June 2010 n.03 Index 4 12 Dear Readers, The Youth Food Movement Generation Europe Food, justice and sustainability Putting green entrepreneurship first Editor change, change and even more change on the way! Selene Biffi Project Coordinator Silvia Raccagni

Yes, Young Innovations Europe is already making waves thanks to you: thousands of readers Communications and PR Paola Ciaffi and counting, ongoing exposure through consistent media coverage and - hopefully - Michela Bettinelli countless young people inspired and empowered to make change happen. 6 14 Content Coordinators Deborah Woolfson Peter Seenan

A couple of months ago we decided to start offering young people like ourselves the Graphics Francesco Franciosi chance to get involved and actively contribute to YIE. This resulted in a free, youth-run, Good Mood Beyond Europe www.francescofranciosi.com Young entrepreneurs save lives Connecting the Dots and Going Beyond online course on ‘How to become a journalist’, which attracted hundreds of applications. Writers Egle Buitvydaite, Christian Eichenmüller, Fizza Hasan, Arnaud Houdmont, Giusy Proietti, The participants are now ready to receive their certificates and have already started Emma Taylor, Meryl Westlake proposing ideas for articles soon to appear in this magazine. Images Courtesy of AEGEE, Beyond Europe, ConQuest, EDV, Generation Europe, Good Mood, JADE, A contest is also being planned for later this year, with a view to create even more 8 16 Muslim Youth Helpline, Slow Food opportunities to participate and help make YIE the instrument young people truly need and refer to in order to make change happen across Europe. Keep reading then, information ConQuest Muslim Youth Helpline will be available shortly on our website. When practice makes perfect. When a call for help saves lives

Last but not least: we believe that young people are the most untapped resource on Earth when it comes to contribute to real change, both locally and nationally. And why not, even internationally. We would thus love to hear from you. Let us know whether YIE has been of any help, whether it has inspired you to take action and how useful it has been 10 so far. Sponsors: EDV Young Innovations Europe is a project of Youth Action for Change (YAC), a global, European Disaster Volunteers Change starts with you…and we hope that YIE may help too! youth-led organisation inspiring and empowering young people to become International Youth Starbucks active agents of change in their own communities and the world at large www.younginnovationseurope.org

If you want to get involved, tell us about an innovation or for general enquiries, please send an email to: [email protected] The Young Innovation Europe logo, project and content are covered by copyright. | Agriculture 5 the Giusy Proietti

Giusy is 28 years old and Italian. She studied Law at University La Sapienza in Rome and YOUTH is passionate about international dynamics, whether political, economic or cultural.

A YFM FOOD meeting

mentorship and receive help with their want to make a change in the food sector. work. In return, apprentices learn rare and Membership is a symbolic commitment to MOVEMENT invaluable skills and have eye-opening take action in your community. experiences relating to food philosophy and cultural identity. From organizing workshops where good, RESOURCE Food, justice and sustainability clean, and fair food is prepared and shared in by Giusy Proietti YFM is also in charge of the International public spaces, to changing school cafeteria BOX Terra Madre Youth Network, made of a sourcing practices, to local and sustainable collection of mostly student-led antennas products, YFM members have made a The Youth Food Movement to the promotion of fair and sustainable So what about ‘right’? Well, social justice which consider the social and environmental difference. Youth Food Movement (YFM) is a network of agricultural systems for both the producer must be pursued through the creation impacts of the food industry. In 2008 over www.youthfoodmovement.org young farmers, cooks, and the consumer, recovering traditional of decent working conditions and the 1000 youth delegates, producers, cooks, Many have confronted agribusiness to [email protected] artisans and activists all techniques and strengthening local generation of adequate rewards, says YFM, and academics came together to create the demand change to production methods Slow Food aiming to contribute to the economies. and through the practice of solidarity and greatest Terra Madre meeting yet. and workplace standards; some have even www.slowfood.com improvement of the food respect for diverse cultural traditions. adopted a chef for their school. The ideas The organisation behind the YFM, industry. But what does ‘good, clean and right These young people from around the world and methods are diverse and plentiful. one of the best sources about food food’ mean in practice? The YFM is a platform for its members to have pledged their commitment to and sustainability Driven by the desire to protect and exchange national information, experiences change within their own communities. Eating healthy food is great for the mind promote all so-called ‘good’, ‘clean’ and Good food is all about ensuring that good and ideas, and YFM runs a number of and body and can also become a social Tunza ‘right’ products, this diverse set of people food tastes are maintained by choosing raw important projects. The YFM needs you! activity, bringing people together to discuss www.unep.org/tunza/youth has attached itself to the philosophy of materials and production methods that do important topics. Tunza is a program of UNEP aiming Slow Food, the movement born in Paris in not undermine the naturalness of food. YFM organizes ‘Pangea’, a project offering The YFM is open to all young people who at engaging young people in environmental 1989 and now with over 83,000 members mentorship in sustainable and traditional issues and activities in 122 countries. For the food to be clean, the environment production and cultivation methods to help Terra Madre must be respected. The whole cycle, encourage young people create alternatives European Council of Young “The food should taste good; it should be including farming, animal husbandry, to the industrialization of the food system. Farmers produced in a clean way that does not processing, marketing and consumption www.ceja.org harm the environment, animal welfare should be overhauled to produce a Enthusiastic students, young farmers, CEJA is the voice of Europe’s next or our health; and food producers should sustainable system. As an example, and cooks are placed in short-term generation of farmers to the European receive fair compensation for their work” consumption should protect ecosystems apprenticeship positions with producers, institutions say the proponents of the movement. and biodiversity while protecting the health chefs, fisherman, brewers, and winemakers of consumers and producers. who are skilled in sustainable, artisanal City Farmer Europe YFM supports local and regional food production and cultivation methods. www.cityfarmer.org systems based on the principles of justice Right food – Pangea and Terra Madre A host of information on urban and sustainability. Ultimately this leads Producers enjoy the experience of agriculture in Europe | Business 7 GOOD MOOD

Fizza Hasan Young entrepreneurs Fizza has just completed her IB Diploma and is going to study International Relations by Fizza Hasan and Politics at university. Actively involved in youth action and development projects, she loves to combine her academics with her save lives passion for community service Do you want to employ your creativity, challenge yourself, earn a living and change the world, all at the same time? Have you ever considered starting a business of your own where you could do all this? Perhaps not, because according to a Eurostat report only 4% of European youth

between the ages of 15 and 24 are self-employed. Above, left and bottom: some innovative products by Good Mood

RESOURCE BOX

you can have your own ideas turned into Good Mood What started as a high school project reality by the designers at Good Mood. [email protected] became a patented invention, won the 'Best www.goodmood.ee Student Company' prize and has created The knitting range includes hats, mittens, opportunities for Estonian needleworkers. scarves and leg warmers, in an attempt Young Inventors International to turn fashion into safety for those long www.younginventors.org But more than all that, it is has helped make winter nights. YII helps university students develop Even if entrepreneurship is not always off help communities and localities develop. way to becoming a successful young Estonia a safer place. skills and networks to bring the radar for youth, it seems like a daunting European governments are renewing entrepreneur. But it is important to When asked why one should invest in Good new ideas to the market task and one so challenging that it efforts for young entrepreneurs. There is remember there are great examples to Hindriks is credited with two outstanding Mood, Karoli Hindriks replies: discourages many. There are big questions: even an Erasmus programme for young follow. One such success story is that of social innovations: pedestrian reflectors and European Patent Office how does one find investors, how does one entrepreneurs aiming to help them acquire Karoli Hindriks, whose company, Good knitted items using reflective thread. “The idea of our product is to combine www.epo.org advertise, and how can one find customers? the skills needed to run small and medium- Mood, aims to make people's lives safer: safety with fun – pedestrian reflectors are Information to register your invention sized businesses. ONE REFLECTOR, ONE LIFE. Soft pedestrian reflectors come in an made to look cooler and trendier than what However, it is also true that today, more endless variety of shapes and sizes and can has been available up to now. It is a great Erasmus for Young than ever before, investors are looking A bright idea from Estonia “The story of Heatuju Maaletooja OÜ or be hung from clothing. Companies can have business: with each product that we sell, Entrepreneurs www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu to focus on green, sustainable initiatives Good Mood is like a little fairytale” says Karoli their logo printed on them, friends can order we make the world a slightly safer place for Offers many opportunities for young that contribute to social change and As in all businesses, there is no single Hindriks, Estonia’s youngest public inventor. reflectors with funny messages as gifts, or somebody”. entrepreneurs | Consulting treatment on every project. Avoiding 9 standardised solutions and treating each assignment on its own merit keeps student consultants on their toes and provides fresh challenges every day.

Teamwork, friendship, and promotion of a culture of entrepreneurship create an environment of idea-interchange, creative finds itself amongst other student-led delegation and self-management. Dalek initiatives, including YPI and Consulex Law IT describes working with ConQuest as Consulting. “experience in a pill”. With Polish clients like Iglotech and RESOURCE International Recognition Hanza’s, and the endorsement of institutions like Business Network BOX ConQuest has won the International, it is unsurprising that ‘eXcellence Award’ from the Microsoft, Shell and Johnson & ConQuest Consulting ConQuest European Confederation of Johnson now do business with Martyna Wilk ConQuest [email protected] ConQuest Junior Enterprises (JADE) ConQuest. The endorsement on three occasions. of ConQuest by Siemens www.conquest.pl When practice makes perfect. It can also boast of as a ‘partner worthy of the International trust’ sums up just how JADE by Meryl Westlake Project Standard which JADE awards to far this student project has come. www.jadenet.org international projects that are of the very The European confederation best quality. With continuing recognition of ConQuest’s of junior enterprises innovation and professionalism the firm Such widespread recognition has propelled hopes to act as a beacon for young Young Business Net student-run consulting to the front of entrepreneurs willing to make a difference www.youngbusiness.net the agenda in Poland and ConQuest now and attempt something new. An online system that supports sustainable youth enterprise programs and develops and promotes good practice across Europe. European Confederation ConQuest - the first long -standing Polish of Young Entrepreneurs www.yes.be consulting organisation run by students - is the The association of young entrepreneurs throughout Europe; representing 40,000 most successful example of why students members and focusing on the economic and need not be restless or hopeless whilst they study. social performance of young entrepreneurship in Europe. Testing the maxim that practice is as One Step Ahead of the Game indoctrination of business protocols that YES useful an educative method as theoretical can sometimes reduce innovative thought. Youth Entrepreneurship learning, the now widely respected and Since 1998 ConQuest has set out to and Sustainability established agency brought together achieve its objective of providing an ConQuest has consulted on over 300 wide- www.yesweb.org a group of entrepreneurial spirits international service of the highest ranging national and international projects Top left: ConQuest at work The YES Campaign strives to build the determined to turn ideas into reality whilst quality, while being run by students. It in 11 years - ranging from food-market Bottom left: the ConQuest team at the JADE individual capacity of youth in order to create strengthening their career prospects. has been assisted by the Warsaw School analysis to foreign-investment guidance. Excellence Awards 2010 sustainable livelihoods and establish an of Economics combining youth with And because ConQuest remains ‘not for Above: Mateusz Ogonowski, ConQuest president entrepreneurial culture among young people. Before, volunteer placements gave students experience to ensure there is no doubt over profit’, it attracts big name firms looking the opportunity to gain experience, its ability to deliver this objective. for high quality service with social business Youth Business International but as the economic downturn reduces commitments. www.youthbusiness.org opportunities and unpaid internships Students are naturally inventive and use A not-for-profit organisation that leads a become unrealistic, so the prospects for creative approaches to tackle solutions Where students – and their ideas - shine global network of independent country initiatives like ConQuest are strengthened. according to ConQuest’s PR Manager, initiatives helping young people start their Mateusz Dalek, who attributes their success What is so unique and appealing about own business. ConQuest is first of all a channel for theory to “working with passion.” ConQuest from a student’s perspective is Meryl Westlake to be put into practice, and an opportunity the values by which it is underpinned. Social Enterprise Europe Ltd. to become actively involved in the working “And [the] fact that we are open for new An undergraduate degree in Literature steered Meryl towards an MSc in www.socialenterpriseeurope.co.uk environments of the consulting industry. ideas gives us power” he says, alluding ConQuest’s own internal mission is to International Relations and thereby finding a practical way to consolidate Social Enterprise Europe Ltd. provides services to develop and support Social Enterprise Perhaps it represents the model for the to the potent idea that the company place respect on student consulting and two passions- communication and international affairs. Growing up in an working with partners across Europe. future as youth embrace entrepreneurship flourishes by employing youth fresh quality service. international household gave birth to an obsession with travelling, adventure to wrestle back control. from university armed with cutting-edge and eating the weirdest food on the menu. Working for the Aegis Trust has academic information, but without the It does this by ensuring individual sparked her interest in conflict journalism and in cultural relations of all types. She currently lives in Nottingham, England. | Far & Wide 11 European

by Emma Taylor Disaster Emma Taylor commitment to becoming better global EDV’s Media and Marketing Director, citizens by curbing emissions and living Emma Taylor, started her volunteer journey 1 responsible, sustainable lifestyles. Together, straight out of university. She planned to Volunteers we can reduce climate change’s impact on volunteer for about two weeks and wound communities half a world away. up staying for nine months and leading the construction of a house, bathroom, and Take action school. She now puts her writing degree and Changing the lives of volunteer leadership experience to work as EDV is a relatively new organisation, but a director and founding member of EDV. disaster survivors and it is run by long term volunteer leaders who have years of experience in Thailand following the 2004 tsunami and Peru after volunteers worldwide an 8.0 earthquake in the city of Pisco. In RESOURCE both of these disaster zones, EDV founding Many of us have thought about There is no fee of any kind to volunteer room, for example), the opportunity to members donated thousands of man hours 2 BOX overseas. We all like with EDV because no one should have be accepted into a new culture and live as volunteer leaders, and each has a unique to get our hands dirty helping to pay for the privilege of helping those with people from all over the world is an story about how volunteering changed their European Disaster Volunteers those who need it most. It seems affected by disasters. Volunteers working invaluable opportunity to learn and grow. lives. Emma Taylor like such a simple goal, yet finding overseas will only be asked to pay their [email protected] overseas volunteer opportunities own travel and living expenses so that Acknowledging our global impact The executive director, Andrew Chaggar, is www.EDVolunteers.org. can be a daunting process. EDV can use donor money exclusively for a survivor of the 2004 Asia tsunami. The projects. Living costs are kept as low as Volunteers working with EDV gain unique disaster nearly took his life and it took him Oxfam Most openings are available only possible. insights into the issues at work every day in seven months to recover from his injuries. As www.oxfam.org.uk to those with special skills and the developing world. The end goal is that soon as he was able he returned to Thailand, 3 Oxfam is a great source of information on require you to volunteer for Empowering communities volunteers will take that social awareness eventually leading a team of volunteers the humanitarian impacts of climate change months at a time. If you do not at home and abroad home with them when they leave their who constructed 37 permanent homes for worldwide have special skills and cannot give projects and become agents of positive tsunami survivors. much time, short term programmes EDV focuses on community-based, long social change in their own communities. UNFCCC can cost hundreds of euro a week. term disaster recovery. Volunteers work on The rest of the founding members have built www.unfccc.int Although you really want to help projects ranging from rebuilding permanent Special emphasis is placed on the link schools for children who had been spending An excellent source of information you cannot afford those kinds of homes to removing the mud from floods, between climate change and disaster. There their school days in tents, cleared rubble to on climate change prepared by the UN costs. In the end you are forced to to arts programmes to ease the stress is mounting evidence that climate change provide safe spaces for temporary houses, dismiss the idea of volunteering of children. These programmes engage is increasing the frequency and severity of and constructed homes for families who University Masters overseas as unrealistic. volunteers and meet the needs of the weather related disasters. The effects of lost loved ones in the 2008 Peru earthquake. 4 on Disaster Management affected communities. climate change also weaken communities, The experience as volunteer leaders is what www.mdma.ku.dk European Disaster Volunteers (EDV) does making them less able to resist and recover motivated each of them to found EDV, being The Master of Disaster Management program not think that volunteering is a naïve While strengthening the communities EDV from disaster. continually inspired by what volunteers can is aimed at providing the appropriate skills dream reserved for a select few. EDV is a partners with, these projects also change achieve. for disaster management at a national and volunteer-driven registered that the volunteers who make them possible. The sad irony of climate change is that the international level. aids disaster affected communities by They challenge volunteers to test the communities who have contributed the Volunteers do not just drive projects providing relief and helping them achieve boundaries of what they are capable of least to the problem stand to suffer the overseas, they drive the organization as a Unite for Climate www.uniteforclimate.org sustainable recovery. achieving and remind us that the limits to worst from its effects. Developing nations whole. EDV volunteers run EDV’s 1. Executive Director Andrew Chaggar Unite for Climate is your entry point into our abilities tend to be self imposed. have emitted few greenhouse gases, yet events and are currently redesigning the renders a wall of a house in Thailand. the world of youth action on climate change. There are no special skills required to they are already suffering droughts, floods, organization’s website, among other jobs. So 2. Surveying typhoon damage in central On this site, you can learn more, join the volunteer with EDV. If you are over 18, On deployment volunteers live in a water shortages and increasing food if you’re interested in working with EDV but Vietnam community, participate in global campaigns, and have a solid work ethic and are willing to community of international volunteers insecurity as a result of climate change. cannot leave home, there is still a lot you can 3. Digging the foundations of a house in work to extend the impact of the COP 15. learn, you are qualified to work with us and work alongside affected communities, contribute to. Pisco, Peru and led by skilled volunteer leaders, you gaining first hand insight into issues It is up to us to recognise that climate 4. Building hope in Peru What to do in case of disaster can affect profound positive change in affecting the developing world. While change has its roots in our hometowns www.redcross.org communities worldwide. volunteers might give up some creature and that what we do at home resonates This site provides excellent tips comforts (hot showers and a private worldwide. We all need to make a on preparing for disasters | GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP way communication platform where young 13 people can interact, discuss and promote their ideas with each other and with public and corporate policy & decision makers. By communicating their views to the relevant stakeholders GEF ensures that their opinions Generation Europe are heard and taken into account so as to have a positive impact in society. incubation and growth of such initiatives?

…and the Summit By building on existing initiatives and finding synergies between different actors Putting By bringing together young people, in the field of green entrepreneurship, Arnaud Houdmont entrepreneurs, policy-makers, non-profit the summit aims to broker partnerships organisations, the private sector and between green entrepreneurs, provide a Arnaud rejoined the GEF team in August 2009 academia, the 2010 GEF Youth Summit platform for young people to express their following a sabbatical in South America. His on Green Entrepreneurship will facilitate views and present policy makers with work experience is built on a background in dialogue and provide a platform for concrete the opportunity to engage with as many international issues and human rights, and he support and orientation for today’s and stakeholders as possible, with a view to has a very good knowledge of the European tomorrow’s green entrepreneurs. promoting green entrepreneurship through institutions and European media. Belgian

improved policies. by birth, Arnaud grew up in Spain and was The Summit will take place under the educated in the United Kingdom; he now lives Belgian Presidency of the European The Process in Brussels with his wife, Marie. Union, with support from the European Green Commission’s Directorate-General for Based on their participation in a series of Entrepreneurship Enterprise and Industry. At the Summit and online activities that will be organised in the during the pre-Summit activities - including months leading up to the Summit, 80 young RESOURCE online research, workshops, discussions, a people will be invited to Brussels on 8-10 by Arnaud Houdmont business competition and a cyber election December for the final event. Their selection BOX - stakeholders will look specifically at how will be based on points earned from their green entrepreneurship can contribute pre-Summit participation as well as a cyber Generation Europe Foundation to tackling some of the most pressing election. problems of employment and sustainable [email protected] www.generation-europe.eu by Egle Buitvydaite development in Europe and beyond. As part of the online activities, a business

plan competition will be launched in the 2010 Youth Summit From the overarching perspective of young summer, which will reward excellent ideas www.generation-europe.eu/summit/ people, the Summit will focus on exploring and business plans of young people. First Official website of the event the structures and mechanisms in place to help today’s green entrepreneurs flourish Shortlisted projects will be presented to Sprouter Despite the efforts currently political will. To put it mildly, last year believes that today’s entrepreneurs and and prepare tomorrow’s green business a panel of business ‘angels’, investors and www.sprouter.com underway to address the world’s ended on a rather sour note in terms of tomorrow’s decision-makers will pave leaders. In this respect, the aim is to come experts, giving these young entrepreneurs Sprouter enables collaboration and most pressing sustainable ecology. Some might be claiming victory, the way for a more sustainable future. As up with a vision of where we should be in the opportunity to secure funding for their networking between entrepreneurs globally development related issues, it is but in the end – whether you believe these entrepreneurs are indispensable for 20 years and what concrete steps need to projects. During the process, all contestants clear that tomorrow’s leaders will climate change is a real issue or an the development of a more sustainable be taken now to reach that objective. will have access to mentoring and business inherit huge challenges. elaborate scam – leaders in Copenhagen and equitable economy, and because they coaching. Alaveo agreed on a compromise that will do constitute a primary source for progress This will be done through in-depth www.aleveo.com Actors such as governments, nothing to meaningfully address the issue. and innovation, it is imperative to take exploration of two strands: Young people from across the world aged 29 Aleveo is an Ideas Sharing Platform - a place international organisations It does nothing to please the sceptics measures to empower them. and under are invited to participate in the where students' ideas reach companies, and and NGOs cannot tackle these either. Enhancing youth employability through the online activities, contribute to the research can get awards and recommendations challenges alone. And although This is exactly what GEF intends to do. spirit of entrepreneurship: this strand of the and hand in their plan for a green business! the last few decades have seen an Nevertheless, we’re in 2010 now and event will focus on whether education today Net Impact evolution in the private sector regardless of our lacklustre leaders, some Generation Europe Foundation… is equipping young people with adequate www.netimpact.org towards more accountability, individuals and companies are pushing the skills and training to become successful Net Impact is an international global network corporate social responsibility boat out and going full steam ahead with Since 1995 Generation Europe Foundation green entrepreneurs, inspirational leaders that equip individuals to use the power of policies implemented by large green initiatives… These entrepreneurs are (GEF) has been educating and empowering and change makers. business to create a more sustainable world companies don't go far enough. not limiting themselves to addressing only young people to be better informed about Time has come for individuals, ecological issues, but instead are joining their rights and responsibilities as European Fostering an enabling environment for Books to get you started entrepreneurs, communities and forces to turn environmental and social citizens in a fast-changing world. GEF is green enterprises: here, the focus will be as a Green Entrepreneur grassroots organisations to challenges into business opportunities. committed to helping young Europeans on supporting existing entrepreneurs: how www.i-netpreneur.com show the way. shape their future and to facilitating suited and supportive are policies at local, The GE Green leaders of the future community A good source of information In light of the inability of governments and mutual understanding among policy national and EU level, to the creation and The United Nations Climate Change large corporations to meaningfully address makers, decision-makers and tomorrow’s development of enterprise, in particular Conference held in Copenhagen in the present social and environmental leaders. Young people are invited to join the green enterprise? What other structures and December 2009 illustrated a lack of challenges, Generation Europe Foundation GEF community which functions as a two- mechanisms are available to support the | Politics 15

Trips to India in June, South Africa in the project will bring together students September and a conference in the from very different backgrounds and Netherlands in November will assemble world regions to discuss, understand European, Indian and South African and develop further initiatives in light of students to take up global challenges and global challenges. focus on the MDGs. Christian Eichenmüller At the same time, global challenges Christian Eichenmüller is Project Manager of BEYOND such as climate change and energy will ‘Beyond Europe – Perspectives for Tomorrow’s be addressed in so-called ‘One World World’. He studies Geography, Political Conventions’ in Europe, drawing together Europe Science and Media Studies at the University students for discussion and action. Youth of Mainz and, after spending two exchange exchanges with partners from Egypt semesters in Istanbul, he is now writing his and Palestine will address the issues of thesis. As a youth activist he was previously Connecting the Dots migration and inter-faith dialogue. Liaison Officer of AEGEE-Europe towards the United Nations and Board Member of Furthermore, sustainability and and Going Beyond The Millennium the International Politics Working Group for new conflicts will be at the heart of Development Goals two consecutive terms. Together with some by Christian Eichenmüller conferences assembling European and US friends he is currently also in the process of students. In more than a dozen events founding a new non-profit organisation called ‘Impetus - Sharing Global Perspectives’. The European Students’ Forum, AEGEE-Europe, has a record of intercultural dialogue and active citizenship On the project initiatives. As an interdisciplinary student association RESOURCE it encompasses 15,000 students from more than 40 Beyond Europe is the flagship project of AEGEE- Europe in the years 2010/11. BOX European countries and regularly assembles young Its aim is to empower young people in and outside AEGEE people everywhere from the Caucasus to Ireland and Europe to tackle global challenges. +32 2 246 0320 from Russia to Portugal. But in February 2009 a group of [email protected] The project website: www.beyondeurope.eu www.aegee.org AEGEE members decided to go further. They took up the Beyond Europe challenge of designing a project reaching out to young www.beyondeurope.eu Website of the Beyond Europe project people in very different parts of the world. Millennium Development Goals www.un.org/millenniumgoals Official website of the UN Millennium Development Goals Why going beyond Europe? tackle global challenges the project ‘What needs to be done?’ follows four major objectives: Youth in Action Today’s world is plagued by multiple This was the question on which a group www.ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm crises, all interconnected in a way or of committed enthusiasts focussed while • raising awareness A portal presenting funding and other another: a billion people without access to drafting the project. Their answer was • stimulating participation opportunities for young people clean drinkable water, gradual depletion ostensibly simple: empower young people • encouraging multiplication of natural resources owing to a growing as future stakeholders and decision- • cherishing diversity and a truly Youth Action Net population of seven billion people, makers in an increasingly interconnected intercultural work environment www.youthactionnet.org climate change knowing no geographical world. Simultaneously an understanding Fellowship program selecting the best boundaries. grew that global challenges required The way ahead youth-led initiatives from all over the world global action. The project subsequently Even if the consequences of these events became known as ‘ Beyond Europe - Current efforts underway are manifold. World Aware Education Award are already visible, it goes without saying perspectives for tomorrow’s world’. At the heart of an ambitious agenda The team meets up www.coe.int that the real bill will be paid by future is the achievement of the Millennium Annual award for the best generations. In order to empower young people to Development Goals (MDGs). Case Study education-related projects | Social A 17 volunteer answering phone Today MYH is a successful registered charity calls that provides sensitive services to Muslim youth living in the UK. It has dozens of trained male and female volunteers, who are well prepared to actively respond to clients’ inquiries via telephone, internet and regular mail. In order to avoid a generation gap or unfair judgment, all youth volunteers are 18-30 years old. “In all our work we Muslim aim to work to the highest standards of Egle Buitvydaite Early in August 2001, with just a couple professionalism and integrity and employ Originally from Lithuania, Egle has been of pencils and sheets of paper, his father’s the Islamic etiquettes of tolerance and non- studying Finance and Economics in USA and material support in the form of a telephone judgment in dealing with all issues faced by simultaneously running the global media line and a great passion to make a difference young people”, says one of the volunteers. project called “Heroes of Our Times” initiated and help his Muslim peers, 18-year-old by GlobalFOCUS organization in Sweden. launched MYH in Lending a hand Egle is a fervent tennis player and cannot the UK. The first year ofM YH’s existence imagine her life without solo singing classes. Youth was named as a pilot year, during which MYH is funded by various charities, private She is also a journalism devotee and believes Mamdani trained fourteen new peer sponsors, government departments and that her contributions to Young Innovations counselors and made a strong foundation from individuals. Every single Europe will help to raise awareness of for the charity’s further development. intervention is of great importance since various European organizations amongst the Subsequently, after more than a year, in MYH is able to help over 30% of all those continent’s young people. December 2002, MYH started functioning Muslims in need. Anyone who would like to as an official service and was moved from make a is welcome to visit MYH’s Helplineby Egle Buitvydaite Mohammed’s bedroom to its first office website and do so. in Wembley Park. After one more year Mohammed extended MYH’s working hours, Another way for young people to support established a toll-free phone line and started MYH is to become a volunteer worker, or paying its employees. in other words, a helping hand for those who, in the challenging years of youth, are The story so far most in need of moral support through a compassionate conversation. MYH RESOURCE In order to involve and support youth even operators can save a life by convincing a more constructively, in October 2004 the fellow peer that suicide is not the answer to BOX new sister-website muslimyouth.net was overcoming their misfortunes and helping created, the first Britain’s guidance for them to see that life is very precious and Muslim youngsters in the country. The site beautiful in spite of the lows. In this way, is run entirely by young people in order to MYH is a perfect place for young motivated Muslim Youth Helpline promote direct cultural communication, people to grow and develop themselves. www.myh.org.uk [email protected] cooperation and support. This MYH branch “We work to promote peer support and project lets young people learn more about provide young people with training and and When a call various Muslims communities and their skills that will stay with them throughout issues within the country. their lives and have an impact on the wider www.muslimyouth.net community and society around them. We Muslim Youth, MYH sister project’s website for help saves lives The unique idea and a huge youth also hope to nurture the leadership skills of involvement in MYH did not go unnoticed. young people by putting them in positions MYH has received several awards, including: of responsibility and decision making”, a Create your own helpline the AOL Innovation in the Community representative of MYH declares. www.childhelplineinternational.org There is a Muslim population of approximately 2 million in the Award 2003, National Council for Voluntary Despite having a children’s focus, these United Kingdom, out of which roughly a quarter are young Youth Services Young Partners Award 2003, guidelines can help create any helpline Phillip Lawrence Award 2003, Muslim News people. The hardships that the minority group’s young people deal Community Development Award 2003, with in everyday life may not seem apparent at first glance. Muslim News Award for Excellence in Get Funded Community, Investors in People Award, 2005, www.unaocyouth.org However, Mohammed Mamdani, who experienced alienation and isolation Community Care Award 2005, to name but Grants and support for youth-led during his adolescence in the UK, was the first to raise awareness of the issue a few. dialogue activities from the UN Alliance of Civilizations

and take action in founding Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH). The MYH team www.younginnovationseurope.org