The YiA Program
Objectives
- promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular
- develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union
- foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries
- contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field
- promote European cooperation in the youth field.
Priorities
European citizenship
The objective is to encourage young people to reflect on European topics and to involve them in the discussion on the construction and the future of the European Union. On this basis, projects should have a strong "European dimension" and stimulate reflection on the emerging European society and its values. To reflect this, a Youth in Action project should offer young people the opportunity to identify common values with other young people from different countries in spite of their cultural differences.
Participation of young people
- to increase the participation by young people in the civic life of their community
- to increase participation by young people in the system of representative democracy
- to provide greater support for various forms of learning to participate.
Cultural diversity
The respect for cultural diversity together with the fight against racism and xenophobia are priorities of the Youth in Action Programme. By facilitating joint activities of young people from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, the Programme aims to develop the intercultural learning of young people.
Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities
An important priority for the European Union is to give access to all young people, including young people with fewer opportunities, to the Youth in Action Programme.
Important features of the Youth in Action Programme
The following features of the Programme deserve special attention.
Non-formal learning
Non-formal learning refers to the learning which takes place outside formal educational curriculum. Non-formal learning activities involve people on a voluntary basis and are carefully planned, to foster the participants' personal, social and professional development.
Non-formal and informal learning enables young people to acquire essential competences and contributes to their personal development, social inclusion and active citizenship, thereby improving their employment prospects. Learning activities within the youth field provide significant added value for young people as well as for the economy and society at large such as capacity-building of organisations, benefits for communities, systems and institutions.
Youthpass
Through Youthpass, the European Commission ensures that participation in the Programme is recognised as an educational experience and a period of non-formal learning and informal learning. This document can be of great benefit for the personal, future educational or professional pathway of the participant.
Visibility of the Youth in Action Programme
All projects funded under the Youth in Action Programme must develop measures aimed at ensuring the visibility of their project and of the Programme. Visibility consists in spreading information about the project, its objectives and attended results, as well as in promoting the contribution of the EU Youth in Action Programme to the realisation of the project.
Dissemination and exploitation of results
Dissemination and exploitation of results relates to the use and practical application of a project's outcomes throughout various follow-up activities after finalising the project. The aim of such follow-up activities is to increase the impact of the project by its multiplying effect and to ensure the sustainability of achieved results.
Anti-discrimination
Anti-discrimination is a core element of the Youth in Action Programme. The Programme should be accessible to all young people without any form of discrimination on grounds of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability or sexual orientation.
Equality between women and men
Equality between women and men was strengthened in the Treaty of Amsterdam and is one of the priorities for developing employment in the European Union. All Member States have decided to include the principle of equality between women and men (or "gender equality") in all policies and actions at European level, particularly in the fields of education and culture.
Protection and safety of participants
Protection and safety of young people involved in Youth in Action projects are important principles of the Programme. All young persons participating in the Youth in Action Programme deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential in terms of social, emotional and spiritual development. This could only be assured in a safe environment which respects and protects rights of young persons and safeguards and promotes their welfare.
Multilingualism
The Youth in Action Programme achieves these objectives by bringing young people of different nationalities and different languages together and by giving them the opportunity to participate in activities abroad. Although Youth in Action is not a linguistic Programme, it is nevertheless a non-formal learning Programme which gives young people the opportunity to become acquainted with other languages and cultures.