Seminar on Youth Influence at Local Level

Background Youth Participation is one of the main priorities in the field of youth policy. It is aimed at encouraging young people to be active citizens by taking an active part either in the civic life of their community or in the structures of representative democracy. In 2001 European Commission published the White Paper which was treated as a beginning of shaping a separate youth policy including different aspects of common sector policies in EU. This document made it easier to identify a structured platform for young people and policy makers to meet and draw up resolutions, such as those on the participation and social inclusion of young people, and development of a sense of initiative, entrepreneurship and creativity. Documents addressing European and national structure exist, but does the structure it self guarantee success for real youth participation? There are many methods of lobbying youth interests, however, there is still need to map the methods of participation and discuss good practices taking into account visions, hopes as well as priorities for the next coming decades. In this framework, the Swedish National Agency in cooperation with SALTO-YOUTH Participation Resource Centre and the municipality of Jönköping decided to host a Seminar entitled “Youth participation at local level”. This seminar will take place in Jönköping, Sweden from the 16th (arrival) to the 20th of March 2009 (departure in the end of the afternoon). Aim and objectives The aim of the seminar is to map the existing methods of youth participation at local/municipal level and to visualize a future scenario and priorities in the field of youth policy in Europe. Objectives: To exchange knowledge, practices and experiences in terms of youth participation at local/municipal level; to explore different European and national funding possibilities for strengthening meeting between young people and decision makers; to create a compendium with existing methods that supports successful work on youth participation; to promote new partnerships and focus on action and interactive discussions rather than theoretical inputs. Target group The seminar will involve 40 participants resident in one of the Youth in Action Programme Country. We believe the group should consist of experienced persons with either operative or strategic responsibility in the field. The group should be composed of youth workers, young people representing a group/organisation active at local/municipal level, youth policy stakeholders representing a local public body. The activity will be based on the principles of non-formal learning. Working Language English Practicalities: To be eligible, the applicants should submit their application online and send a copy to the National Agency of their country of residence by the 15th of February 2009. National Agencies will send to the organisers their priority lists by the 17th of February. The Swedish National Agency will communicate to the sending National Agencies the final list of participants on the 20th of February 2009 at the latest.