European Year of Youth: over a hundred take part in EU4Youth conference in Tbilisi

More than 100 people participated in a conference on youth challenges and opportunities in Georgia, organised on 16 May by EU4Youth and the CENN (Caucasus Environmental NGO Network).

The conference, dedicated to the European Year of Youth, was attended by the EU Delegation to Georgia, local and international organisations, government agencies, and active youth from different regions of Georgia.

“I am glad to see a lot of young people here today, who have come from different regions of Georgia. It is essential to analyse the role that young people can play in the development of society and to consider their involvement not only in the long run, but first and foremost in the present. We are investing in this and the European Year of Youth, and the purpose of this conference is to support young people to participate in change not only in the future, but today,” said Catalin Gherman, deputy head of cooperation of the EU Delegation to Georgia in his welcoming remark.

CENN executive director Nana Janashia explained that the meeting had two purposes: to connect young people and organisations with each other, and to discuss and advocate for youth policy and strategy.

The conference aimed to discuss the current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the youth sector, specifically, youth policy, entrepreneurship, employment, education, and volunteering. In the format of panel discussions, the conference brought together local, national, and international organisations active in the fields of youth, education, social entrepreneurship, and green economy to discuss the main topics of youth sustainable development. The event also hosted a networking session, with the aim of connecting organisations and youth and sharing experiences and opportunities.

The event was organised by the EU4Youth: Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development (SEED) Programme for Green Growth in Borderline Communities project, which aims to develop the entrepreneurial potential of young people from the EaP region in the field of social entrepreneurship, with a view to contributing to social cohesion, employment, inclusion and reduction of inequalities.

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