Y-E-N’s Diary – Winter 2017

2017 started well at Y-E-N. It was full of beautiful local projects, new friends and a few work meetings under the mediterranean sun…

Local actions

Y-E-N’s first trimester of 2017 was specially productive at local level in Strasbourg, where it co-hosted four events around several topics: youth mobility, inclusion of the refugees and cross-border student exchanges.

The regional platform Alsace Mobility Crossroads, which was co-funded by Y-E-N, held the first of event of the year, an information evening which took place on the 28th of February. Six of our local partners involved in Youth Mobility were present to answer young people’s questions and doubts about cross-border, European and International mobility. Local French television was also here to film the event and interview the hosts, Fabienne Orban, associative organisational consultant at the House of Organisations of Strasbourg and Brigitte Ludmann, Mobility Projects Coordinator at Y-E-N. The event was a success and many young people left with a clearer view on the opportunities they could seize and the benefits of mobility, whether it be to study, work, help organisations…

On the 6th of March, Y-E-N and Eurodistrict organised together a cross-border « Project Market » gathering around 50 French and German youth workers and youth organisations to create a network around youth projects. As the event also closed Eurodistrict’s Fund for young refugee 2016, the focus was on projects benefiting the inclusion of young refugees. 5 organisations were invited to present their integration projects in little groups and 17 projects in favour of refugees were presented graphically. The participants were then able to share about their experiences on implementing cross-border and integration projects. Organisations could also gather information about external and internal fundraising.

Still in March, Y-E-N also coordinated 2 cross-border student exchanges between Germany and France. 2 groups of German students came to Strasbourg to meet French students and do vocational trainings or individual work placements. As part of this experience, they had the opportunity to have a language workshop and discover for the first time the french language thanks to non-formal education. Their first contact with the french culture was followed with a visit at the ICEI (Information Center of European Institutions) to learn about Europe, its institutions, its economical and political reality and the importance and future of the Franco-German relationship.

New faces

  • In January, Y-E-N’s Coordination Office welcomed Arbenita, young intern in Administration Management. Meet Arbenita!
  • In February, Margaux joined the team as a Communication Officer, the first ever in Y-E-N’s history! Meet Margaux!

Y-E-N says no to Hate Speech

In March, some members of the Coordination Office took part in a the local Training Course in Strasbourg for the No Hate Speech Movement: “Connections and alternatives: Populism, Sexism, Hate Speech, Discriminations – Training Course for Human Rights Education”. The training was co-held by the Municipality of Strasbourg, the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and the French No Hate Speech Movement. The purpose of the training was to gather people from different backgrounds (youth and social workers, high schoolers, college students, activists, organisations…) and encourage them to brainstorm together and implement actions to celebrate World Refugee Day on the 20th of June in Strasbourg.

Under the Greek sun

Also in March, Y-E-N visited Greece and our local friends there, TWICE! First, for the first Board Meeting of the Year, and secondly, for the Preparation Meeting of the first activity of the Year Work Plan: Living in Europe Together. More about this one soon 😉