In 2006 Y&G will focus on one of its main pillars of action: "Youth Empowerment". As Youth has a duty, as every citizen, to be an active citizen in its environment. Youth, and especially students, have the potential and therefor the OBLIGATION to take action when things run amok and their community needs them.

Youth Empowerment
Of course, carrying such responsibility of civic duty is done by each individual in his or her personal way. However, even when choices are being made towards an attitude of active citizenship, all too often many things are in the way of achieving a success by it.

We hope to provide insights and tools to youth that will overcome these obstacles. By engaging in sharing, brainstorming on and discussing the strategies of current Youth NGO's from all over Europe we hope that our

project will create a group of multipliers that will help all youth in their communities to take action on the grass-root level to change their community, city, province, country or even the world!

Youth Empowerment
Of course, carrying such responsibility of civic duty is done by each individual in his or her personal way. However, even when choices are being made towards an attitude of active citizenship, all too often many things are in the way of achieving a success by it.

We hope to provide insights and tools to youth that will overcome these obstacles. By engaging in sharing, brainstorming on and discussing the strategies of current Youth NGO's from all over Europe we hope that our project will create a group of multipliers that will help all youth in their communities to take action on the grass-root level to change their community, city, province, country or even the world!

Youth on the frontline
Yet another challenge arises when looking at the current civil society in Europe. Youth NGO's are present in abundance and all undertake their respective actions and achieve their goals. However, often when the 'NGO world' moves, it is a movement carried by politicians and adult NGO-workers, whereas the Youth is left out, or hardly taken seriously. This situation has to change and can change, and the Y&G Team wishes to contribute to that process.

The European Civic Forum (FCE)
Current developments around the FCE are a good example of such a situation. FCE rightfully signals a problem with the European democracy as it is functioning today. Their initiative takes action against these problems and many NGO's are joining them in their cause.

However, apart from signing the charter, Youth NGO's are as of yet not heard from when it comes to the content of their initiatives. Nothing yet is being said about inclusion of Youth in this process. Y&G will work to offer opportunities to change this and to contribute to this important development in civil society.

While working on the above three themes, of course, Y&G does not abandon its original three pillar thematic orientation. The topics of Global Security and Sustainable development will serve as potent discussion grounds on which the civil society and youth’s role in it can be evaluated and discussed.

On to the Frontline!