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Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity
Directorate for Democracy
Youth Department
THINK YOUTH| No 126 - September 2024
Standing up for democracy, human rights and rule of law: Ukraine’s playbook for Europe
Standing up for democracy, human rights and rule of law: Ukraine’s playbook for Europe
Ukrainian Youth Forum organised in Kyiv and Kyiv region to mark the International Youth Day


More than 350 youth leaders, youth workers, and policy makers gathered for the Ukrainian Youth Forum, marking the International Youth Day. This three-day annual event “Free to Dream”, was organised by the Council on Youth Affairs under the President of Ukraine in close co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine with the support of international partners, notably the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III”.

The Forum provided a platform for discussion on the current state of affairs in the youth field in Ukraine and Europe. Participants had the opportunity to learn about civic education and mobility opportunities, organisational capacity building, as well as the Council of Europe standards and approaches on democratic youth participation.

The President of Ukraine, the Speaker of the Parliament, and the Prime Minister participated in the third day of the Forum.

Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department, emphasised that Ukrainian youth are fighting for the freedom of young people across Europe to build democracy, human rights and rule of law during the panel discussion on the future of youth policy in Ukraine and Europe.

Read more on the event ›
“I have confidence in tomorrow because I have confidence in youth” says Marija Pejčinović Burić
“I have confidence in tomorrow because I have confidence in youth” says Marija Pejčinović Burić

Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić made the following statement on 12 August, International Youth Day :

“Being with and thinking with young people, learning from and with youth, participating and acting together across generations have been core to the Council of Europe’s mission for decades.

“Today, on International Youth Day, we celebrate the positive contributions of each youth cohort to shaping our societies. Young people are not just the future; they are the vibrant present, actively at the forefront of promoting and defending our organisation’s values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

“Young people are a central component of democratic decision-making, as acknowledged in the Reykjavik Declaration. They are highlighting key issues of our times, such as tackling the triple planetary crisis, ensuring equal rights for all, and combatting democratic backsliding. Young people are drivers of progress and change for a better tomorrow. The youth of Ukraine are a powerful example of standing up for the values of the Council of Europe. It is our responsibility to ensure they can exercise their fundamental role in the recovery and reconstruction efforts of their country.

“The Council of Europe is dedicated to supporting the democratic participation of young people across Europe, by embedding a youth perspective in all our intergovernmental work and other deliberations. The Advisory Council on Youth has been an invaluable partner in our co-managed decision-making system for over half a century.

“The democratic legacy that we shape, we shape and pass on together to ensure a future where Europeans can live in freedom, security, and dignity.

“I have confidence in tomorrow because I have confidence in youth”.

COMPASS NATIONAL TRAINING COURSES
Greece and Luxembourg

On 2 September, ELIX – Conservation Volunteers Greece begins a five-day training course to equip educators from formal and non-formal education and social services with the competences needed to promote educational inclusion, a culture of human rights, and a democratic perspective toward social and school life for young people in Greece.

COMPASS NATIONAL TRAINING COURSES

From 9 to 13 September, Association Luxembourgeoise pour le Dialogue Interculturel is organising a national training course on human rights education at the Council of Europe Quality-Labelled Youth Centre in Marienthal, Luxembourg. This training course aims to create a deeper impact within the participants' communities by enhancing young people's competencies in human rights education."
Calls for tender - Deadline 15 September 2024!
Calls for tender - Deadline 15 September 2024!


You have but a few days left to answer the Calls for tenders! Join our trainer and expert rosters and cooperate with the youth department of the Council of Europe!

The Youth Department of the Council of Europe announces two new tenders for the establishment of rosters of trainers and experts.

The deadline to apply is Sunday 15 September 2024
Consult the Calls for tenders ›
Upcoming Symposium: young people, democracy and climate action
Upcoming Symposium: young people, democracy and climate action


From 24-26 September, 120 young people, policy makers, researchers and institutional representatives will gather at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg to discuss the impact of climate change on young people’s lives.

If you would like to learn more about young people’s climate activism, have a look at our programme of the Symposium, read Youth Partnership’s research on youth climate movement and get inspired by a video on youth climate activism and our Sustainability Checklist.

Read more ›
The European Youth Foundation supports 25 projects bridging local and European dimensions
The European Youth Foundation supports 25 projects bridging local and European dimensions

In August 2024, the Programming Committee on Youth approved 25 project proposals from 16 different countries under the pilot activity grant scheme for a total amount of 362 722 euros. Forteen supported NGOs are first-time beneficiaries of an EYF grant. 131 pilot activity applications were submitted.

The funded projects address various topics, such as supporting active youth citizenship and democratic participation, introducing a youth perspective in youth policy at national level, human rights education initiatives with various target groups, including groups exposed to marginalisation, the promotion of social rights, civil rights of young people from Belarus, the rights of young people in the school environments. capacity-building initiatives for youth workers, the promotion of education on sexual and reproductive rights, empowering LGBTQI+ young people in universities, engaging young refugees in social inclusion processes, combating discrimination, raising awareness on gender equality, litigation in relation to the climate crisis, support initiatives for the mental and social well-being of young people, remembrance education as a tool for youth awareness about social injustice.

Find out more on the Pilot activities programme ›
YOUTH WORK & YOUTH POLICY IN WAR TIME IN UKRAINE

Since March 2022, the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine – Phase III”  accompanies youth policy and youth work under war conditions, the Project activities are implemented in close co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

Participatory Youth Policy
Participatory Youth Policy

On 14-16 August 2024, in Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025 – the trainers of the Council of Europe Professional Development Programme "Participatory Youth Policy" summed up the implementation of the training programmes, discussed challenges and needs for the future.

The first educational and practical programme "Participatory Youth Policy" has been implementing since November 2023 linked to the Model General Short-Term Professional Development Programme "Participatory Youth Policy" to ensure the participation of young people in the formation and implementation of youth policy, taking into account the standards and approaches of the Council of Europe.

The Project created a training manual, conducted a training for trainers, prepared a series of videos of young people's participation practices and provided mentoring and expert support for the trainers team in the preparation and implementation of trainings at the regional and local levels. As a result, 19 programmes took place in 2024 for 555 civil servants, local government officials, scientists and educators.

Read more on the programme ›
"Stars. Stars. Les Étoiles." for the education and training of young people and professional communities
"Stars. Stars. Les Étoiles." for the education and training of young people and professional communities

In co-operation with young people and an expert team, the Project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III" developed the visual tool "Stars. Stars. Les Étoiles." for the education and training on human rights, democracy, non-formal education, youth participation, environmental protection, cultural heritage, artificial intelligence, anti-discrimination and social cohesion.

It can be used by both those who are starting to conduct educational activities and those who have been working in this field for a long time, for participants of any age and language of communication. The use of this tool can create a favourable space for individual and group reflection, feedback and open dialogue in the group, as well as solve the issue of starting acquaintances and exercises, as well as holding discussions.

Read more about the project ›
Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
On 2 August 2024, the Advisory Council on Youth issued a statement to commemorate the dreadful events that hit the Roma community 80 years ago: 

"Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the events that took place during the night of 2 August 1944, when over 4 000 Roma men, women, and children were brutally murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau. This date was chosen to commemorate the Roma Holocaust, known as the Porajmos or Murdaripen. This dark chapter in history witnessed the systematic persecution and extermination of more than 500 000 Roma by the Nazi regime. This day of remembrance serves as a moving reminder of the horrors our ancestors faced and their remarkable resilience in the face of these atrocities."
Read the entire statement ›
EYF-supported project in the spotlight: Dikh He Na Bister (Look and Don’t Forget) organised by The International Roma Youth Network (ternYpe)
EYF-supported project in the spotlight: Dikh He Na Bister (Look and Don’t Forget) organised by The International Roma Youth Network (ternYpe)

The “DIKH HE NA BISTER - Engaging Youth in Remembrance and Action” is an annual youth meeting taking place close to 2 August, which marks the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. This gathering provides young people a place to learn about history and also how to engage in today’s world for equal rights. The International Roma youth network (ternYpe) is the main organiser, and they benefitted from a European Youth Foundation grant.

In 2024, “Dikh He Na Bister” was held in Krakow, Poland, from 29 July to 3 August to raise awareness of young participants about the Roma genocide and inspire them to promote remembrance education at local, national, and international scales. The event gathered more 300 participants, Roma and non-Roma, from more than 10 European countries. The educational programme included sessions on Roma history and the Roma Genocide during WWII, as well as a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, sessions on remembrance and Roma heroes, followed by a youth commemoration held in Auschwitz on August 2 and sessions on how to take local actions today.

More on EYF international activity funding programme ›
Call for participants - Study visit on local youth policy and democracy
Call for participants - Study visit on local youth policy and democracy

The Council of Europe Youth Department and the Democracy Reloading Partnership of Erasmus+ national agencies are organising this joint Study Visit for municipal youth policy practitioners.

It will take place from 28 October till 2 November 2024 in Strasbourg, France.

Consult the Call for participants ›
Call for participants - Study visit on local youth policy and democracy
Call for participants - "Human Rights Passwords" - National Training course on Human rights education with young people
The deadline to apply is Friday 5 September 2024!

The activity takes place from 2 to 5 October 2024 in Brent Civic Centre, London, United Kingdom.
Consult the Call for participants ›
Upcoming Activities and Deadlines
  • June–December 2024, Training Course "LIVING COMPASS 2024", online and European Youth Centre Budapest
  • 2-6 September 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Study session - Advocacy in Action: Safeguarding a sustainable and peaceful future - in cooperation with the Don Bosco Youth-Net ivzw
  • 2-6 September 2024, Lisbon, Portugal, Youth Policy Advisory mission to Portugal
  • 8 September 2024, DEADLINE to apply for the Study visit on local youth policy and democracy
  • 9 September 2024, DEADLINE to answer the Call for tenders on consultancy services on youth work development and the 4th European Youth Work Convention
  • 9-13 September 2024, Council of Europe Quality labelled Youth Centre, Marienthal, Luxembourg, Compass national training course on Human rights education with Association Luxembourgeoise pour le Dialogue Interculturel
  • 9-14 September 2024, European Youth Centre Budapest, Study session: "From European commitment to local action: Decade against antigypsyism" in cooperation with the European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) Network and Ternype International Roma Youth Network
  • 10 September 2024, Brussels: ERYICA seminar on “Mental health literacy in youth information work” in the framework of the Partnership between ERYICA and the Council of Europe/Youth Department.
  • 11-17 September 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Long-term training course Training of Trainers for Youth in the Council of Europe (TRAYCE)
  • 15 September 2024, DEADLINE to apply for the Consultancy services calls for tender
  • 15-20 September 2024, Ankara, Türkiye, Compass national training course on Human rights education with Uluslararası Gençlik Aktiviteleri Merkezi Derneği (IYACA)
  • 19-20 September 2024, Strasbourg, France, consultative meeting on the integration of a youth perspective at the Council of Europe and in member States
  • 23-30 September 2024, European Youth Centre Budapest, LIVING COMPASS, a training course for and with multipliers for human rights education with young people
  • 23-27 September 2024, Visegrad, Hungary: PA seminar on “Walk the Talk: Access of rural youth to cultural heritage: European Youth Card’s role in promoting Cultural Routes” with a possibility of attending the 13th Annual Advisory Forum of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
  • 23-30 September 2024, European Youth Centre Budapest, LIVING COMPASS, a training course for and with multipliers for human rights education with young people
  • 24-26 September 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg: Symposium “Young people, democracy and climate action”
  • 29 September - 3 October 2024, Piešťany, Slovak Republic, Compass national training course on Human rights education with NIVAM - National institute of education and youth
  • 30 September-4 October 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Seminar: "Coming of age during war. Youth work in Ukraine today - how can European youth policy adapt?"
  • 1-5 October 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Seminar on Political participation
  • 2 - 5 October 2024, Brent Civic Centre, London, United Kingdom, Compass national training course on Human rights education with AICEM - International organisation for cooperation and worldwide education and Young Brent Foundation
  • 7-11 October 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Study session: "Remembering, resisting and rebuilding: Combating together antigypsyism for inclusive societies" in cooperation with the Youth Express Network (Y-E-N) in cooperation with Youth of European Nationalities (YEN)
  • 7-12 October 2024, European Youth Centre Budapest, Seminar on digitalisation in cooperation with the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
  • 9-13 October 2024,  European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Study session: "Strengthening Resilience of Youth Spaces in Europe" in cooperation with the Bureau Européen du Scoutisme ASBL- World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM)
  • 13-18 October 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Living Democracy through Youth Participation - A training course to support action for democratic youth participation in Belarus based on Council of Europe standards.
  • 14-19 October 2024, Luxor, Egypt, 8th Arab-European Youth Forum - Youth and Intercultural Dialogue in times of Artificial Intelligence
  • 14-18 October 2024, European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Study session - Transforming Social Work with the power of Youth Work - in cooperation with the FEANTSA Youth
 
Useful links
Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity
The Council of Europe Youth Portal
European Youth Centre Budapest
European Youth Centre Strasbourg
European Youth Foundation
Intergovernmental Cooperation
The EU-CoE Youth Partnership
Facebook pages
Advisory Council on Youth
Council of Europe - Youth
European Youth Centre Budapest
EU-CoE youth partnership
European Youth Foundation
No Hate Speech Movement
Coyote magazine
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