The Vision of YEPP Europe is a just, equitable, sustainable and resilient inclusive society based on the universal respect for and observance of human rights. We envision a civil society in which children, young people and communities have equal opportunities to participate in the decision-making processes that take place at local, regional, national and international level.
The Mission of YEPP Europe is to foster youth and community empowerment with young people at risk of social exclusion as agents of change, as conceptualised in the YEPP approach and methodology and in line with international human rights principles.
Our Values
EMPOWERMENT
At YEPP EUROPE our approach to empowerment is holistic and is focused on six dimensions and levels: personal, social, political (civic participation), economic, cultural and legal empowerment (Evans and Krüger, 2012). Empowered citizens – including young people and children – have the ability and power to contribute effectively to the advancement of their communities and society at large. That is, they take ownership of their individual and collective lives and are engaged in building active and sustainable communities based on human rights principles, social justice and mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation.
GOALS
Youth and community empowerment is at the heart of YEPP EUROPE. We aim to enable young people who are at risk of social exclusion and/or live in areas with fewer opportunities to participate in local decision-making processes, to create change in their communities and to become responsible, skilled and active citizens and agents of social change in the wider society. Furthermore our aim is to foster development of confident and competent communities, so that residents and local stakeholders become active citizens and bring about positive change to the environment in which children and youth develop.
WORKING PRINCIPLES
In our work, we try to implement the value of youth and community empowerment on different levels. Firstly, we consider young people to be the main actors of local change, thus through our projects we foster their participation along with other members of their community in decision‐making processes, that is we encourage them to engage in joint strategic planning, implementation of solutions for social change as well as participatory monitoring and evaluation. Secondly, we promote mapping of community needs and recognition of community resources (both human & natural) as the base of every change process upon which community-based entrepreneurship can develop and lead to sustainable social change which benefits the community and the environment.
LIFELONG LEARNING
For YEPP EUROPE, lifelong learning means embracing learning as a continuous and enriching process that extends beyond formal education through which we can provide diverse and inclusive learning opportunities that foster personal and professional growth for young people and community members. Lifelong learning allows for the exchange and transfer of knowledge and expertise, thus empowering individuals to thrive in an ongoing changing world.
GOALS
At YEPP EUROPE our goals are to provide lifelong learning with diverse learning opportunities, to foster peer exchange and to ensure a learning environment in which individuals can learn from each other’s experiences, perspectives, and expertise and thus grow mutually. Through transparent and inclusive communication, our aim is to ensure that members of our Community Network, as well as the wider public, are well-informed about training and exchange opportunities that we offer and that they are involved in co-creating these opportunities and knowledge exchange.
WORKING PRINCIPLES
At YEPP EUROPE we offer a wide range of learning avenues such as workshops, seminars, and online courses that can equip young people and other community members with skills needed for active participation in their communities. In shaping learning opportunities we ensure that needs and perspectives of young people and other community members are represented. Furthermore, we shape opportunities in which networks and strategic alliances are built and that connect individuals and organizations to broaden perspectives, access resources, and create collaborative learning opportunities. Finally, we promote best practices, success stories, and lessons learned within the YEPP Community Network, thus harnessing collective wisdom for personal and collective growth.
PARTNERSHIP
For YEPP EUROPE partnership means building a resilient horizontal network of cooperative connection between our partner organisations. Through these connections, members of our Community Network can collaboratively learn from each other’s experiences, share successes, as well as knowledge and tips for best practice in our work. YEPP EUROPE endeavours to create partnerships that promote openness, friendship and tolerance with the principles of transparency and trust being at the heart of such partnerships.
GOALS
Our goal is to establish strong and sustainable partnerships and strategic alliances with the stakeholders from different sectors (public, private, and independent) and levels (local, regional, national and international) that are committed to fostering youth and community empowerment.
WORKING PRINCIPLES
In our work we promote and advocate the establishment of informal action groups, formal structures and strategic alliances. We continuously expand our network by including new partners and we shape the projects together. Finally we inquire about the needs in our Community Network to make informed choices about projects that we do together.
INCLUSION & DIVERSITY
For YEPP EUROPE, inclusion means that all people have the right and an opportunity to participate in a society in a self-determined way. Therefore, inclusion requires a system that responds to a diversity of human needs and not the other way round. Inclusion means that everyone is included, visible, heard and considered. Diversity refers to acknowledgement of differences in people’s lived experiences or perspectives that stem from their ethnicity, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical and mental abilities, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, class, and/or socio-economic status. Because we are all different, all areas of life must be designed in such a way that everyone can actively participate in social life.
GOALS
The goal of YEPP EUROPE is to promote an inclusive and diverse society where everyone has equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights, regardless of their backgrounds. This includes eliminating barriers, promoting equity, fostering a culture of inclusion, promoting representation, eliminating bias, and measuring progress towards our goals.
WORKING PRINCIPLES
In our work at YEPP EUROPE we prioritise people’s needs and perspectives in all our policies, practices, and programs, rather than expecting people to fit into pre-existing structures. We celebrate the differences among people, recognizing that diversity is a strength, and not a weakness. We identify and try to dismantle any physical, cultural, or systemic barriers that prevent people from participating fully in society. We strive to ensure that all people have equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights, regardless of their backgrounds. We cultivate a culture where everyone feels included, respected, and valued, and where all perspectives are heard and considered.
SUSTAINABILITY
At YEPP EUROPE we approach sustainability through three dimensions: economic, environmental, and social. For us, sustainability is a process of building a mindful relationship with our inner and outer ecosystems so that all living beings can coexist in harmony and balance. We recognize the importance of preserving and sustaining the existing resources and contributing to rejuvenation of resources that are needed for individual, societal and planetary wellbeing.
GOALS
Our goal is to promote and implement the value of sustainability within our organisation and in all of our projects and thereby encourage and empower young people and society at large to take the initiative towards sustainable living.
WORKING PRINCIPLES
In our work, we implement the value of sustainability on several levels. Firstly, as individuals we are committed to cultivating our own personal resilience and well-being and developing mindful relationships with people and the living world around us. Secondly, when it comes to project design, management and implementation of project activities we are guided by our Sustainable Event Concept and ERASMUS+ National Agency Sustainability Guidelines. Finally, we are committed to building resources of partners in our Community Network by offering capacity building training opportunities and webinars.