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Annual Overview 2015

European Youth Week (EYW) 2015 took place from 27 April to 10 May across Europe.

The theme of the two week long campaign was “Unlocking young people’s participation in working life and in society in general”. It promoted opportunities to increase young people’s skills and employability through EU programmes, particularly Erasmus+.

As in previous years, several Eurodesk multipliers across Europe organised events, campaigns and competitions targeted at young people (13-30) and youth organisations.

In 2015, the Eurodesk network was the biggest organiser of EYW events. In Ireland alone, Eurodesk multipliers organised over 40 initiatives at local level. Read on for a sample of our events.

I r e l a n d

Click the yellow links for info!

2015

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European Youth Week in Ireland

Youth Information Centre (YIC) Roscommon

On 6 May, YIC Roscommon presented Erasmus+ Youth in Action to a group of youth workers. The aim was to increase understanding of how Erasmus+ and the European Voluntary Service (EVS) in particular could improve the life chances of young people, and to encourage youth workers to participate in Erasmus+ in the future. Practical examples of youth exchanges, youth worker training and EVS sending organisations were presented, and there was a discussion on how to plan and undertake practical support for young people involved in the programmes.

On 1 May, the updated ‘Flying the Coop’ booklet was presented to young people, youth workers and teachers. The publication has comprehensive information on the transition from school and home to third level, including third level opportunities in Europe and tips for independent living. The booklet was distributed to young people via YICs, schools, and other community information providers. We hope that ‘Flying the Coop’ will help young people feel more confident in considering third level studies in the EU.

YIC WaterfordTo celebrate European Youth Week 2015, nineteen-year-old Luke Power produced a video with the support of YIC Waterford.

The video is a sample showcase of the talent of some local musicians who learn and produce music in the Waterford Youth Centre premises and who are in the process of unlocking their potential through music. The video includes original songs and one cover.

To produce the video, no professional equipment was used: it was filmed using a simple Canon camera and sound was

recorded and edited using free software.

“The aim of the video is to show young people from around Europe that music and the way

young people embrace it as a form of expression is a universal theme and can be something that

can be used to share experiences between young people from different cultures and backgrounds”.

(Bernard Hackett, YIC Waterford)

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European Youth Week in Ireland

YIC Ballinasloe and Europe Direct Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

On 28, 29 and 30 April, two Eurodesk Multipliers in Ballinasloe - the Youth Work Ireland Youth Information Centre and Europe

Direct Information Centre - held information evenings about EVS for potential volunteers and their parents. The events took place in

libraries in Ballinasloe, Tuam and Loughrea.

Helen Butler, Youth Information Coordinator, presented the main principles of EVS, how to become an EVS volunteer, how to find an EVS

placement etc. Following this, an ex-EVS volunteer talked about his own volunteering experience. Parents and senior cycle secondary students

were also invited to ask any questions about volunteering with EVS.

The events were very well attended and were an example of a successful cooperation between Europe Direct, local libraries and Youth Work Ireland Information Services.

YIC Clonmel

On 5 May, to celebrate European Youth Week 2015, the Clonmel Youth Information Centre held an inter-schools table quiz for Transition Year students from three local secondary schools. Each school was represented by a team of three. Prizes were generously donated and presented to the winning team by TD Seamus Healy. Youth information workers also took the opportunity to talk to students about services provided by YIC Clonmel and by Eurodesk.

YIC Clonmel also organised a photography competition ‘Unlocking Your Potential’ in the weeks leading up to EYW. More than 20 students from local primary and secondary schools took part. The competition ended with a prize-giving ceremony on 7 May. It was attended by students, parents, local media and politicians, during which the participants were informed about EYW and Eurodesk. The prizes were donated by local businesses.

Both events were promoted by local media and were a great opportunity to cooperate with local schools and teachers.

“Positive outcomes [of these events] were bringing together the schools in a safe youth friendly environment, to promote and encourage engagement and use of services within the youth information centre.” (Amanda Hackett, YIC Clonmel)

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European Youth Week in Ireland

YIC LetterkennyBetween 27 April and 7 May, youth councillors organised European Youth Week quizzes in five different locations in Co.Donegal - Ballybofey, Gweedore, Letterkenny, Bundoran and Carndonagh - attended by 200 Transition Year students. Current EVS volunteers from Letterkenny YIC held EVS information nights at the same time, and these were attended by about 40 young people.

“Both the Quiz and the EVS information nights were successful in different ways. The quiz was tailored for Transition Year students and we had representation from 22 of the 27 secondary schools in Donegal. Having youth councillors facilitate the quiz worked really well. [Following] the EVS information nights, [...] we have been working to prepare three young people for EVS projects ... The sessions were facilitated by our EVS volunteers who gave an excellent input from a volunteer’s perspective. Also the entire week was a result of a successful working partnership between Letterkenny Youth Information, Donegal Youth Council and Europe Direct, which enabled the use of superb venues and availability of personnel”.

(Gareth Gibson, Youth Information Letterkenny)

YIC NaasYIC Naas organised a lot of events over EYW 2015. They included an information talk attended by 42 youth workers on non-formal learning mobility programmes, especially Erasmus+. The talk highlighted that being mobile may enhance the skills and knowledge of young people and youth workers.

There was an information evening on 21 May to inform young people from Kildare Youth Service Projects and Youth Clubs about non-formal learning mobility opportunities and their benefits, and to motivate participants to take advantage of European opportunities. The event was attended by ten people. There was also a Youth Exchange Video presentation to 42 youth workers in Athy Youth Project on 12 May, to share and exchange youth exchange experience, discussion, opinions and ideas.

The European Youth Quiz gave young people a chance to test their knowledge of European issues and highlight their place in Europe.

EYW Drop-in Information Sessions informed young people about youth work and youth mobility as a way to unlock their potential towards employment.

“European Youth Week was an opportunity to highlight local access to European Information

opportunities for young people. More ‘visibility events’ give us closer connection to the European multiplier

community and further professional cooperation in the framework of Erasmus+. Young people are aware of EU

opportunities and where and how to access them.”

(Ger Cronin, Youth Information Coordinator, YIC Naas)

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Time to Move 2015

The second edition of the Eurodesk EU-wide campaign ‘Time to Move’ took place from 21 September to 4 October 2015.

This initiative aims to inform young people on opportunities abroad and ways to access international mobility information and

to promote Eurodesk information services.

More than 100 activities were organised by Eurodesk multipliers in many European countries.

In Ireland, many network members actively contributed to planning and running the Eurodesk Ireland ‘Time to Move’ national event on

25 September in Dublin. It was organised by the Eurodesk coordinator and successfully launched by the Minister for Social Protection Kevin

Humphreys. The event was attended by more than 70 participants: young people, training centres, youth organisations, guidance counsellors and representatives of information networks.

The aim of this joint initiative of Eurodesk multipliers and cooperation partners (EURES, Euroguidance, Europass) was to create an information space for young people and organisations as well as a networking platform for multipliers, and to celebrate 20 years of Eurodesk in Ireland and 25 in Europe!

The event opened with inspirational speeches from two ex-EVS volunteers, Sheila Quigley who did a short-term placement in Macedonia, and Maria Mangaoang who did her EVS in Slovenia. Youth Information Coordinator Helen Butler presented the diverse benefits of international experiences, be it taking part in a youth exchange, hosting volunteers from another country or travelling abroad “with open eyes”.

Interactive workshops on mobility and EVS run during the event by Eurodesk multipliers, who successfully applied youth work methods, helped young people express their fears about moving abroad and discussed the benefits of such a move. They also provided hands-on experience on taking part in EVS for both young people and organisations.

EURES offered information sessions on working and training in Europe and services provided by EURES in Ireland to potential job seekers.

Information stands run by Euroguidance, EURES, Eurodesk, Youth Information Centres and Voluntary Service International offered an opportunity for participants of the event to receive professional information, support and materials about different aspects of international mobility such as studying, training, working and volunteering in Europe.

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Time to Move 2015

The event closed with a celebration of 20 years of Eurodesk in Ireland and 25 in Europe, symoblised by special Eurodesk cupcakes.

‘Time to Move’ was documented by a video prepared by Diane, an EVS volunteer with Donegal Youth Service and an article by Shivaun Gallagher in the NCGE Newsletter (p.20-21).

“My experience with EVS was like all others; rocky at the beginning because I was away from home and in new surroundings. I remember thinking “I don’t wanna be here, I want to go home”. Then I started working in the youth centre and as the days went by this place slowly but surely became my home. Everything about Macedonia was different: food, culture, people and just their way of life was so laid back and relaxed. We lived with other international volunteers from different parts of Europe and these people turned out to be my friends. I learned about their cultures and tasted their food. I personally grew in confidence and independence. I remember one time I was asked to organise and facilitate a workshop and immediately I thought, “No way am I standing up in front of a group of people and talking about sexual health!” And then I thought to myself, “You are here to learn and grow”, so I did it and after it I felt extremely proud of myself. I also got to travel around Macedonia, Hungary, Serbia and Greece. Now that I’m home I’m in Maynooth University studying Community and Youth work. I would recommend everybody who has the chance to go

on EVS to jump at it, because it is the most amazing thing

you will ever do in your life and I have no

doubt it will give some idea of what direction

you want to take.”

(Sheila Quigley, ex-EVS volunteer)

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Contact UsEurodesk Ireland

Eurodesk Ireland LéargasKing’s Inns HouseParnell StreetDublin 1 Eurodesk CoordinatorMalgorzata Fiedot-Davieseurodesk@leargas.ie+353 1 887 1210

www.leargas.iewww.eurodesk.ie

www.facebook.com/eurodesk.irelandwww.twitter.com/leargas

To find out about opportunities for young people in Europe contact Eurodesk Ireland or your closest Eurodesk Multiplier (check the map here).