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.

Bulgaria

Program Name:
Bulgarian: Национален ЦентърЕвропейски Младежки Програми и Инициативи
English: National Centre „European Youth Programs and Initiatives„

Website: http://www.youthbg.info/
Established Year: 2007

The National Centre „European Youth Programs and Initiatives„ encourages, consults, organizes and coordinates the participation of Bulgarian youth organizations and institutions in the European and international youth programs and initiatives. The Centre is assigned to the Ministry of Youth and Sport and its main functions are to work on projects from the EU program „Youth in Action„, and to sort and process information regarding other international and European youth projects. As such, it supports the Minister of Youth and Sport in conducting the state policy in the field of youth activities. In particular, the officials from the Centre are tasked with consulting young people and youth organizations about the application process for the projects of „Youth in Action„.
Program Name:
Bulgarian: Национална програма за младежта /2011-2015/
English: National Program for the Youth /2011-2015/

Website: http://www.mikc.bg/program/
Established Year: 2011

The National Program for the Youth /2011-2015/ is an instrument for fulfilling the priorities of the national policy for young people. It is based on the Bulgarian youth’s needs and is synchronized with the strategic goals of the European youth policy. The program was elaborated on the basis of the evaluated results from previous national programs for youth activities, such as the Program for Youth Activities /2008-2010/ and the National Program „Youth Information Consulting Centers„ /2007-2010/. The program takes into consideration the texts of the Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, the World Program for Action for Youth, the European Youth Pact, etc. Furthermore,it  is in accordance with and fulfil the goals of the National Strategy for the Youth /2012-2020/. Its main topics and the wider scope of the problems affecting the Bulgarian youth necessitate a multi-sector approach in its implementation. Therefore, the success of the National Program would only be possible when collaborating with other sectors, such as education, healthcare, social inclusion, gender equality, competitiveness, etc.
Program Name:
Bulgarian: Национална стратегия за младежта /2012-2020/
English: National Youth Strategy /2012-2020/

Website: http://mpes.government.bg/Documents/Documents/Strategii/strategy_youth_2012-2020.pdf
Established Year: 2012

The National Youth Strategy 2012-2020 aims at building and implementing a unified, consistent and sustainable youth policy in Bulgaria based on the sectoral approach, inter-sectoral cooperation and co-management with the young people at a local, regional and national level. The National Youth Strategy 2012-2020 is aimed at young people aged 15 to 29 and it is prepared in accordance with the international and European standards for youth work. The strategy first analyzes the challenges for youth policy-making in the country, including the ongoing demographic crisis, the youth unemployment and the lack of social inclusion and political participation. Together with identifying some of the main problems, the strategy points out at some important future priorities - encouraging the economic activity and youth entrepreneurship, sufficient access to information and services, youth volunteering, and formal and informal education. In addition, it pledges to foster the youths’ career development, to support young people from smaller regions, and to encourage the intercultural and international dialogue with the active participation of the Bulgarian youth. Finally, the document outlines the crucial role of the state institutions, the municipalities, the youth organizations and the National Centre „European Youth Programs and Initiatives„.
Program Name:
Bulgarian: ПрограмаСпортни, младежки и детски дейности 2011-2014“на Столичния общински съвет
English: Sports, Youth and Child Activities 2011-2014 of Sofia Municipal Council Program

Website: http://www.sofiacouncil.bg/?page=ordinance&id=135
Established Year: 2011

As the name of this program suggests, it is more locally-oriented than the other programs are. In general, it aims at fostering the local policies regarding  youth organizations and activities in Sofia. The program is in accordance with the key EU and UN documents with relevance to youth issues. Among its main priorities there is the developing of an active citizenship for young people, especially regarding their European consciousness and participation. An additional goal is encouraging a greater tolerance and the social integration of youths from a different national, ethnic or religious origin. Introducing the young people of Sofia to the European values and culture, and their engagement in European youth activities remains the main task for the local policy-makers in this regard. Furthermore, the program outlines the necessity to bridge the existing gap between young people and the variety of youth organizations which are seeking for greater numbers and involvement on behalf of the local youth.
Program Name:
Bulgarian: Проект „Младежка заетост – гаранция за бъдещето“
English: Youth Employment - a Guarantee for the Future Project

Website: http://www.mlsp.government.bg/BG/projects/Mladejka_Zaetost_2008.pdf
Established Year: 2008

This project aims at adequately addressing the growing problem of youth unemployment. Similarly to other countries from the southern periphery of the EU, Bulgaria struggles against the social isolation, and the lack of motivation and economic activity among the unemployed young people in the country. The specific goal of this project conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy is to motivate and encourage the unemployed youths to seek options for career development. In addition, it focuses on enhancing the economic activity in regions and municipalities with poorer rates of employment. A special emphasis is placed on aspects such as achieving greater competitiveness and social inclusion for those who have been unemployed for longer periods of time. According to the authors of the project, its success is also partly dependent on the active role and support of the private businesses and civil associations. It is important to mention some of the specific instruments employed for achieving successful results. Among them there is a specialized set of group motivational and adaptation trainings, and individual consultative sessions with each of the beneficiaries.
Program Name:
Bulgarian: ПрограмаШ@нс за реализация
English: Ch@nce for realization Program

Website: http://ophrd.government.bg/view_doc.php/5966
Established Year: 2012

This program provides young people with the chance to make use of intermediary services for finding employment opportunities, training in communication and information technologies, and motivational workshops. The program’s budget is 15 million leva (BGN) and it is conducted in more than a half of Bulgaria’s districts. At least 10.400 young people have been included in the scheme for acquiring key skills which would allow them to succeed on the labor market. In addition, the program foresees an extensive training in at least one foreign language, in order to further upgrade the competences of the beneficiaries.
Program Name:
Bulgarian: Програма „Ново начало – от образование към заетост“
English: New beginning - from education to employment Program

Website: http://ophrd.government.bg/view_doc.php/5966
Established Year: 2013

This scheme is intended to support young people up to the age of 29 who have graduated either from high school or university, but have no working experience. The program helps those from the target group to do at least six-month internship by facilitating their contact with prospective employers and the problematic transition from school or university to the workplace. At the onset of the initiative, it has been estimated that at least 8,550 unemployed young people will be included in the scheme, thus finding an internship to kick-start their career. For this purpose, the Bulgarian government subsidizes the employers allowing them to pay their interns for the period in which they have been hired.
Program Name:

Bulgarian: ПрограмаСтарт в администрацията
English: Start in the Administration Program

Website: http://ophrd.government.bg/view_doc.php/5966
Established Year: 2012
 
This project allows young people up to the age of 29 who possess a university degree to do a nine-month internship in the structures of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy or in the Ministry of Healthcare. The main aim of the program is to increase the work efficiency of the state institutions, but also to upgrade the professional skills of the beneficiaries and to introduce them to the administrative task. Unfortunately, the budget for the scheme has been relatively scarce - 3 million leva (BGN) - and only 600 young people have been engaged in it.
Program Name:
Bulgarian: ПрограмаНово работно място
English: New Workplace Program

Website: http://ophrd.government.bg/view_doc.php/5966
Established Year: 2012

This initiative aims at providing stimulus for employers in Bulgaria to hire young people by subsidizing their businesses. Its budget of 18 million leva (BGN) is available to all employers who wish to apply for the program and give 2,000 young people under the age of 29 a chance to enter the labor market for a period between 6 and 12 months. Crucially, the program also prioritizes the labor integration of disabled young people by focusing on the way in which the workplace should be adapted to their specific needs.