1. Participation...
Active citizenship...
European citizenship...
Youth empowerment...
Inclusion...
Young people with fewer opportunities...
- in a nutshell
Urban Solutions 2 Seminar
Athens, Greece 15-19 October 2013

2. 1) Participation and active citizenship of young
people
Participation is not an end in itself, but a means of
itself
achieving positive changes in young people’s lives and
of building a better society.
society
Youth participation –
a variety of practices,
approaches and theories.
There is no definition or approach agreed on by
everyone.

3. “Participation in the democratic life of any community is
about more than voting or standing for election, although
these are important elements. Participation and active
citizenship are about having the right, the means, the
space and the opportunity and where necessary the
support to participate in and influence decisions and
engaging in actions and activities so as to contribute to
building a better society.” (the Revised Charter on the
participation of young people in local and regional life)

4. Participation as a right
Article 10(3) of the Treaty on European Union recognizes every citizen’s right to
participate in the democratic life of the European Union.
Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulates that
“Union action shall be aimed at encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of
exchanges of socio-educational instructors, and encouraging the participation of young
people in democratic life in Europe”.
UNICEF sees participation as a human right
and therefore the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child
underlines children’s right to participate.
Roger Hart says that
participation is a fundamental right of citizenship because it is a way of learning what it
means to be a citizen.

5. Participation - in the European Youth Policy and
“Youth in action”
One of the eight fields of action of the EU Youth Strategy “Investing
and empowering” - ensuring the full participation of young people
in education, employment and society;
One of the permanent priorities of the “Youth in action “programme;
One of the objectives of the “Erasmus+ “ programme.

6. Areas of participation
The United Nations General Assembly distinguishes the following areas of
youth participation:
• economic participation – relates to employment and work in general,
to economic development, building a stable economic situation in a
society, a region or for young people as a group;
• political participation – relates to authorities and governments, public
policies, exercising power;
• social participation – relates to involvement in the life of a local
community, addressing local problems and challenges;
• cultural participation – relates to different forms of art and expression
(visual arts, music, film, dance, etc.).

7. Forms of participation
•
voluntary work;
•
participating in different forms of non-formal education;
•
peer education (for example, health promotion programmes, awarenessraising campaigns, etc.);
•
being active in an organisation/club and taking responsibility for some
areas of its work;
•
youth councils, parliaments, fora, boards and other structures;
•
schools, clubs, NGOs, etc.;

8. Forms of participation
•
consultations – used in decision-making processes to voice needs and
concerns and to make proposals;
•
campaigning activities;
•
membership of political parties, unions, interest groups;
•
taking part in elections (both to vote and to be elected).

9. New forms of participation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
peer-to-peer networks;
discussion fora;
signing petitions;
participation in so-called “new social movements” (Occupy,
women’s movement, gay rights’ movement, ecology movement
etc.);
support groups;
boycotting of products;
demonstrations;
international meetings;
using the Internet to gather information, express views or influence
decision-making processes.

10. Obstacles to participation
• different values and habits of young people and adults;
• different levels and types of experience;
• lack of skills;
• lack of expertise on how to involve young people in a meaningful
way;
• place of youth in the social hierarchy (in some cultures young
people traditionally have a very low position and little influence);
• patronising of youth by adults;

11. Obstacles to participation
• mistrust between adults and young people;
• lack of youth-friendly procedures and policies within organisations
(for example, large amounts of formal documents to read, analyse
and react to);
• costs related to youth participation;
• location;
• lack of other necessary resources (extra time, for example);
• accessibility for disabled people;
• school commitments.

12. European citizenship
The concept of “European citizenship” was launched by the
Maastricht Treaty in 1993;
2013
– 20th birthday of EU citizenship
- “European Year of Citizens “– focusing on the rights of every
EU citizen;
The rights of a EU citizen are, inter alia,:
• move and reside freely within the EU;
• vote for and stand as a candidate in EP
and municipal elections;
• be protected by the diplomatic and
consular authorities of any other EU country;
• petition the European Parliament
and complain to the European Ombudsman.

13. European citizenship
Making young people aware that they are European citizens permanent priority of the “Youth in Action”Programme.
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.

14. Youth empowerment
Definition:
Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and
cultural process whereby young people gain the ability
and authority to make decisions and implement change
in their own lives and the lives of other people, including
young people and adults.

15. Youth empowerment
The EU Youth Strategy “Investing and empowering” is based on a
dual approach:
approach
• Investing in Youth: putting in place resources to develop policy areas
Youth
that affect young people in their daily life and improve their well being.
• Empowering Youth: promoting the potential of young people for the
Youth
renewal of society and to contribute to EU values and goals.
“Youth in action” – directly contributing to youth empowerment.

16. Which words to use…
• Disadvantaged young people
• Young people from
disadvantaged backgrounds
• Young people with fewer
opportunities (underprivileged)

17. Which words to use…
• Socially excluded /
young people at the margins
of society
• Social exclusion
– > Inclusion
• Anti-racism
– > Cultural diversity

18. Definition Youth in Action
"Young people with fewer opportunities" are
young people who are at a disadvantage
compared to their peers because they face
one or more situations or obstacles listed below:
•Social obstacles
•Economic obstacles
•Geographical obstacles
•Educational difficulties
•Cultural differences
•Disability
•Health problems

19. Thank you for your attention. 
Raluca Diroescu
SALTO-YOUTH Participation - raluca@salto-youth.net
&
Tony Geudens
SALTO-YOUTH Inclusion – tony@salto-youth.net