks to
urge the EU institutions and the Member States to reinforced partnerships.
ensure a comprehensive, coherent and coordinated
approach to youth information. Youth information
should be a pillar of the future EU Youth Strategy.
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