The Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy (YEPA) is a group of 150 people, including policymakers, youth entrepreneurship groups, social entrepreneurship networks, youth organisations, program managers, and researchers.

YEPA’s goal is to improve policies and programs for young entrepreneurs by sharing information about the challenges they face and promoting discussions among policymakers, young entrepreneurs, and experts to figure out effective strategies for youth entrepreneurship policies.

Keep reading to find out more about this initiative.

The aim of the project

The main goal is to spread awareness about the problems young people face in starting businesses. YEPA also helps policymakers, young entrepreneurs, and experts share ideas on what works in youth entrepreneurship policies.

Sometimes, other important people like entrepreneurs, investors, and experts will join workshops to share their thoughts too.

It will make more people understand why supporting young entrepreneurs is important by:

1. Informing policymakers about the challenges faced by talented young people in entrepreneurship.
2. Teaching policymakers about successful ways to create and implement policies, while avoiding mistakes.
3. Showing policymakers and youth entrepreneurship networks the benefits of social entrepreneurship for young people.
4. Setting up a regular way for policymakers to talk with youth entrepreneurship networks and encourage the creation of more of these networks.

Who can participate?

• If you are an individual

If you’re a young entrepreneur, an expert in youth entrepreneurship, a researcher, or someone who works with youth businesses, and you want to be part of the project you can contact directly with the organisations by visiting the website.

• If you represent a network or organisation

If you work with a youth group or organisation that supports young entrepreneurs or self-employment and helps with youth entrepreneurship policies, you can join YEPA activities. Become a representative for your national or international youth network by joining the mailing list or contacting directly with the organisation.

• Participants from outside the EU

There are special opportunities for governments, networks, organisations, and youth entrepreneurship experts. Organisations from countries outside the EU can join some YEPA events. If your organization is in an OECD country, it might be able to participate in certain activities.

Discover more about the initiative

Learn more about this project, its objectives, events and how to participate through the official website.

Read also

How to Use AI in Education | The Guidelines

Join the UN Youth Delegate Programme

L'articolo Empowering Youth Organisations | YEPA project proviene da Youth Networks.

In our modern world, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a regular part of our daily experiences. It’s very important to understand how AI influences different aspects of our lives, particularly in the education.

AI will be transforming education and training for students, teachers, and school staff.

It can play a significant role in reducing the number of students leaving school prematurely and can step in to assist with learning difficulties.

Teachers will also benefit greatly from AI integration, as it provides support through tailored or personalised learning tools.

AI has the potential to revolutionise education by fostering inclusivity and addressing unique learning requirements for students and educators alike.

For this reason it is extremely important to understand its operation, its impact and learn to use it in a correct way.

The Ethical Guidelines on the use of AI by the EU commission

The European Commission has put together guidelines with the aim of assisting teachers and educators in comprehending AI and data utilisation in education.

The goal is to not only provide insights into the positive impacts that AI and data can have in teaching and learning but also to raise awareness about potential risks associated with these technologies.

Essentially, these guidelines serve as a resource to empower educators with knowledge about the responsible and ethical use of AI and data in the educational setting.

The aim of the guidelines

The guidelines are like a helpful tool for every youth worker, especially those who are new to using AI. They use real examples to:

• Show how AI is used in schools
• Assist teachers and students in their teaching and learning
• Support the systems and processes in schools
• Talk about the ethical things to think about when using AI, which are the rules the guidelines are based on

For more information you can watch this video summary:

Discover more about the initiative

If you are interested in learning more about this topic and believe that this guide can be useful visit the official website of the European Comtmission to download it for free!

For more information on the program and how it took place visit the website of the initiative.

Read also

Reinforced Youth Guarantee | Youth Employment and Education

Join the UN Youth Delegate Programme

L'articolo How to Use AI in Education | The Guidelines proviene da Youth Networks.

Do you know who is a “UN Youth Delegate” and what they do?

They are young people who participate in the meetings of the United Nations, through an initiative that aims to involve young people more in the United Nations’ work.

Each country in the programme chooses one or more young individuals to represent them at meetings. The selection process and responsibilities vary by country.

Currently, 22 EU Member States are part of this programme. Unlike the UN and African Union, the European Union doesn’t have youth representatives.

The UN Youth Delegates engage in important youth discussions at the UN. They also speak up for young people’s rights in Europe, and expand the EU’s youth representation globally.

The aims of the project

The programme aims to improve EU coordination and representation on youth matters and more at the United Nations.

It will help carry out the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and the 2020 EU Council Conclusions on Youth in global actions by promoting dialogue between different generations and cultures and involving youth in policy decisions.

Additionally, a network of alumni will be created to connect youth delegates over the years.

The tasks of a youth delegate differ by country but usually involve giving advice to their delegation on youth-related matters and getting involved in their delegation’s activities, like going to meetings and informal discussions.

Youth delegates can join various United Nations meetings, with many taking part in the General Assembly. Some also attend specific commissions of the Economic and Social Council.

How to become a Youth Delegade?

Some countries already pick young representatives through specific programmes.

You can find out if your country has such a programme by reaching out to government bodies like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Youth Council, or United Nations Associations.

If your country doesn’t have a programme for choosing a youth delegate, you can try to convince your country that having a youth representative at the UN General Assembly is important.

If they agree, the responsible body needs to start the process of selecting a youth delegate.

Discover more about the initiative

If you want to learn more about this topic and would like to become a Youth Delegate visit the official website for more information!

Read also

Erasmus Plus 2024 Annual Work Programme

2024 Annual Work Programme | Highlights on the Differences With 2023 Edition

L'articolo Join the UN Youth Delegate Programme proviene da Youth Networks.

Are you 18 years old and dreaming of travelling around Europe? Discover how to organise and how to embark on an unforgettable trip with the “DiscoverEU” program, which will allow you to explore all of Europe by train completely free!

Hurry up! In fact, 36,318 travel passes are available for young people from all over Europe (who are 18 years old). The applications for the project will remain open until 18 October.

Read on to find out how to get your travel pass!

What is DiscoverEU?

DiscoverEU is a key initiative within the Erasmus+ programme. The aim of the project is to give young people the chance to embark on a journey of exploration across Europe’s diverse culture and deepen their understanding of its history.

Participants will receive a travel pass that will primarily facilitate rail travel, but there are also some specific guidelines for residents of islands or remote areas.

They will also get a lot of discounts encompassing cultural excursions, educational pursuits, sporting activities, local transportation, accommodations, and dining experiences.

How does it work?

To meet the eligibility criteria, you must fulfill the following conditions:

• Your birthdate must fall between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005.
• Provide the correct identity card (ID), passport, or residence card number when completing the online application.
• Be a citizen or resident of one of the following:
  • Any European Union Member State, including Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).
  • One of the third countries associated with the Erasmus+ program: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, or Türkiye.

You will also need to take part in a quiz (unless you’re applying as part of a group).

If you are selected, you can embark on your travels for a minimum of 1 day and up to 30 days, spanning from March 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025.

Can I travel with friends?

You have the flexibility to travel on your own or invite up to four friends to join your group, as long as they fulfil the eligibility criteria mentioned earlier.

They should use your application code to submit their own applications.

Furthermore, if you’re interested in coordinating travel plans with other DiscoverEU participants, you can join DiscoverEU Facebook Group that serves as an excellent platform for this purpose.

Once you’re chosen, the Erasmus+ National Agencies will facilitate the process and they will organise pre-departure meetings and traveler meet-ups to enhance your experience.

How to apply?

If you meet all the requirements mentioned above and are willing to leave for this adventure do not wait any longer: the deadline for applications is October 18, 2023!

To send your application and find out more about this opportunity visit the official website of DiscoverEU!

Read also

Entrepreneur + | From Idea to Business is Already Available!

The Energy Crisis and Inflation | Dialogue with Young Europeans

L'articolo The DiscoverEU call is open | Get ready to explore Europe! proviene da Youth Networks.

Last years have been full of difficult events, especially for young people. COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine, high prices and energy costs have made the lives of European citizens particularly complicated and have had a great impact on the mental health of citizens.

President Von der Leyen, during the last speech of the State of the Union on February 22, spoke of the importance of mental health.

Methodologies to promote and improve the health of young people were also discussed. If you missed the live talk continue reading the article and find out the topics of the speech.

The aim of the discussion

The aim of the speech is to promote the mental health of citizens, in particular in challenging socioeconomic circumstances.

Young people had the opportunity to exchange on their experiences, and provide suggestions and insights into the ways we can truly move towards a new approach to mental health that truly delivers for all EU citizens with Commissioner Kyriakides.

What has been discussed?

The following are just a few of the points discussed during the debate on 22 February:

1. Mental well-being plays a crucial role within the framework of the European Health Union, impacting individuals across diverse walks of life. Various individuals encounter distinct obstacles throughout different life phases, often driven by unique factors, necessitating differents approach to address these problems.
2. Incorporating the perspective of young individuals into the creation and execution of mental health policies is very important. The EU’s choices significantly influence the mental well-being of young people, necessitating an “all policies” approach.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have intensified mental health difficulties, affecting the most vulnerable. To foster acceptance of diversity and establish secure environments, it’s very important to prioritise training, teaching, and education. Additionally, investing in services in Ukraine is essential.
4. Mental health carries an unjustified stigma, despite its potential impact on anyone. To avoid this stigma, we should promote awareness while respecting cultural diversity.
5. Promoting strong mental well-being and preventive measures is crucial. It is equally important to ensure accessible and affordable mental health assistance to everyone in need. This necessitates the availability of trained psychologists capable of working with young individuals, vulnerable populations, and those confronting particular hardships. Collaboration with educational institutions and workplaces should also be part of this effort.

The Video Resume

If this article has intrigued you and you want to deepen the topics addressed during the speech of President von der Leyen, you can review the streaming on the official website of the European Commission.

Read also

Improve your Communication Skills | Stagecraft for Youth Workers

Digital entrepreneurship and self-employment | Training Course

L'articolo Mental Health in the EU | Dialogue with Young Europeans proviene da Youth Networks.

If you are wondering how to effectively show the skills acquired during your non-formal education projects and activities and make them stand out in the YouthPass, keep reading: we have what you need!

Discover “Valued by You, Valued by Others“, the handbook written by Anita Silva, Darko Markovic and Paul Kloosterman.

This is a publication of the SALTO Training and Cooperation, published in cooperation with JUGEND für Europa, the German National Agency for Youth in Action and European Solidarity Corps.

The aim of the handbook

This guide aims to present the skills acquired by participants during youth mobility projects and make them stand out within the YouthPass.

“Valued by You, Valued by Others” offers:

• An insights on how to support learning reflection
• Some useful tools for documenting learning outcomes with Youthpass

The process of writing this tool is in fact already a useful educational process on its own. However, often the YouthPass can also be a useful tool in job search or in other contexts of formal education where is required a demonstration of the acquired skills.

Through this handbook, the authors will be explaining the most effective techniques when having to present the acquired competences to others.

The guide

It is possible to download the guide in pdf format for free.

The document is in English and consists of 120 pages, but it is also possible to download the individual chapters:

• Chapter 1: Why This Handbook? Key Questions and Needs
• Chapter 2: Learning, reflecting and documenting your competence
• Chapter 3: How to support the YouthPass self-assessment
• Chapter 4: Tools and tips for self-assessment and describing competences

How to download the handbook

The complete guide is available for free download on the official website of youthpass.

We recommend this tool to all participants who want to develop their YouthPass as effectively as possible, but also to youth workers who want to integrate these explanations in their projects.

Read also

Discover the Impact of ESC projects with this Training Course

European Youth Strategy | Give your Opinion with this Survey

L'articolo How to write a successful YouthPass | The Handbook proviene da Youth Networks.

Are you a youth worker or do you work in the organisation of solidarity or volunteering projects?

Discover the impact of ESC project by joining “Exploring & Celebrating Impact in European Solidarity Corps Activities“, a training course organised by “The Youth Board of Cyprus”.

The activities will take place from 23 to 27 October in Cyprus.

The organisation

The Youth Board of Cyprus was founded in 1994 with the aim of providing opportunities to young people and to actively participate and be responsible for the social, economic and cultural development of their community and country.

The organisation also offer support to young people with youth related problems through entertainment and creative projects.

What to expect

The participants will have the opportunity to build on their knowledge of the impact ESC programmes have on volunteers.

The training course will also be useful to develop methodologies to evaluate the results of projects and improve the effectiveness of the desired results.

It will also be an experience that will allow the connection between different realities, promoting cultural exchange and non-formal education among the participants.

Requirements

You can participate in the training course if you fall into one (or more) of the following categories:

• Being an active person in the organisation of volunteer projects or have participated in an ESC volunteer project
• Being a youth worker who supports young people in participating in European Solidarity Corps activities
• Being a volunteering coordinator, manager, mentor or coach
• coming from a European Solidarity Corps Programme or Partner Country

How to apply

To participate in the project you can submit your application through the official portal of Salto-Youth.

The project is fully funded by the Erasmus+ programme.

The participants will get a full refund of the return ticket, food and accommodation throughout the project.

Read also

Marketing and Communication | Improve your skills with this online workshop

Youthpass | Discover it With This Free Board Game

L'articolo Discover the Impact of ESC projects with this Training Course proviene da Youth Networks.

Discover “Youthpass journey: Youthpass islands & captain’s log“, a board game created by Juan Ratto-Nielsen, to explain what is the Youthpass and why it is useful to young people.

The aim of this tool is to introduce Youthpass and its competences as a tool for self-assessment of the learning process.

The board game

In this game you are the captain of your own ship and you will have a diary to write down what you are learning everyday.
You will also have a “Youthpass Compass” that will help you navigate during the trip and arrive to your final destination.
By visiting different ports of call you will arrive to your final destination and will be able to see the whole learning process and results.

The objective of the game is to complete your “Youthpass-port” visiting each island and fulfilling certain tasks.

Through the tasks carried out in the islands, the participants will be learning the utilities this tool.

Who is this game for?

This board game is directed to youth workers, young people, youth leaders, EVS volunteers or any person doing an activity that entitles them to receive a Youthpass certificate. It is also useful to promote Youthpass and raise awareness of what it is and how it can be used.

Materials needed

To play this board game you need the following materials:

• Task cards (competences)
• Coloured markers
• Cardboard
• Deck of cards
• Paper
• Glue
• Rubber stamp (to validate the passport)
• Scissors

Materials are available to download online and are free.

You can find more information about this board game on the official website. We also suggest you to explore Salto-Youth portal for more free tools like this

Read also

Marketing and Communication | Improve your skills with this online workshop

Discover the Official 2023 Guide to European Funding

L'articolo Youthpass | Discover it With This Free Board Game proviene da Youth Networks.

The EWP+ Consortium has launched a new service to assist higher education institutions in identifying which tool and provider their partners are using to connect to the Erasmus Without Paper (EWP) network. 

This programme, known as the EWP Stats Portal, aims to simplify the process of managing inter-institutional agreements (IIAs) and learning agreements (LAs) with partner institutions.

Key Features of the EWP Stats Portal

The search tool is a fundamental component of the EWP Stats Portal. IT administrators can use the institution name, Erasmus code, city, and country to find their partners. This makes it simple to determine which tool and provider a certain partner is using, which is critical for controlling document exchanges.

Another useful feature is the ability to locate a detailed list of all partners who use a specific provider. This can be useful for two reasons:

• identifying successful data transfers;
• focusing on sharing IIAs and LAs with providers where successful exchanges have occurred;

The data in the EWP Stats Portal is derived directly from the EWP registry, which is the only reliable source of information regarding EWP connections. The EWP registry extracts information from files made accessible by each node in the EWP-network. This information includes data such as the system in use and procedures covered by each EWP participant institution.

The EWP Stats Portal will be gradually expanded with data and statistics in the near future, finally providing data on how the different nodes in the network operate.

Overall, this is an excellent resource for education institutions seeking to increase document sharing and manage collaborations with other schools. It offers a reliable and simple method for determining which tool and provider their partners are using, which is critical for managing IIAs and LAs and guaranteeing successful data transfers.

Read also

Applications open for the European Youth Capital 2026

Erasmus+ Eye-Opener Training for NEET Youth and Youth Workers

L'articolo EWP Stats Portal: New Service to Assist Higher Education Institutions proviene da Youth Networks.

• more than 60% of educators face difficulties in continuing their studies through electronic platforms during the pandemic.

Starting from that, eADULTS collected the best practices of virtual, online and remote education activities for educators and teachers.

The Project

The Covid crisis has showed how the field of education is not 100% prepared to face a virtual, online and/or distance teaching model. This is especially notable in adult education, as this target shows to be less-skilled when it comes to digital competences.

This was the starting point of this “Exchange of good practices for promoting virtual education among adult people through electronic platforms” (eAdults), which arose from the need to seek, identify and evaluate which were the most effective educational platforms and methods in a context of virtual teaching for adults.

The objective was achieved through an exchange of best practices between Bulgaria, Italy,
Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Due to this, the entities that are part of this project were able to increase their knowledge in the field of virtual education and electronic platforms in the field of education (specially among adult people).

The following activities were carried out:

• Context Analysis | A questionnaire was designed to identify which platforms
  were the ones that students and educators had used the most during the
  confinements, as well as how their experience had been using these platforms
  and if they considered face-to-face or virtual education to be better.
• Mapping Best Practices | A template was designed to identify good practices in
  virtual adult education that have happened during lockdowns and the
  pandemic.
• Transnational Workshop | Based on the context analysis and the mapping of
  good practices, a virtual workshop was designed where the different functionalities of the platforms in non-formal education activities were put into practice. At the end of the workshop, the participating students and educators evaluated each of the platforms and gave their final verdict.

Project Results

eAdults have generated evidence for other educational entities (or dedicated to the field of education), so they can develop new, alternative and effective virtual teaching activities tailored to the needs of educators and adult students. At the same time, this project serves as an initial step for the partner organisations to continue researching on online, virtual and distance education.

See the results below:
Good practices in virtual adult education
Results of the survey
How the project started

_________
Project partners:
Associazione di promozione sociale Joint
BB&R
Universidad de Salamanca
Rosto Solidario
MoreMosaic
SAFE Project
Regionlne Centrum Wolontariatu

Co-financed by the Erasmus Plus programme of the European Union.

L'articolo Project Result: eADULTS | Exchange of good practices proviene da Youth Networks.