- Home
- > About the project
About the project
Young people love the idea of participating in the dialogue on Europe, and contributing to its continuing development with their visions of a common European destiny. Indeed, these are stated objectives of the European Commission – and, of course, they are the impetus behind Young Ideas for Europe. Young Ideas for Europe is the largest and most ambitious project to date to directly involve Europe’s young people in shaping Europe’s progress. Students and other youth participants from Portugal and Estonia to Sweden to Italy are given a chance to discuss, debate and create together their visions for our collective future. In doing so, they are providing new energy and momentum to the European Idea.
- Closing Event Stuttgart (click to enlarge)
Young Ideas for Europe is an initiative of the Robert Bosch Stiftung, realized by IFOK, which inspires young people between the ages of 15 and 18 years to actively shape Europe’s political, economic and social future by giving them not only a forum, but a true voice in European politics.
In 2008, the project’s first year of implementation, over 600 young people in 6 countries participated in a dialogue over the course of 26 weeks.
In 2009 and 2010, more than 1,000 young people from all over Europe will formulate a common “Action Plan: New Energy for Europe”. They will be supported in their efforts by experts in a number of fields, as well as high-profile politicians and lawmakers.
In addition, this year will see the creation of a European Youth Community to facilitate intensified yough exchange and engagement across Europe. This online community will enable some 40,000 young people from all over Europe to become involved with the project, even if they are not participating directly in a workshop.
The completed Action Plan will then be presented to the Swedish and Spanish EU-Presidencies, and at the Copenhagen Climate Conference.
The core of the initiative is a 4-day workshop, during which young people will debate and develop their ideas for energy policy and climate change together with guidance from experts from across the political spectrum, as well as participants in other European countries. On the final day of the workshop, the students will present their ideas to a group including high-ranking guests and media representatives. In November/December 2009, a joint, European “Action Plan: New Energy for Europe” will be handed over to the Swedish EU-presidency.
Expanding Outreach by continously involving new Partners
Aims
Fostering European Civic Education through Dialogue:
- Strengthening Europe: Youth in 19 EU-member states become directly involved in shaping “their” Europe. Young people learn to think about concrete political issues – beginning with the dual problems of energy and climate change – at the European level.
- Enhancing civic education: The project gives young people insights into political mechanisms and interdependencies, and develops the individual skills and abilities needed to participate in shaping European policy.
Raising the level of participation at the European level:
- Using an extensive online community, students are able to synthesize the best ideas from individual project weeks into a common “Action Plan: New Energy for Europe”.
- Students and young people not participating in the project are invited to join the online community and share their views on the concepts presented.
- Participants become part of a Europe-wide partner network comprising NGOs, high-ranking politicians and foundations.
