u speak presentation
YOUTH Speaks Out on Youth Unemployment and the Future of the EU Structural Funds.
The U-SPEAK project is focused on YOUTH. Its overall OBJECTIVE is to foster ownership of the EU among young people, and to build their capacity to participate in current and future debates on the construction of unified Europe.
Specific Objectives:
• to involve young people from old, new and potential EU members states in European debates on youth unemployment and education for employability, providing a forum for exchanging views and experience;
• to involve youth from old, new and potential EU members states in the debate on the future shape and priorities of the EU Structural Funds;
• to improve young people’s capacity, and motivation to partake in debates on EU policies affecting their lives;
• to give young people a voice and make their views known to policy makers, civil society, citizens, and EU institutions.
Activities and outputs:
Two conferences – “Youth Speaks Out I&II” – one focused on youth unemployment and education for employability, the other on the post-2013 shape of the EU Structural Funds;
_ European Parliament Simulation – participants will recreate EP debates on youth unemployment and the EU’s economic strategy and cohesion policy;
_ Publications and a website presenting young participants’ views on the issues covered by the project.
Young Citizen Conference I:
Youth Unemployment and education for Employability 2-3 June, 2011, Dobrich, Bulgaria 120 young people will _ gain better understanding of
a) youth unemployment and EU strategies to mitigate it;
b) the EU education agenda;
_ develop their capacity to formulate positions on EU matters;
_ present their preferences regarding youth policy and their recommendations on how to nurture entrepreneurship and skills for employability through education.
Young Citizen Conference II:
The Future of the EU Structural Funds from the Viewpoint of Youth 28-29 June, 2011, Dobrich, Bulgaria 120 young people will
_ gain better understanding of EU cohesion policy;
_ develop their capacity to formulate and present positions in EU
debates;
_ present their views regarding the priorities of post-2013 Structural
Funds (in fields such as sustainable youth employment, lifelong
learning schemes, culture, health, etc.);
_ develop ownership of the EU and national Europeanization agendas.
European Parliament Simulation:
30 June, 2011, Dobrich, Bulgaria 120 young people will
_ grasp the essence of decision-making at the EU level and in democraticy in general;
_ learn to respect and balance divergent national/regional interests;
_ develop basic skills for negotiation, coalition building and consensus building;
_ develop their capacities to formulate positions on EU matters;
_ become more interested in European debates and democratic debates in general;
_ develop stronger European identity.
As a result…
Young people will be compelled to take a stance on major EU-level policies affecting their life and future prospects thus becoming active European citizens and participants in
EU democratic life;
The project will contribute to debates on employment, social cohesion and the consequences of the current economic situation;
The implementation of the project will shed light on the impact of EU policies on the societies of the U-SPEAK countries and stimulate young audiences to reflect on these policies’ impact, now and in the future.
