The European Youth Parliament and the opportunities it gives to young people
This article is created for the project “Efivos in Europe”
Автор: Юлияна Василева
- What is the European Youth Parliament (EYP)?
I think that in order to answer this question, we have to take a look at the website of the organization: “The European Youth Parliament is one of Europe’s largest youth platforms for civic education, intercultural encounters, and the exchange of ideas – run by young people, for young people. Our mission is to inspire and empower a young generation of informed, open-minded, responsible, and active citizens that shape society and drive impact.”
In other words, it’s a place in which young people meet and exchange ideas. Depending on the scale of the event, the sessions can be regional, national, or international. All of these sessions gather people from all around Europe, but in regional and national sessions, the delegates are mainly from the country hosting the session. The whole names of the sessions are: “regional selection conference” or ”national selection conference.” Their aim is to select delegates from the host-country to go on a session outside of the country. That is, however, not the only way to participate in a session in another European country. After attending a session as a delegate, a person can apply for different volunteering opportunities in sessions held abroad. The selection is also far from the only thing that EYP can offer to a young person. EYP is much more than the selection that happens. It’s a network in which young people meet and form long-lasting connections.
2. My personal experience in EYP
I signed up for a session of the European Youth Parliament, because I saw that delegates were wanted for the first national session that would take place in Bulgaria. Then I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. As it turns out, more than a year later, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. In the different sessions I went to (5 to this day, 2 of which in another European country), I challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone and to try new and scary things. But the most important thing that EYP gave me was a platform where I meet people. People who share the same interests and beliefs as me and people who accepted me for who I am. I will continue applying for sessions abroad, because this is the only way I can meet so many incredible people who I would otherwise never meet.
The sessions involve different activities. For example, I went to a session in Switzerland where we had a “cultural afternoon” in which we explored the city we were in – Logano. In a session that I was an organiser for in Bulgaria, we organised a “cultural morning” in which participants had the opportunity to see Plovdiv under a different light. So the experience is not only an academic one, it’s also a cultural and social one.
Overall, the experience is one that can’t be explained through words. It’s something a person has to experience for themselves. If you want to understand how you can do that, you read the following point.
3. How can you get involved?
So, how can you get started in the network? I would say the most important thing is to find the social media of the national committee in your country. For example, for Bulgaria, it would be EYP Bulgaria. On social media, they post all the announcements that you need to keep an eye on if you want to get involved!
The article was created as part of the CERV Efivos project in Europe. EFIVOS II program is funded by the European Commission (CERV), with partners Network Children’s Rights (Greece), CIP (Cyprus), HESED (Bulgaria), GEYC (Romania), Dedalus (Italy), Pacto Verde (Spain), Crossing Borders (Denmark).
The support of the European Commission for the preparation of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the content. The publication reflects only the views of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use of the information contained therein.
