This project presented a 24-month cooperation itinerary between eight European cities, focusing on the exchange of experiences, intercultural dialogue, debate, and joint reflection. It centered on various aspects related to addressing youth unemployment through conferences, workshops, open discussions, and shared debates.
Spain. Kick-Off Meeting. March 1-2, 2023.
The kick-off meeting for the European project YO-WO (Youth and Gender Equality for the Welfare of Europe) took place in La Pobla Llarga, beginning with a welcome from Mayoress Neus Garrigues. Mr. Andreu Garrido introduced the project’s goals to enhance youth engagement and gender equality across local and international levels, followed by presentations from project partners on their organizational objectives.
Key presentations included:
- Empoblar Project: Inma presented this local initiative supporting youth entrepreneurship in La Pobla Llarga, highlighting youth policies and community engagement.
- European Values and Youth: Miguel Ángel Martín Ramos discussed EU history and values, representing the Jean Monnet Association’s mission.
- Local Business Visits: Participants toured the artisan chocolate shop Mario Padial, a model of small-town entrepreneurship, and an industrial orange juice plant crucial to the local economy.
The first day concluded with a tour of La Pobla Llarga, a concert by the local band, and a multicultural dinner.
On March 2, Carla Serena led a session on women’s entrepreneurship and social support against gender violence. The group then visited Valencia to experience the Fallas festival and understand its impact on the regional economy.
Slovenia. What Opportunities Does the EU Offer? 19-20 April 2023
The event in Velenje, Slovenia, engaged 50 participants in exploring EU opportunities for youth. Activities included expert-led dialogues on Erasmus+ and Youth Exchanges, along with debates involving local students, focusing on youth engagement with EU policies. On April 19, participants toured Youth Center Velenje, learning about EU-funded initiatives, and visited Velenje Municipality for presentations on EU-supported city projects.
Key Activities
- Dialogues and Presentations: Local experts, including Velenje’s Deputy Mayor, shared insights on EU-supported programs and city development projects.
- Youth Cultural Engagement: Participants visited eMCe plac, a youth-run club fostering active youth involvement in cultural initiatives.
- Street Action: Groups conducted interviews with citizens on EU youth policies, collecting opinions on EU benefits and concerns.
- Workshops and Sightseeing: Workshops focused on implementing project strategies locally, followed by a guided tour highlighting EU-funded urban revitalization projects.
The event concluded with a farewell dinner, emphasizing continued collaboration for upcoming activities in Poland.
Poland. Volunteering for young Europeans. 13-25 June 2023.
During the third visit of the project, we focused on the exchange of experience on volunteer organizations, youth support initiatives and tri-sector cooperation between public administration, NGOs and business. Guests from partner countries were representatives of Spain, Hungary, the Netherlands, France, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Slovenia. Our local partner was the Community of Gorlice – the main partner of the project to which we extend our thanks for the warm welcome, presentation of the region and activities carried out in the Community of Gorlice in terms of, among other things, investments made with EU funds and the situation of refugees in the region. It is thanks to this cooperation and the favorable attitude of Mayor Jan Przybylski and Deputy Mayor Magdalena Czech that this event could take place.
Heartfelt thanks to all the organizations and individuals who actively joined in the preparation of this meeting.
– Luzna Commune – the Head of the Commune – Mr. Mariusz Tarsa conducted a fascinating history lesson on the Pustki Hill. This is a war cemetery from the period of World War I. The bloody battle of Gorlice was one of the turning points of this war and its victims were mostly young people.
The commune also has a Baroque church of St. Michael the Archangel in Szalowa. The masterpiece is listed in the Register of Historical Monuments.
– LAG Beskid Gorlicki provided promotional materials and the opportunity to learn about products marked with the Karpating local brand.
– The Foundation for Supporting People with Disabilities „Get Out of the House”, operating in Gorlice, presented to our guests the range of tasks directed mainly to people with disabilities. In addition to many volunteer activities, the Foundation runs a social enterprise. It is a thriving travel agency, which is the only one in the region and perhaps even in Poland that organizes tours adapted for people with disabilities.
– The Local Volunteer Center in Gorlice has demonstrated the great value of volunteers’ work, commitment and enthusiasm.
– Thanks to the support of the Director of the Dwor Karwacjanów i Gładyszów Museum, Ms. Katarzyna Szepieniec, the project participants visited the Prof. Roman Reinfuss Foothills Open Air Village Museum in Szymbark and the Kasztel Conference and Exhibition Center in Szymbark.
Hungary. Post-COVID-19 European Youth, 11-14 September, 2023
The project meeting in Újszilvás, Hungary, focused on EU strategies and local initiatives supporting youth workforce recovery in the post-COVID-19 era. Hosted by the local government, the event began with a welcome from Mayor Dr. Csaba Petrányi, who highlighted regional developments. Key presentations covered EU policies on youth unemployment, social exclusion, and the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) phenomenon, as well as EU-funded programs like Youth Guarantee and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. An invited expert discussed Hungary’s youth labor market amid economic shifts.
Participants engaged in discussions and shared local best practices, including visits to exemplary local enterprises like FERZOL Ltd. and Bolyhos Pálinka, which showcase sustainable workforce practices. The group also explored potential designs for a project infographic to illustrate solutions for youth employability. The event concluded with a study tour in Budapest, solidifying insights into youth-focused EU efforts for post-pandemic recovery, with knowledge integrated into project deliverables.
Bulgaria. Europe for youth and social innovation through EU policies. 18-21 June, 2024.
We started day one of the meeting in Vratsa, Bulgaria with the seventh meeting of the Yo-Wo Cities Network project (Young Workforce – Youth and Gender Equality for the Good of Europe) under the EU CERV (Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values) programme, where we shared experiences and good practices on youth projects for three days.
We were hosted by the Bulgarian Youth Association at the Vrata Youth Centre and the aim of the conference, through various workshops, was:
– to share good practices on European youth projects;
– to analyse youth-oriented activities and strategies and social innovations in European policies;
– to generate ideas for social innovation in the youth field;
– sharing good practices on European projects related to youth;
– to generate ideas for social innovation among young people in local communities;
– to learn how to implement youth strategies through European projects;
– improving working conditions for young people entering the labour market for the first time; and creating a graphic guide on dealing with young people’s working conditions.
On another day, we analysed how formal and non-formal education contributes to the training of young people and thus their employability and capacity to find work, and to create societies capable of facing current and future challenges and adapting to the pace of the constant technological changes that accompany us today
Cyprus. Final conclusions. 27-28 September 2024.
The YOWO project’s final event began on September 26, 2024, with a welcome dinner in Ayia Napa, where participants gathered to connect and were introduced to the project’s objectives. The following day, they visited the Thalassa Museum, learning about Cyprus’ rich maritime history and the significance of the sea to the island’s culture. Later, they traveled to Sotira, a nearby village, to tour the Octo Microbrewery, gaining insights into the challenges small businesses face in rural areas, including resource limitations and market access. This experience underscored the importance of resilience and community support for local entrepreneurs.
On September 28, the group explored Cyherbia Botanical Garden in Avgorou, where they learned about sustainable practices and the economic benefits of eco-tourism. The municipality of La Pobla Llarga delivered a reflective speech, celebrating the project’s success and encouraging continued collaboration. The event concluded with a farewell party, and the following morning, participants enjoyed a relaxed breakfast before parting ways, marking the project’s formal close and leaving lasting connections and inspiration for future endeavors.
