Organization for Youth Education & Development (OYED)
List of Youth Programs in EU Member State
List of Youth Programs in EU Member State
Introduction
The Organization for Youth Education and Development (OYED) is an establishment that seeks to promote the interests of young people on a European level. In order to support this youth agenda the OYED is proposing a common EU policy relating to young people, comprised of 10 points. This proposal addresses some of the most pressing challenges faced by young people in the European Union today.The OYED believes it to be a gross injustice that the opportunities and level of social inclusion that a young individual can expect is dependent on which country they inhabit. There is a clear imbalance within the European Union, which if left unchecked will perpetuate the current trend and threaten European cohesiveness. This proposal seeks to lift the cap on aspiration on a European level.
This memorandum therefore exists to reinforce this common EU policy proposal as it contains extensive research regarding governmentally funded youth programs and initiatives in every EU member state. The broad scope of this research highlights loopholes in existing policies in one or multiple member states, aiding EU legislators to tailor a more effective approach. Over the course of this research three overarching issues have arisen which must be addressed: social mobility, opportunities for young people, especially linking education to work and entrepreneurship and innovation, and political engagement.
Belgium
| Program Name: French: Activa Start English: Activa Start Programme Website: http://www.emploi.belgique.be/defaultTab.aspx?id=3340 Established Year: 2006 This measure encourages the reintegration of young jobseekers aged under 26 years old with low education by granting them unemployment benefits (called “allocation of work”). The employer gets financial advantages when recruiting someone who fits the criteria of the program. Program Name: French: Bel’J English: Bel'J Programme Website: http://www.bel-j.be/ Established Year: 2009 Founded in 2009, this program focuses on young people between the age of 14 and 25 . This initiative offers the possibility to meet fellow youth from other communities (e.g. Wallonia, Flanders, German community). The program stems from the idea that only lasting contact can truly achieve significant understanding between individuals, with all their differences and similarities. Opportunities offered by the Bel’J programme are e.g. volunteering in one of the other communities or initiating projects that require international cooperation. These young people may be given a financial reward for their work after volunteering. Each of the communities has put an agency in charge of overseeing the activities of Bel’J, which are: -Jint - Flanders -Bureau International Jeunesse (BIJ) - Wallonia -Jugendbüro der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft - German Community |
| Program Name: French: Jint English: Jint Programme Website: http://www.jint.be/ Established Year: 1989 This program was initiated in 1989 by the Flemish government, in consultation with Flemish youth organizations. It is financed by the Department of Youth within the Agency for Socio-Cultural Work of the Flemish Authorities and the Youth Programme Unit of the Directorate-General of Education and Culture of the European Commission. This initiative is also endorsed by the National Agency for Youth in Action (EU) in Flanders and the Flemish Knowledge Centre for International Youth Mobility and International Youth Policy. The program makes it possible for: -Young people to experience international exchanges. -Youth workers to get inspired by international cooperation. -Policy makers to have an international analysis of youth, youth work and youth policy. Approximately 6,000 young people, youth workers and policy makers participate in Jint activities every year. Precisely: -1800 young people between 15 and 25 participate in international exchange projects. -Over 25% of these young people come from disadvantaged groups. -3000 young people contact JINT for information about international exchanges or cooperation. -600 youth workers participate in international training initiatives in the Flanders or abroad. -300 young people and youth workers join youth policy debates and information sessions. |
| Program Name: French: Tremplins jeunes - Bureau International Jeunesse English: Spring Boards Youth - Office International Youth Website: http://www.lebij.be/index.php/tremplins-jeunes/ Established Year: 2013 The Belgium government grants scholarships to those young people aged between 18 and 35 whose projects fulfil one of the following criteria: learning a foreign language by working for an association based in Europe (Tremplin Langues program); gaining professional experience abroad (Tremplin Job) or any other punctual activity abroad so as to bring further positive experiences in CV (Tremplin +). These programs are financed by the “Bureau International Jeunesse”, which helps any young people to finance their projects abroad. There is a Quebec Program as well, divided in 3 different categories: courses for study, curriculum for professional experience and contacts for projects linked to hobbies. |
