Eastern Partnership Youth Forum

The Eastern Partnership Youth Forum aims to increase sustainable political/civic commitment to further support non-formal learning/the youth work recognition process through cooperation in the youth field. Objective of the event - reaching better social inclusion and improvement of lives of young people by increasing the quality and recognition of non-formal learning/education and youth work and make outcomes visible and transferable to other sectors. This year, the Eastern Partnership Youth forum will take place on 22-25 October, 2013 in Kaunas (100 km. from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania)

The Eastern Partnership Youth Forum is organised by the Agency of International Youth Cooperation, which is the Lithuanian National Agency of the Youth in Action Programme, in cooperation with the European Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and other stakeholders.

The Eastern Partnership Youth Forum aims to:

• Enhance the recognition of youth work and non-formal learning especially in the context of social inclusion, building on the synergies between international, national, regional and local levels;
•  Raise the quality and visibility of non-formal learning and youth work at the local level and foster exchange of good practice of youth work between Eastern Partnership and Youth in Action Programme countries;
• · Showcase current youth cooperation within the framework of the Youth in Action Programme's Eastern Partnership Youth Window and explore opportunities offered by the future EU programme for education, training, youth and sport.

Participants

The Eastern Partnership Youth Forum aims to bring together about 200 young people and youth experts with experience in youth and/or youth related areas to set the ground for a viable, continuous and structured dialogue and cross-sectoral cooperation.

Stakeholders are invited to participate in the Eastern Partnership Youth Forum in evidence based discussions and mutual learning and the qualitative development of non-formal education/learning and youth work.

Representatives/participants from Youth in Action Programme and Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) should have one of the following profiles:

• Young people active in youth organisations at local level;
• Youth workers;
• Youth researchers;
• Youth policy/decision makers at international, national, regional and levels with an interest in local youth policy.

As the event puts an emphasis on the quality, visibility and transferability of non-formal education, representatives with the following background are also invited to apply: 

• Business organisations interested in non-formal education/learning and youth work;
• Formal education institutions interested in non-formal education/learning and youth work.

How to register? 

Representatives/participants from Youth in Action Programme and Eastern Partnership countries should apply by completing the application form here http://trainings.salto-youth.net/3647

Participants from the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) could apply directly through SALTO system http://trainings.salto-youth.net/3647 their travel costs will be covered by the organisers of the EaP Youth Forum. Participants from Youth in Action Programme countries (28 Member States of the EU, Turkey, which is a candidate for accession to the EU, and EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) should contact their Youth in Action National Agencies before applying to make sure that the Agencies are involved and will cover their travel costs.

The selection process will be conducted by the organisers and representatives of the National Agencies of Youth in Action Programme. The selection is needed to ensure the right number of participants and to form a targeted and motivated group.

Selection criteria

• Relevant experience in youth work field. The Event aims to gather youth work practitioners, researchers, policy/decision makers and other relevant stakeholders in the youth and youth work field especially those working at local level. The priority will be given to participants who are able to contribute to the content and quality of non-formal education in their local realities. The programme of the Forum is designed to strengthen local strategies/plans of non-formal education/learning and youth work.
• Participants should be able to communicate in English. The interpretation from English to Russian and from Russian to English will be provided only in the plenary sessions, some linguistic help will be available in working groups.

Costs

Costs of accommodation, meals and other related costs will be covered by the organisers of the Eastern Partnership Youth Forum: the European Commission (Eastern Partnership Platform 4, Youth in Action Programme), the Lithuanian Government and other funds. Certain budget limits will apply. Participants will be accommodated in shared twin rooms. Participants willing to accommodate in single rooms will be asked to pay 35 EUR extra per night.

Travel costs

For participants (including representatives from respective ministries) from Eastern Partnership countries, travel and visa costs will be covered by the organisers of the Eastern Partnership Youth Forum.

For participants from Youth in Action Programme countries will be covered by relevant National Agencies. Please contact your National Agency for more details (financing, travel arrangements, reimbursement of expenses, etc.).

Please note: A participation fee may be required from selected participants from Youth in Action Programme countries. No fees will be required from Eastern Partnership country participants.

Deadline for applying is 5 September, 2013.

Official website:  http://youthforum2013.eu/