Mladinski svet Slovenije (MSS) National youth council of Slovenia April 2014

WHAT IS MSS? Youth council of Slovenia (MSS), established in April 1990, is a national association of voluntary youth organisations. It is a coordinative structure, composed by youth organisations (16 members) with different political, ideological or interest orientations.

THE PURPOSE OF MSS Since its foundation MSS has made significant contribution to cooperation among youth organizations on the national, local and international level. MSS wants to enable young people to participate in policies that influence their life and work.

LEGAL BASIS: MSS was established in 1990, but is since 2002 registered on the basis of the Youth Councils Act. This act imposes on the Government, ministries and other state authorities the requirement to inform MSS about the drafting of laws and regulations that have an immediate impact on the life and work of young people. Being a part of the Youth Sector MSS is also defined by Act on the Public Interest in Youth Sector as crucial organisation in the Youth Sector and as such a subject of public interest.

STATUTORY BODIES OF MSS ∙ ASSEMBLY is the highest body, responsible for adopting the Statute and its changes, electing the members of Board and the Monitoring committee, deciding on membership and setting the programme guidelines. ∙ BOARD (President + 5 Vice Presidents) is responsible for executing the programme.

POLICY AREAS OF MSS ∙ Youth Autonomy ∙ International cooperation ∙ Youth Work ∙ Participation and Yout Association ∙ Youth Information Each area is managed by one of the vice presidents. In projects two or more areas often work together. Other working areas / activities: Youth Work Trainings, Promotion of Voluntarism, Publications on Youth Work, EVS Support Activities, Info and Promo Activities, Campaigning etc.

MAIN ACTIVITIES - Commission on Youth Policies: Policy Papers on Youth-related Issues - Cooperation with authorities (Ministries, Parliament, President) on Youth Policies - Campaigning on Youth Related Issues - Youth Work Trainings and Seminars - Pool of Trainers & Development of NFE - Manuals & Books on Youth work - Promotion of Voluntarism - Coordination of Local Youth Councils - Structured Dialogue Activities - International Activities - Information and Promo Activities -...

YOUTH WORK TRAININGS: We are striving for the recognition of Non- Formal Education and prepare different trainings and seminars. We train future youth trainers and managers in youth organisations. Seminar Quality vs. Quantity in Youth Work, Fiesa, May 2006

In 2003 we published an extensive Manual for the trainers and in 2005 Manual for managers in youth organisations and in 2007 PR Manual for NGOs. They also serve as textbooks for the trainings and are periodically renewed. In 2011 we published a book Youth Work in Theory and Practice which aims at etablishing youth work as academical area and a sector within NGOs.

IN 2009 we established the MSS Pool o Trainers – a working group of trainers with a certain degree of knowledge or experience. All MSS’s seminars and trainings are conducted by the Pool members. The Pool serves also as one of the resources for our policies in the area of Non- Formal Education, writing articles for our publications etc.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: MSS is a full member of the European youth forum (YFJ). We regularly participate in its activities. We cooperate with several national youth councils in Europe, particularly with those from the SYC group (Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, French, French- speaker Belgian, Italian, Greek, Maltese, Cypriot and Croatian youth council). We participate in the Youth in Action Programme as organisers and participants. One of our international political priorities is the development of youth structures in South-East Europe.

European Youth Forum (YFJ) is our European umbrella organisation; MSS was one of its founders in YFJ is a partner of the European commission in the field of youth and the most important youth representative in creating policies on the European level. Since 2009 we have a Slovenian YFJ President. We also participate in different Working Bodies of YFJ (Pool of Trainers, working groups) More: Peter Matjašič, YFJ President (photo: YFJ)

We enable young people from youth organizations to participate in different international activities in Slovenia and abroad. Gvineja Bissau, January 2009

Cooperation with the National Authorities in General OFFICE FOR YOUTH (within the Ministry for Education, Science Culture and Sport): Is our key partner with whom we cooperate on daily basis. COUNCIL OF RS FOR YOUTH is a governmental body for youth issues and consists of representatives of the Government (relevant ministries) and of the youth structures. On the non-governmental side MSS has a central role in the Council. We are responding to the drafts of youth-related legislation and attend Meetings of Parliamentary Commitees.

Cooperation with Authorities - Activities In the recent years MSS was given a key role in several governmental projects and activities: -We prepared the content for and participated in the organisation of the Presidency Youth Event in In 2009 we managed the debate on the structure and competencies of the governmental Council for Youth. We also conducted all the procedures and elections into the Council which was eventually established later in June 2009.

-In 2009 we conducted the preliminary debate on the draft of Act on the Public Interest in Youth Sector and the changes on Youth Councils Act. Later within the parliamentary procedures we also submitted our comments and amendments to the draft. Some of them were adopted. - Since summer 2011 we’ve been participating in the preparation of the National Programme on Youth which was adopted in autumn of 2013.

COMMISSION FOR YOUTH POLICIES In 2009 we established the MSS Commission for Youth Policies with over 40 members coming from the Board, the office and Member Organisations. We have adopted Policy Papers on: youth education, employment, youth association, housing, voluntarism, health, participation, mobility and information. The main purpose of the papers is campaigning on the relevant issues and using its content to participate in the preparation of legislation, especially in the National Programme for Youth.

Policy Papers The first four Policy Papers In 2010 the first Policy Papers – on Youth Employment, Education, Housing and Association were concluded and in papers on Youth Participation, Information, Voluntarism and Health.

Promotion of Voluntarism: VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR One of our most important projects (since 2002) is each year’s Volunteer of the Year, where we choose the best volunteers and voluteer-based projects in Slovenia. President of Slovenia is the sponsor of the project and hands out the crucial award. Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs also participates in the ceremony. President handing out the award, Ljubljana, June 2008

Campaigning MSS has participated in many national and european campaigns as a partner or as the national organiser. Some of the most important: 2004: EP elections, national elections 2007: All Different All Equal 2007: The Future of Europe (picture above) 2009: “This Year I will for the First Time...” (EP elections) : Series of actions on Policy Papers contents (youth employment, youth housing, education etc.)

- above: 2004: “Why would the others choose instead of you” - above right: 2009 “This Year...” - below: 2007 All Different All Equal

You just had fun with: National youth council of Slovenia (MSS), - accessible by post: Dunajska 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana - responsive on - audible by phone: virtually present at: and on Facebook ( Prepared by Tanja Baumkirher