A call repeatedly made by the “youth sector”, ie all youth organisations, associations and institutions involved in working with young people outside school, is for its work to be recognised.
The “Participation in all its forms – European symposium on diversity and participation” event is an opportunity to illustrate the potential of the youth sector. More specifically, on the basis of projects conducted as part of the All Different – All Equal campaign, the symposium will seek to show how the youth sector contributes to active participation by young people in society and the integration of young people from non-majority communities.
It will also provide an opportunity to develop new projects and discuss action to be taken in future.
The symposium is being organised by the Council of Europe and partners from Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg).
Aims and objectives of the symposium
The symposium will consider the theme of youth participation in the light of experience under the All Different – All Equal European campaign.
Objectives:
- Discuss and analyse projects conducted under the campaign;
- Assess the degree of involvement of young people in the campaign;
- Facilitate discussion of co-operation between non-governmental organisations and public authorities during the campaign;
- Discuss the limits and advantages of the concepts related to youth participation;
- Draw up recommendations for the future.
Organisation
The symposium programme will comprise:
- plenary sessions;
- exchanges of best practice;
- discussion workshops.
Discussion workshops
The workshops will cover different themes, but will also look at common issues:
- shared basic documents;
- presentation and discussion of the participants’ experiences, examples of best practice;
- analysis of obstacles, challenges and needs identified in the course of projects;
- identification of possible ways forward at European level;
- identification of possibilities for future co-operation between participating bodies;
Each discussion workshop will last approximately eight hours (divided into several sessions) and will be chaired by two experienced moderators.
Themes of the workshops
Are young people all different or all equal as regards active participation in society?
Workshop 1: What can make it difficult for young people to participate actively?
What do young people need to be able to “participate” actively: personal background (personal outlook, information, knowledge, skills, etc)? Which obstacles exist?
How can improvements be achieved on an individual level: strategies involving youth organisations, schools, “open” youth work? How can discrimination be prevented? How can more young people from communities vulnerable to discrimination be encouraged to participate?
In particular: what can the youth sector contribute here?
Workshop 2: Discrimination and participation
How can young people “vulnerable” to discrimination (immigrants, people with disabilities, women and girls) be enabled to play a fuller part in society?
Which strategies should foster participation by these groups of young people in particular? Is introducing a system of positive discrimination (quotas) useful?
In particular: what can the youth sector contribute here?
Youth participation: myth and reality
Workshop 3: Diversity in organisations
Does the makeup of youth organisations’ members reflect the diversity of society as a whole? What are the most effective strategies for including young people from widely differing backgrounds in youth organisations?
Workshop 4: Youth participation and integration
How can fostering active participation by young people at local and regional level help improve the integration of young people and prevent violence?
One goal of this workshop is to produce arguments setting out examples of best practice so as to persuade local and regional authorities to become involved in the area of active youth participation.
Workshop 5: Good intentions and follow-up
Many forums and symposiums set out their conclusions in the form of resolutions. All too often, however, these resolutions are not really taken into account in the further development of youth policies. This can result in a feeling of frustration among the young participants.
What are the limits of the use of “resolutions”? How can frustration be avoided? Which possible new approaches are there to the problem? How can youth organisations help to implement the conclusions?
European added value
Workshop 6: All Different – All Equal European campaign: impact, follow-up and added value of European co-operation
The results and impact of the campaign as regards “participation”. What are the conclusions regarding the actual conduct of such a campaign? How should a European campaign be conducted at national level? How does European co-operation support national, regional or local efforts? What does the youth sector expect from European bodies? What are the conclusions for the future? How should follow-up be ensured?
Working languages
English and French for the plenary sessions. English for the workshops.
Venue
The workshop meetings will be held in Schengen Castle (Luxembourg) and in the Relais de l’Europe in Schengen. Schengen Castle is a former convent, part of which is still occupied by nuns. The plenary sessions will be held in the Relais de l’Europe.
For more details about the venue, please go to: www.ont.lu/site_citydetails-fr-182.html.
Accommodation
Most of the participants will be accommodated in the new youth hostel in Schengen (see www.youthhostels.lu), located 3 km from the workshop meetings.
The moderators and the remaining participants will be accommodated in Schengen Castle (see www.chateau-de-schengen.lu).
There will be two to three people per room.
Financial conditions
Participation in the symposium will be paid for by the Council of Europe. Travel and any visa expenses will be refunded on condition that the individuals concerned attend the full programme.
Participants
Total number of participants: 105 (excluding moderators and staff)
Profile: Leaders of youth associations or youth organisations, youth workers
Selection criterion: Involvement in a project which is being carried out as part of the campaign and is linked to the theme of democracy and participation by young people in public life
Selection of participants
All Different – All Equal national committees are encouraged to put forward participants who have not attended previous campaign meetings at European level.
Participants will be selected by the relevant Council of Europe bodies on the basis of applications and letters of recommendation from All Different – All Equal national committees (in countries where such committees exist) or from youth organisations. The European Youth Forum will put forward candidates for organisations active at European level. Candidates will be notified of the decision as soon as possible (late March, early April).
Visas
Luxembourg is part of the Schengen Area, with the related advantages and constraints.
Once the participants have been selected, the organisers will contact the relevant embassies or consulates with a view to simplifying visa procedures to the maximum extent and possibly obtaining free visas.
The participants concerned will be informed of the details as soon as possible.
Additional information
The participants selected will receive all relevant additional information upon receipt of their registrations. The website www.campagne-jeunesse.lu/symposium provides further details about the symposium.
Deadline for submission of registration forms
19 March 2007
The application form must be returned to the Luxembourg National Youth Service along with a letter of recommendation from your national committee, your organisation or your department, by 19 March 2007
National Youth Service (SNJ)
1, rue de la poste L- 2346 Luxembourg
Tel: 
+352-478 6460
Fax: +352-26 20 30 48
