Youth policy conference concludes keeping connected will bring positive change

LONDON, 11 MARCH 2009 – Following presentations, workshops and open discussions at the recent International Conference on Youth Policy held in Windsor, UK on 23rd-24th February, high-level influencers from government and academia together with young people from around Europe concluded that “the way it worked, it doesn’t work anymore”, and that to tackle today’s youth policy issues it is essential that policy makers and young people remain connected to facilitate positive change.

Hosted by the Association, and entirely facilitated by youth delegates aged 18 to 30, the event began with a dynamic debate between renowned youth expert, Prof. Howard Williamson, UK and Jeroen Boschma, co-author of Generation Einstein and creative director of Keesie, The Netherlands; this focused on how to develop positive, supported and life-ready young people irrespective of circumstance. 

The opening debate was followed by four interactive workshops on topics chosen by young people as the key challenges facing European young people and youth policy decision makers in the 21st Century. In each of the four sessions – education, youth in politics, new media and multi-cultural society – youth facilitators initiated lively discussions with policy decision makers, academic youth experts and observers, including special guest HRH The Earl of Wessex, Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Foundation.  The workshop feedback was presented for further discussion on day two of the event after each country had reflected and evaluated the debate’s particular significance to its own youth policy and current issues.

“In the months running up to the event the whole team of youth facilitators put an enormous amount of effort into making the conference a success, so I was really pleased that our approach and ideas were met with enthusiasm and openness  by all the representatives from government and academia,” said Marieke Meelen, youth facilitator from The Netherlands.

On the results of the workshops, Lucas Meijs, Professor of Volunteering, Civil Society and Businesses, Department of Business-Society Management at Erasmus University, The Netherlands commented, “It was interesting to discover through the workshops that no matter what the individual differences are between national education systems, there are many common issues which affect all young people.  In particular it was apparent that education – whether formal or non-formal – is at the heart of solving many of the challenges facing us today.”

As well as presentations on workshop feedback, on day two delegates also heard a moving and inspirational story demonstrating how an existing youth development framework, the International Award (known in the UK as the DofE), is achieving impressive results in connecting young people with the rest of the community.  Stephen Hughes, Youth Worker in Charge, Corpus Christi Youth Centre in West Belfast, Northern Ireland, uses the Award Programme as a youth work tool and believes that its longevity and flexibility makes it a powerful tool for transforming young lives and impacting communities – even those damaged by years of conflict.

A collective statement from delegates on the outcomes and actions of the conference will be published by the end of March 2009, and a detailed report on the conference will be available by July 2009.  On the main theme of keeping connected, Olli Saarela, Director at the Youth Policy Division, Ministry of Education in Finland summarised: “Youth policy is too important to leave only to politicians. What these discussions have shown is that there is a clear need to connect the dreams of young people with the experience of older generations.”

“We are delighted at the success of the inaugural event,” said Gillian Shirazi LVO, Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association, who hosted the conference. “I truly believe that facilitating direct discussions between young people and policy-makers is a great way of improving mutual understanding and to further develop long-standing relationships to maximise the effectiveness and relevance of youth policy.”