Youth In Action programme

 Youth in Action is the Programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future. It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU's borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural background: Youth in Action is a Programme for all!

Every year, thousands of projects are submitted by promoters in order to get financial support from the Programme; a selection process aims at granting the best projects.

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The Youth in Action Programme aims to respond at European level to the needs of young people from adolescence to adulthood. It makes an important contribution to the acquisition of competences and is therefore a key instrument in providing young people with opportunities for non-formal and informal learning with a European dimension. (...) As an important instrument in reinforcing active citizenship, it also supports the Framework of European Cooperation in the youth field and the Commission’s Plan D for Democracy, dialogue and debate . 

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The general objectives stated in the legal basis of the Youth in Action Programme are to:

 -> promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular

 -> develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union

 -> foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries

 -> contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field

 -> promote European cooperation in the youth field.

Who can participate in the Youth in Action Programme?

Young people and youth workers naturally constitute the main target population of the Programme. However, the Programme reaches these individuals through promoters. Conditions for participation in the Programme therefore relate to these two actors: the ‘participants‘ (individuals participating in the Programme) and the ’promoters‘ (in most cases, legally established organisations). For both participants and promoters, conditions for participation depend on the country in which they are based.

Eligible participants

Are you young person aged between 13 and 30 years old or somebody active in youth work or youth organisations legally resident in one of the Programme or Partner Countries?

If so, you can be a participant of a Youth in Action project, depending on the Action and sub-Action concerned. (...)

Non-formal learning 

The Youth in Action Programme provides important opportunities for young people to acquire skills and competences. Therefore it is a key instrument for non-formal and informal learning in a European dimension.

Non-formal learning refers to the learning which takes place outside formal educational curriculum. Non-formal learning activities involve people on a voluntary basis and are carefully planned, to foster the participants' personal and social development.

Informal learning refers to the learning in daily life activities, in work, family, leisure, etc. It is mainly learning by doing. In the youth sector, informal learning takes place in youth and leisure initiatives, in peer group and voluntary activities etc.

Non-formal and informal learning enables young people to acquire essential competences and contributes to their personal development, social inclusion and active citizenship, thereby improving their employment prospects. Learning activities within the youth field provide significant added value for young people as well as for the economy and society at large.

Non-formal and informal learning activities within the Youth in Action Programme are complementary to the formal education and training system. They have a participative and learner-centred approach, are carried out on a voluntary basis and are therefore closely linked to young people's needs, aspirations and interests. By providing an additional source of learning and a route into formal education and training, such activities are particularly relevant to young people with fewer opportunities.

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Projects funded by the Youth in Action Programme have to adhere to the non-formal learning principles. These are:

 -> learning in non-formal learning is intended and voluntary

 -> education takes place in a diverse range of environments and situations for which training and learning are not necessarily the sole or main activity

 -> the activities may be staffed by professional learning facilitators (such as youth trainers/workers) or volunteers (such as youth leaders or youth trainers)

 -> the activities are planned but are seldom structured by conventional rhythms or curriculum subjects

 -> the activities usually address specific target groups and document learning in a specific, field oriented way.

All informations and more are available on the following link http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/doc74_en.htm in general and in the programme guide in particular.