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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 Foundation, designed and implemented by IFOK. It 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.
Since its launch in 2008, more than 1,500 young people from 18 EU Member States have taken part in project weeks as part of Young Ideas for Europe. Growing from 26 project weeks in 6 countries in the first phase, Young Ideas for Europe is now in its third phase, and is being implemented in all 27 EU Member States. Some 40 project weeks offering youngsters a voice in the future of Europe. Working together across the boundaries of language and geography, youngsters will again work to draw up their common “Action Plan: New Energy for Europe”.
At the heart of the initiative is a 5-day project week, during which young people debate and develop their ideas for energy policy and climate change. They do this with guidance from experts from across the political spectrum, as well as with participants in other European countries. On the final day of the project week, the students present and debate their ideas with a group of high-ranking guests and media representatives.
The completed Action Plans, drawn from the results of all the project weeks across Europe, will then be presented to the Hungarian, Polish and Danish EU-Presidencies. In addition, an international delegation of youngsters involved in the project will also present the Young Ideas for Europe Action Plan to decision-makers in Brussels.
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.
