European Union Youth Programme

More opportunities for Maltese youth through European Voluntary Service and Youth Initiatives

The Youth Programme is the educational programme of the European Union, which focuses mainly on non-formal education and funds projects developed by young people themselves.

The programme allows young people to acquire knowledge, skills and know-how outside formal education and training structures in order to promote the young people's personal development and their active participation as responsible citizens.

Young people can benefit from this programme through five types of projects referred to as Actions: Action 1 - Youth Exchanges, Action 2 - European Voluntary Service, Action 3 - Youth Initiatives, Action 4 - Joint Actions, Action 5 - Support Measures.

Action2, the European Voluntary Service (EVS), is an opportunity for young people aged 18 to 25 who wish to gain international experience in an area which interests them, e.g. the environment, the social or cultural aspect, etc.

The young volunteer should have a special interest in being an active citizen and be interested in gaining an international educational experience

A sending organisation which is responsible to prepare the volunteer before the EVS period, keep contact with him/her throughout the voluntary service and help the young person reintegrate into society once he/she is back from the voluntary service.

A host organisation which is responsible to prepare a project for the volunteer and provide the necessary assistance to the volunteer once he/she is in the host country. Board, lodging and a mentor should be taken care of by this organisation.

EVS aims to help young people to:

¤ integrate into society

¤ develop ideas from which the local community will benefit

¤ create networks between European organisations to work together for the community

Long-term EVS is between six months and one year, while short-term EVS last between three weeks and six months. This scheme encourages young people who may not be able to volunteer for the full term to gain international experience.

This programme is based on the system of co-funding. The Youth Programme gives the majority of the necessary funds to both the host and sending organisations. Funds for travel, board and lodging are covered by the Youth Programme.

Another Action of the Youth Programme is Youth Initiatives. These develop from a need which a group of young people from the same local community identifies. The European Commission aims to support young people's initiative and creativity through this part of the Youth Programme.

Group Initiatives aim:

¤ to get young people from the same local community to share ideas and work together on a project.

¤ to help young people be active citizens and work on a project which benefits the community.

¤ to encourage young people to understand better the meaning of globalisation which makes local community an integral part of Europe.

A Group Initiative is organised, run and administered by young people aged between 15 and 25 (youth workers or adults can assist in the beginning of the project).

It should be organised by a group of four or more young people and take place in a local community and facilitate the needs of the community.

It should help young people develop and gain skills which help them for their future.

The project should raise awareness and encourage equality and co-operation.

It should involve a European dimension and show the interest to develop partnerships with other European countries

A project should be between three months and one year long

The financial aspect is based on three priorities, depending on the beneficiaries of the project. The maximum amount granted for these projects is @8,000.

Priority 1. These are projects from which the local community will benefit. Young people from less privileged cultural, geographical and socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to participate.

Priority 2. Disadvantaged young people are given funds to manage and run the initiative. It does not have to benefit the local community.

Priority 3. All young people who wish to run and manage their own initiative can benefit from Priority 3 projects.

Young people, youth workers, youth organisations, non-governmental organisations and non-profit-making associations who are interested in carrying out projects under the YOUTH Programme are invited to contact the: National Agency YOUTH Programme, European Union Programmes Unit, Room 215, Ministry of Education Floriana, CMR02

(tel: 2125-5663, 2125-5087; e-mail: youth.eupu@gov.mt; Website: http://www.youthmalta.org)

To apply, there are five deadlines every year. The next deadline is September 1.

Jeanette Vella is project officer, Youth Programme