Organization for Youth Education & Development (OYED)

List of Youth Programs in EU Member State


List of Youth Programs in EU Member State

Introduction

The Organization for Youth Education and Development (OYED) is an establishment that seeks to promote the interests of young people on a European level. In order to support this youth agenda the OYED is proposing a common EU policy relating to young people, comprised of 10 points. This proposal addresses some of the most pressing challenges faced by young people in the European Union today.

The OYED believes it to be a gross injustice that the opportunities and level of social inclusion that a young individual can expect is dependent on which country they inhabit. There is a clear imbalance within the European Union, which if left unchecked will perpetuate the current trend and threaten European cohesiveness. This proposal seeks to lift the cap on aspiration on a European level.

This memorandum therefore exists to reinforce this common EU policy proposal as it contains extensive research regarding governmentally funded youth programs and initiatives in every EU member state. The broad scope of this research highlights loopholes in existing policies in one or multiple member states, aiding EU legislators to tailor a more effective approach. Over the course of this research three overarching issues have arisen which must be addressed: social mobility, opportunities for young people, especially linking education to work and entrepreneurship and innovation, and political engagement.

Slovenia

Program name:
Slovenian: MISSS
English: MISSS (Youth Information and Counselling Center in Slovenia)

Website: http://www.misss.org/eng/index.php
Established year: 1995

MISSS was founded in 1995, as a non-governmental non-profit organisation and it is:

-The National Youth Information and Counselling Service, collecting information for young people from all over Slovenia, as well as coordinating regional and local youth information centres in Slovenia. Currently, they are collaborating with 16 regional and local youth information and counselling centres throughout Slovenia. The local YIC, applying the European standards and principles of generalistic youth information work, disseminate information in their local space and provide advice in terms of choosing the right information.

-A Local Youth Information and Counselling Centre. Along with its activities on the national level, MISSS operates as a local info-center in the the quarter of Dravlje in the northern part of Slovenian capital, trying to counsel youth and help them through various decisions and life planning. It disseminates information in the center, as well as via street work, workshops etc.  In this centre young people can get help when they are searching for information, as well as professional advice or counselling in order to solve their dilemmas and to find out their specific interests. In case of larger problems, a professional therapist is also available.

-Therapeutic Advisory Centre. Professional advisors help solve the more significant problems of young people - also available via phone or e-mail. Such advice is available for youth as well as for their parents and educators. It is also available as previously agreed by the therapist and the user. Such therapy sessions can be applied for by phone and are available each working day between 8 A.M. and 7 P.M.

-Youth to Youth Phone, is a hotline for young people that they can call and speak to peers who are trained in advising and counselling. It is intended for young individuals currently experiencing key, and often turbulent, stages of their development. Young individuals on the phoneline are trained to answer their peers and either help solve their problems or simply to talk to them when they need to talk with a person of their own age. During the last few years, young people working on the phoneline have also formed a specific form of a self-help group. The Youth-to-Youth Phone operates each working day between 3 P.M. and 5 P.M.

-Social primary preventive programmes for young people. Includes several preventive programmes ("Children of the street", Alpine, Growing Up and Us etc.), mainly workshops for young people, which are simultaneously designed as preventive programmes, as well as an information dissemination tool. This is especially true in case of Youth-to-Youth Phone and in the case of the workshops "Growing up and us". The latter are designed as an informal discussion platform on the topics of sex, addictions, interpersonal relations etc. and are also a part of disseminating information on all of the above topics, as well as on the possibility of getting general information on the YIC.

-Training and education. Mainly for teachers, parents, our collaborators, and, specifically, for local youth information workers.

-In the field of youth information and counselling one of the most important activities is training for the local youth information workers. Training is performed using the common methodology of training for the information workers in the European countries. The methodology for the MBTC (Minimum Basic Training Course for Novice Youth Information Workers) has been provided by the ERYICA, under the patronage of the Council of Europe. After successfully completing the course, trainees obtain a certificate from the ERYICA.
Program name:
Slovenian: Mladinska politika
English: Youth Policy

Website: http://www.youthpolicy.org/factsheets/country/slovenia/
Established year: 2010

The Youth Sector Act (2010) defines the youth sector, the status of youth organisations, national awards, the role of the National Programme for Youth and the activities of youth centres. The National Youth Programme 2013-2022 is the thematic guide to policy and programmes in Slovenia. It focuses on five key areas: Employment & Entrepreneurship; Housing; Health and Wellness; Society and the Youth Sector; Culture, creativity, heritage and the media. According to the Programme for Young People page on the Ministry website, youth work is an important work area of the youth programme. Youth and non-governmental organisations conducting youth work programmes on non-formal education and training in youth work, voluntary youth work, information and advice for young people, participation, active citizenship, human rights, international youth work, mobility and research can access financing.In May 2010  this act on public interest in youth sector was adopted. It is the first law that systematically regulates the youth sector. Before this only the Youth council Act existed. The Act on public interest in youth sector gives the base for preparing the first national programme for youth. The Office for Youth remains as the central organisation in public administration responsible for the youth sector.  Gaining additional money for the youth sector from the European structural funds was also accomplished. With projects financed from the ESF further attempts will be made to facilitate participation of young people amd to create a profile of youth worker etc.
Program name:
Slovenian: Techsoup Slovenija
English : Techsoup Slovenia

Website : https://www.techsoup.si/
Established year : 2009

TechSoup Slovenia is operated in partnership with MISSS (Youth Information and Counselling Center in Slovenia) and was launched with TechSoup Global in 2009. MISSS is a major youth center in Slovenia, having long working experience with the Microsoft citizenship programmes. It works through 16 youth centers in Slovenia supporting youth with diverse counseling and information programmes as well as other activities.