From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Minister O’Gorman has today welcomed the first meeting of the National Steering Group for the European Year of Youth 2022.
The decision by the European Parliament and Council officially to designate 2022 the European Year of Youth is intended to strengthen efforts to celebrate, support and engage with young people across the EU, in recognition of the particular impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the opportunities of young people.
A range of European Year of Youth activities and initiatives will be organised at national, local and European level throughout the year. Young people and those who work with young people across all settings can discover more about these activities and how to participate in them on the European Youth Portal, where a dedicated European Year of Youth page has been set up.
In Ireland, European Year of Youth activities will be co-ordinated by Léargas in partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The dedicated European Year of Youth webpage has more information for Irish young people and youth groups. Further information on local opportunities to connect with the European Year of Youth and its objectives will be made available as activities are developed.
A National Steering Group bringing together key youth stakeholders from the statutory and voluntary sectors as well as a number of youth representatives has been put in place to support the development and co-ordination of the activities of the European Year of Youth in Ireland. A key objective of this group will be to amplify the reach of the Year so that all young people, especially seldom heard young people, can benefit from its opportunities.
Commenting on the significance of the European Year of Youth, Minister O’Gorman said:
"The pandemic in many ways put young people’s lives on hold, negatively impacting their learning and development opportunities and their connections with their communities and wider society, with all the impacts that this can have on their mental health and potential. The European Year of Youth aims to counter those negative impacts by promoting existing and creating new opportunities for young people to connect, participate, travel and learn.
"The European Year of Youth is a call to action for all of us who work with and for young people to come together to achieve a shared objective of empowering and supporting our young people.
"In her speech announcing the Commission’s plans to designate 2022 as the European Year of Youth, President Ursula von der Leyen spoke about how ‘Europe needs all of its youth’. I would like to echo this sentiment and highlight that there will be a strong focus on inclusion, diversity and reaching young people with fewer opportunities throughout the year. It is vital that every young person knows that this year is for them.
"I would encourage all young people and those who work with young people to check out the European Youth Portal throughout the Year to learn about and contribute to the fantastic range of opportunities and activities taking place."
The European Year of Youth was first announced by the President of the European Commission during her annual State of the European Union address in September 2021. The Act designating 2022 as the European Year of Youth was signed by the Parliament and the Council on 22 December 2021 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 28 December 2021.
The Year pursues the following four objectives:
The National Steering Group for the European Year of Youth is comprised of representatives from the following bodies:
Léargas manage international and national exchange programmes in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training. These exchanges connect people in different communities and countries, and bring an international dimension to the work of organisations across Ireland. It serves as the National Agency for Erasmus+ in Adult Education, School Education, Vocational Education and Training, and Youth as well as the European Solidarity Corps and eTwinning.
Further details of opportunities available under the Year can be found on the Léargas website and the European Youth Portal.