Youth information and MIL

Building up youth autonomy and well-being

UNESCO Global MIL Week 2017

Feature Conference

Kingston, Jamaica – 25-27 October 2017

Eva Reina

ERYICA Director

About ERYICA

ERYICA is an international non-governmental, non-profit

making association based in Luxembourg.

Members: national and regional networks of youth

information services providers.

Network: 35 Members in 27 European countries

Founded in 1986

Our Mission

ERYICA upholds young people’s access to

reliable and objective information, which

promotes their autonomy, wellbeing and active

citizenship in a global and digitalised world.

ERYICA makes youth information work visible

on national and international levels, while

provides its members with opportunities for

professional development, exchange &

innovation.

Misinformation

PropagandaFake news

Alternative facts

Post-truth era

Complot theories

Populism

Internet hoaxes

Hate speech

Etc.

Biased media

Evaluation of online information

reliability by young people

“When I read information in the Internet, it is

difficult for me to judge how correct it is”(%)

4.3 20.1 22.6 36.1 16.9

I definitely do not agree I rather not agree I am not sure I rather agree I definitely agree

Source: Compendium on youth information and Counselling, ERYICA 2013

Can young people address their

challenges alone?

Some main challenges• youth unemployment, access to education and training, school drop

outs, risk of poverty, exclusion, belated autonomy, housing, mental

health, loneliness, no support…

Or these…? • Speed and scope of changes

• Hate speech, bullying, abuse…

• How do I hide – they don’t leave me alone

• Pressure to be the best, ‘Rate me’, ‘Like me’

• I want attention … from whom?

• Radicalisation and violent extremism

• Discrimination on any ground

• …

Young people can’t solve the

future on their own

Support wanted…

• Addressing the information overload

• Encouraging a critical and self-reflective

approach

• Building young people’s capacity in MIL

• Balancing between protection and

empowerment

• Acting as interpreter - facilitating access to

abstract and fragmented information

• Personalised approach every individual is

unique!

What is Youth Information

& Counselling Work?

Essence of YI & Counselling

• Guiding young people in all aspects of

their lives and in their autonomous

decision-making by showing what are their

options and alternatives

• Acting as interpreter - facilitating access

to abstract and fragmented information

(i.e. legal issues)

• Evaluating all the options, putting them

into a broader context and relating them to

one’s own abilities, skills and wishes.

Youth information aims to• provide reliable, accurate and understandable information;

• give access to different sources and channels of information;

• give an overview of the options and possibilities available on all relevant topics

• help young people sift through the information overloadthey face today

• ensure that young people are aware of all the rights and services available to them and how to access them

• provide support in evaluating the obtained information and in identifying its quality

• guide young people in reaching their own decisions and in finding the best options open to them

• offer different channels of communication and dialogue in order to support young people in their search for information and knowledge

• contribute to the media & information literacy of young people

Scope, methods & channels

• Targeted to young people, but also at young people’s parents and

others actors professionally or otherwise engaged with them

• Different kinds of services and activities covering all the themes

important to young people.: informing, counselling, advising,

supporting, coaching and training, networking, signposting, peer

activities, peer support/learning…

• May be delivered by youth information centres/points and cross-

sectoral youth services, through peers, youth-led media, face-to-

face and/or through digital environments using a wide range of

methods and tools

Involvement of young people

• Youth information is not just about informing and guiding young

people, it is also about involving them in the process

• Helping them building their autonomy and enhancing their

knowledge, MIL skills, and experience

• Youth-led initiatives and peer-to-peer approach: Young people as

information “produsers” and multipliers

• Role as evaluators of information through critical thinking

(context, methods, channels, adapting information...)

European Youth Information Charter

• Professional principles, minimum standards and quality measures.

• 1993: 1st version of the European Charter for Youth Information

• 2004: Revised version of the Charter, including new aspects of Youth Information work:

- participation of young people

- use of new technologies

Available in 24 languages

MIL-based training system

• YIntro – Stepping into Youth Information

• Digital YIntro Additional Module

• Jimmy – Youth Information Mediator

• YIntro Advanced Module

• Webbie Workshop – Guide to safety and quality online

• YoMIM – Youth on the Move InfoMobility

• ALTYO – Advocacy and Lobbying Training for Youth Organisations

YoMIM ALTYO DOYIT Online

Youth Information Ambassadors

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Some best practices…• Digi, Aye? Stay secure online, by Young Scot Scotland (UK)

• The Sprouts, youth-led media by Promo-Cymru Wales (UK)

• GO Finland – Digital game on inclusion by Koordinaattii/Jibbo

(Finland)

• Le vrai du faux: tool against fake news – UNIJ/CIDJ (France)

• Bad Romance: a Live Snapchat Story by Young Scot Scotland (UK)

• Youtube campaign: “Your Data, your security, your opinion” by IJAB

(Germany)

• Liaisons: Manual on prevention of violent extremism through YI and

MIL by ERYICA-Council of Europe

• No hate speech movement – Counter narrative of hate speech online

(Council of Europe)

• Memes campaign: Who told you…#Checkyoursource European Youth

Information Day by ERYICA

• More good practices: Sheryica booklets , Engage.Empower.Inform,

ERYICA newsletters www.eryica.org

THANK YOU

For more information :

www.eryica.org

Join our newletter

eva.reina@eryica.org