The aim of the “YEPP” approach and methodology is to ensure that the principles of youth & community empowerment, participation and partnership become mainstream and are transformed into action at all levels by practitioners and decision-makers.
Therefore, YEPP Europe and the YEPP Community Network advocate for civic engagement and participation and strive to influence policies in the field of youth at local, regional, national and international level. YEPP Europe and the Network of Partners have been active in the media, as well as the social media, and organise the events with policy makers.
YEPP Europe supports participating communities and YEPP Local Sites in strengthening the links to the local politicians and authorities and has developed capacity-building programmes in the field of advocacy and supporting material such as the “YEPP IRC Advocacy Guide – Theory, Tools and Best Practice of Advocacy Work in the YEPP Community Network”.

The “Dream Machine” Project
One example is the project “Dream Machine – Partnerships and Youth Initiatives for Community Development”. The project was implemented in March 2014 to October 2015. It was financially supported by the European Commission’s Youth in Action Programme, Action 4.6 – Partnerships. The goal of the project was to deepen the existing practices of partnership with local municipalities through a set of local and transnational activities and innovative methods. These would help young people to develop and implement their vision of their community and of change they would like to see.

100 young people in 12 YEPP Local Sites, composed of 60 communities with fewer opportunities, in 7 European countries (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia and Poland) participated in this project.
A total of 12 projects were implemented and some of them are featured below. They highlight the experience from the point of view of young people as they approached politicians to participate in their project and from the point of view of politicians who were approached by and collaborated with young people in the context of this “Dream Machine” project.

Dream Machine Project “Youth Cafeteria”
YEPP Local Site Kecerovce-Olšaava, Slovakia

Young people got the support of the mayor of Kecerovce-Olšava to set up a youth cafeteria in the community of the village

Dream Machine Project “Web Radio”
YEPP Local Site Langhe, Italy

15 young people from the YEPP Local Site Langhe set up a Web Radio, which was financially supported by the local mayor.

Dream Machine Project  “Youth Centre Albenga”
YEPP Local Site Albenga, Italy

After several years of advocacy work and efforts from the young people in Albenga, the mayor finally agreed to finance and support a youth centre in the town. This project received the award “Best Advocacy Work” at the “Dream Machine” conference in Kristinestad.

Dream Machine Project “Labirint”
YEPP Local Site Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina

The young people in Tuzla approached local and national politicians in order to seek support for their project “Labirint” which is a Community Training Centre offering courses and training for members of the community. They also made a very successful fundraising campaign and received funding from local foundations, businesses and residents. This project was awarded “Best Community Project” at the “Dream Machine” conference in Kristinestad

Dream Machine Project “Street guards and young people in dialogue”
YEPP Local Site Dublin-North Inner City, Ireland

The young people from the YEPP Local Site in Dublin North-Inner city have tried to find a solution for the tense relationship between Street police guards and young people. They have been fostering exchange and dialogue through surveys and interviewing young people and street guards about their views and want to continue organising meetings between both parties in order to improve their relationship.  This project was awarded “Most Innovative Project” at the “Dream Machine” conference in Kristinestad.

Dream Machine Project “Health Campaign”
YEPP Local Site Kristinestad, Finland

The young people of Kristinestad have been working on a health campaign including information days about health and sports issues in schools and a swimming hall disco. The municipality of Kristinestad has been involved at the local level supporting the campaign and on an international level hosting the “Dream Machine” Conference in June 2015 and personally inviting mayors and municipality representative from Communities from 7 European countries to this event.