Youth Participation through better Youth Information Improving equal opportunity and social participation for all children and youth through information services for young people Youth Event, Cologne Alexandra Cangelosi, jugendinfo.cc

Austria – an example -Austria is a federal state  Youth-Matters are mainly in the responsibilty of the federal states. -Youth Informations Centers (YIC) exist in all the federal states -YIC are organised in very different ways -YIC have several features in common but show regional variations as well -YIC have different experiences

Whatever the question – start with us! -Youth Information Centers are service-structures for young people. -All questions can be asked in a YIC without taking an appointment or revealing your identity. -YIC have basic information concerning all topics that are of relevance to young people or know where you can find what you need. -YIC have an overview of specialists for the different topics and redirect you to the right place.

How does it work? -Youth information services are available face-to-face in the centers, by phone, by mail and online (websites, forum, chat,…) -YIC continously research, store and distribute information taking into account what are the most asked topics. -YIC are building up and maintaining a network of specialised organisations and exchange up-to-date information. After contacting a YIC you should know what your next steps will be…

Coordination and Cooperation -After some years of working on common projects in a loose working-group the Austrian YIC saw a need for more coordination and a legal body to represent them. -In the same period the European Commission had published the White Paper on Youth and this started a more coordinated discussion on Youth Information on different levels in Austria. These two approaches worked together and led to the foundation of the national Youth information Association jugendinfo.cc in 2004.

jugendinfo.cc: 3 main areas of work EURODESKERYICANational

-Coordination of national meetings, working-groups,… -Implementation of common projects e.g. brochures -Implementation of training-activities for Youth Information Workers -Representation of the Austrian YIC on national level (e.g. a national steering group for the European Youth Pact) -Bilateral and multilateral cooperation with partner- organisations (National Youth Council, NA´s,…) -Quality initiatives and insurance

EURODESK -is an information-service supported by the European Commission (DG EAC) and the national authorities targeted directly to young people and those who work with them. -is specialised in providing information on European opportunities for young people (funding, mobility,…). -has 31 national partner-organisations in 29 European countries, an European Office in Brussels and is striving to have soon local relays. -Maintains the information on the European Youth portal and is activly involved in developing better services for young people (e.g. Quality Criteria, Seminars,..)

ERYICA (European Youth Information and Counselling Agency) -is an umbrella-organisation of national Youth Information networks. -has currently 28 member-organisations in 22 European countries which have altogether around information centers and points for young people. -stands for generalist youth information -is activley involved in development of the youth information field through different initiatives – e.g. European Youth Information Charter, Minimum Basic Training Course,…

Why is youth information closely linked to the participation of young people? -Information is a precondition for active involvement. -Only those who know their possibilities can take their own decisions.

Upcoming challenges and developments 1)Access to information – are online-services the answer to that? 2)Quality of information – do we know what kind of quality we are talking about? 3)Direct participation – are we ready to share work and power?

Better access to information… we need: -a good mix of different information-channels: online, face-to-face, events,… -different offers for different target-groups. -more out-reaching approaches. -networks and cooperation with specialists, youth organisations, schools and many others. -listen to the input young people provide us with in different ways.

Quality of youth information – we need: -to define what we mean (e.g. quality criteria, indicators,…) -adapt our skills to new developments -Ongoing Training -Exchange good practice and know-how -to share our know-how in providing information with partners and young people themselves can be a new area of work for the youth information field.

Direct participation of young people -Accept if and where young people just want good service. -Assure that the interests and needs of young people are taken into account anyway. -Assure possibilities and real participation where young people want to take part. -Assure that the involved staff has the right skills and tools. -Make benefits and limits clear to everybody from the right begining

For further steps we need: -cooperation on different levels * local, regional, national, european * Youth Information field, decision-makers, youth organisations, specialist organisations & young people themselves -Resources -Commitment, creativity & fun

Questions, ideas, suggestions? Contact us! Austrian Youth Information Centers ERYICA EURODESK