Second Board meeting InterCity Youth 8th-9th June 2015 Thessaloniki
Key results and agreements
2 nd Youth Work Convention Short report about the 2nd European Youth Work Convention that took place from 27th to 30th April in Brussels. The network was represented by Hans, Lasse and Jonas., Claudius was also present. There was consensus that the whole event was perfectly organized. The final declaration coming out from the event is good and helpful for strengthening youth work in a political context in Europe. A little bit of criticism was mentioned towards the declaration that didn’t really take all contributions on board and is a bit “flat”. It was a real youth work event with lots of interesting workshops and also field visits. The members of the network could make good contacts with inter alia the partnership and representatives of the CoE.
High level debate (and other events) A high level debate during the European Youth Week was organized the 6th of May in Brussels. Jonas was invited as chairman of InterCity (which is already a big success). One of the core questions that have been raised The theme was: Participation as means to How to use youth work to prevent radicalization of young people.
Hans and Lasse took part in a conference on the topic of “Active citizenship and migrant youth”. This conference was part of a project of six European countries/cities. Each city went to the other five (team of youth workers and young people) to explore the topic and for the exchange of good practices, an interesting example of a peer review involving young people. Lasse will send more information and the link to the website
VVJ visit to Gothenburg/KEKS A delegation of 13 Flemish cities members in the VVJ-network visited the city of Gothenburg and KEKS. Jonas and Kay fond it a very useful visit, that allowed a good exchange of youth work practice. There was “not one negative voice” from the side of the participants. The questions was raised what to do with the results? Both organisations are now having discussions on how to handle the outcome of the meeting and possible future cooperation.
Organisational matters Declaration of membership In general the declaration is ok, it should be signed by a head of department (depending to individual situation of each member city) Jonas will adapt and finalize it Economy Jonas is going to make a concrete proposal for the establishment of the network as an European Economic Interest Group (EEIG), there is great consensus to follow this way, this should be also mentioned in the application for a Strategic Partnership within Erasmus+ Youth in Action Website A website gets interesting when there is content in it, we need links to “catchy things”, for the time being the website is clear and sufficient. Everybody is asked to send information if possible regularly (with context and introduction, links, documents, information about projects, youth policy and youth work news etc.) to KEKS Jonas, “keep information short!”
Youth Work in Thessaloniki Some key elements of the presentation by Zoii - In preparation of and during the European Youth Capital year young people became “decision-makers” in Thessaloniki, the application to become a EYC was made with and by youngsters, NGOs got money and influence, NGOs and youth organisations worked together -> one example of the EYC was the participation in an Urbact programme (with Rotterdam as lead partner) - Thessaloniki wants to keep the spirit of the EYC-year and continue with projects and initiatives - A Network of European Youth Capitals was founded (co-established by Thessaloniki) - There is a new Youth center for emmigrants - A new youth center will be opened in autumn (inspired by concrete ideas from ’s- Hertogenbosch)
ICY-conference - There is consensus not to have so many speeches - There should be short inputs by the Commission and/or CoE - Keynote speaker John Bamber - There is consensus on day 1 (please see program draft) - Day 2: 2 parallel processes -> the three “steps model” (1. Input/Inspiration on the 4 main topics, 2. Exchange of experiences and best practice, 3. Future cooperation on the theme) with a smaller group really looking for cooperation and concrete projects -> lectures/workshops/inputs on further topics in several time slots in the remaining two rooms Jonas will draft a timetable of day 2 - Topics for the first process: -> Youth Work and Quality development (Jonas Agdur) -> Working with young refugees (Lasse) -> Learning in youth work (Working with non-formal learning/recognition of youth work) (Claudius contacts his colleague Rita Bergstein) Lasse!? -> Working with radicalization/extremism (Jonas contacts Mona Salin, Claudius is doing research in France and Germany) - 2nd process: -> Gender equality in youth work (any volunteer to care on this topic!!!) -> Mobility for learning and the Erasmus+ Youth in Action (Claudius) -> Youth work in Sweden (Jonas) -> Youth work in Flanders (Kay) -> European Youth Capitals (Zoi) longer timeslot -> Municipal youth work strategies – three approaches (Munich, Helsinki, Thessaloniki) longer timeslot - Participants -> we need more promotion to get international participants Everybody is asked to spread the information and to promote the conference (!) -> European Youth Forum should be invited to the conference - Economy -> of course there are fees might be costs for external inputs, if this is needed please indicate it to Jonas so that he can calculate, also travel costs and accommodation will be paid for those experts
Erasmus+ application - a decision has to be taken whether to apply for a Strategic Partnership or a Capacity Building activity and in which country to apply Jonas and Claudius are going to clarify this during summer and will make an application proposal -> the idea of organizing a meeting “Network for networks” will be introduced into the application
Project proposal “European Peer Review in Youth Work” - Hans suggests to organize a first prep meeting of interested partners to see if somebody is willing to join the project and go for a concrete application. Hans will invite to such a meeting.
Next board meeting 30th September – 1st October in Straßbourg
Storage topic During the meeting two topics/questions were raised that could be maybe put on the agenda of the next board meeting: - Brainstorming on how to develop/promote the network further - Transfer of knowledge, how to make visible results of exchange projects/peer learning