The General Assembly of the Youth Express Network was held online on December 7th, via videoconference. We started this 29th General Assembly with the welcome speech of the newly elected President of the European Youth Forum, Maria Rodriguez Alcazar. A big thank you to her for her commitment in fighting for youth rights.
Network enlargement
Then, the General Assembly was officially opened by its moderator Wima Farzan, from the Etage Club de jeunes, an historical member of the Youth Express Network. After the presentation of the 2021 activity report and of the financial report, the quorum proceeded to the votes.
We had the great joy of welcoming 12 new members, from 6 new countries to our network:
- 33 Officina Creativa (Italy)
- Amaro Drom e. V. (Germany)
- Center for Intercultural Dialogue (North Macedonia)
- Együttható Egyesület (Hungary)
- Hand to Hand Against Nation Apathy (Albania)
- Humanity Over People (Italy)
- Kargenc Club (Turkey)
- ODLAR Yurdu Youth Public Union (Azerbaijan)
- Point of View (Serbia)
- RROMA (North Macedonia)
- United Bridge SNGO (Armenia)
- Zarika (Bulgaria)
Our voting members then elected three new candidates to the Board: Noa Celestini (HOP), Sevinj Gasimova (“Common Sense” Youth Organisation) and Begüm Seyhan (Kargenc Club).
Here is the constitution of the new board:
- Andrea, President
- Büsra, Vice-President
- Begüm, Secretary
- Noa, Treasurer
- Sevinj, Olya et Adina, Board Members.
We would like to thank our former Board members: Ramiz ALIYEV (outgoing President), Elene KAPANADZE, and Lilia MNATSAKANYAN (board members) for their engagement in the Youth Express Network
Upcoming projects 2023
Finally, we presented the activity draft for the year 2023. On the provisional program we have :
- Two youth exchanges
- In May with cross-border partners: Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg
- In September with 5 member organisations of our network (Italy, 2-3 Central and Eastern European countries and Caucasus partner).
- Two training courses
- “Re-think” training course from the 5th to the 9th of may in Strasbourg for 20 youth workers of our network
- Seminar “Re-strategize” with 50 participants from the 2nd to 4th of November in Strasbourg for Y-E-N 30th anniversary
- Franco-German youth work
- One study visit week in October with Arbeit und Leben Bayern
- Hosting of 4 German volunteers in November with Arbeit und Leben Bayern
- Promoting civic engagement
- We will be present at the EYE with a workshop on sustainable development on June 8 and 9 with Octop’us (local NGO). We are bringing a delegation of 15 young people (below 30) from our EU member organisation (to be confirmed)
- Study session from 3 to 7 July with ECYC at the European Youth Center in Strasbourg for 30 youth workers
- Increasing the skills of our network
- 1 study visit with a member organisation, in August (to be confirmed)