ABOUT THE EU4YOUTH ALUMNI NETWORK

Be it Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, Young European Ambassadors or any other EU-funded initiative for young people in the Eastern Partnership, every year hundreds of graduates bring new experiences and skills back to their communities – and many want to do more, especially to support those with fewer opportunities. But figuring out on your own what you can do next can be a real challenge. This is why the EU4Youth Alumni Network was created. All your questions about its impact, members, beneficiaries and how to join the initiative are now answered.

EU4Youth Alumni Network

I’ve already participated in an EU-funded youth project in the past: am I eligible to apply for the EU4Youth Alumni Network?
What is the selection process for the EU4Youth Alumni Network?
Do I have to work at an NGO or be a youth worker to participate?
I am currently a student/employed, how much time per week would participation in the Network require?
Will I receive financial support to develop and implement my initiative?
Do we get to meet in person with the others, and if so, do I need to cover my own travel expenses?
How does the EU4Youth Alumni Network help participants to stay in touch?

WHO ARE THE EU4Youth ALUMNI?

HOW IS THE IMPACT ACHIEVED

“As EU4Youth Alumni, we wanted to develop the social skills of young people with Down’s syndrome, to accelerate their integration into society, to support their access to education and employment. It was a very rewarding experience,” – EU4Youth Alumnus Alishir Boyukkhanli.

Since the Network launch in 2019, Alumni designed and implemented several hundred actions, each engaging a small group of young people in their community – most of these from disadvantaged groups. The impact of this work expands with each new beneficiary, who carries it further into their circles. These are just a few of the many initiatives implemented so far – and the list is growing:

Hrazdan Stitches,
where 13 enthusiastic teenagers from disadvantaged families are improving their handicraft skills to start their own social businesses

Empower Youth,
engaging as active citizens and strengthening the voice of those who are not yet involved in civil society organisations and decision-making process

Library in Action “eGame”,
which helps young people to realise their ideas through mentoring from their peers who already work with their communities

New Life-New Opportunities,
to provide local youth the confidence they need to make changes in their own lives

Idea.Initiative.Implication,
offering young people from vulnerable groups a much-needed space for support and creativity

Dream Catchers’ Initiative,
which brings together Armenian and Yazidi youth to promote intercultural communication and active citizenship

YouTH4Youth,
where experienced young people offer their younger peers training opportunities to gain new knowledge

Youth Capacity Building: Know-How,
empowering youngsters in Alaverdi through an alternative educational programme covering professional orientation

Way for the Change for Adolescents,
with professional therapeutic workshops to support adolescents in a child assistance centre

More Europe, More Opportunities,
helping young people to develop soft skills by jointly organising a campaign about healthy lifestyle

Salyan Youth in Action,
with around 20 youngsters in one of the rural regions of Azerbaijan, engaging in non-formal education for better career opportunities

Girls Leadership Academy 2.0,
developing the leadership potential and skills of girls 14-to-16-years-old from rural areas and small towns of Ukraine

Youth Impact,
for participants to make new friends, interact with interesting people and discover new opportunities

Young Leaders for Community Development,
empowering young people to became changemakers and learn how to organise large scale events with hundreds of participants

The Youth Matters Initiative,
helping disadvantaged young people from rural areas to overcome obstacles and get involved in international projects

LEARNING FROM THE NETWORK

Through the 10-month programme, the Alumni work with a Mentor to create and implement their own initiatives on the ground, gaining new tools, skills and experience in working with young people. They also learn from each other: talented, outspoken and active young leaders from across the Eastern Partnership region.

Each cycle offers opportunities for the participants to meet in person, for example during the onboarding meeting or the final evaluation meeting that are usually held over a couple of days. The Alumni also remain connected online, even after the cycle completion. Here are impressions from the IdeaLab Event 2023 and the pictures from the Final Evaluation Event 2023.

ABOUT EU4Youth

The EU is dedicated to developing youth leadership and entrepreneurship through a variety of actions, including capacity building, fellowships, support to policy dialogue, as well as providing grants to organisations active in these areas. The EU4Youth programme is one of the key vehicles of this support to young people in the Eastern Partnership region.

The EU4Youth Alumni Network is managed by the EU4Youth Coordination and Support project, in close cooperation with SALTO Eastern European and Caucasus and its network of Information Centres for Erasmus+ Youth in Action and the European Solidarity Corps, and the EU Neighbours East project.