Young advocates – it Young advocates – it is possible!is possible!
‘The experience of the EFCCA Youth Group’
This is...This is...
the story of a journey
but, above all, a dream that became an amazing, concrete, experience
the story of the EYG
and also...a personal experience
WHYWHY
Several youngster group were established in some National Association
The German team thought to invite representatives from other countries, in order to exchange views
And so...Once upon a time, in 1998: the first EFCCA Youth Meeting in Erlangen is the beginning of our story.
The tremendous success led to the second meeting, in Amsterdam, held in 1999 and still funded by a National Association
Amsterdam Days...Amsterdam Days...
19991999
50 participants
12 countries
a fantastic environment
a participant with an idea: to creat a “commission” inside EFCCA for discussing problems related to young people with IBD
one year later: the youngsters spontaneously started using the name “LOEKIE COMMITTEE”
ONE THING TO ONE THING TO REMEMBERREMEMBER
IBD EMERGES TIPICALLY IN A RANGE AGE OF 14 - 25 ...BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ALWAYS LIKE THAT !
Who’s Loekie ?Who’s Loekie ?
HOWHOW
NOT AN EASY NEGOTIATION
ECTIC REACTIONS
SKEPTICISM (are they going to resist ?)
GENERATIONAL GAP EMERGES
TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS (internet was not that developed...and we had analogic modems)
HOW /2HOW /2
Overcome barriers through mediation
Definition of the age-range: 18-30
Creation (2003) of a Joint Commission
2004: the EYG was born officially
ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES
Vision and mission sharing
Good practices exchange
Common framework co-design
Networking (e.g. CYE)
Concrete projects development and implementation
some of the EYG some of the EYG projectsprojects
youngsters developing activities for kids:
the GAME (now available in 11 languages)
the SUMMER CAMP
POLICY MAKINGPOLICY MAKING
Preparatory work:
2 team bulding meetings
2 focus groups on group management and leadership
quarterly meetings
EYM as key moment of EYG activity
POLICY MAKING /2POLICY MAKING /2
day to day work:
EYG-Zine
dedicated space in the EFCCA GA and Board
GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE5 youngsters (+ 2 subst.) elected indipendently by the youth delegates at the annual EYM
in charge for 3 years (1 for subst.)
direct management of an annual budget approved by EFCCA GA
considered as a special “EFCCA group”
EYG leader can participate in the EFCCA Board
MUTUAL BENEFITSMUTUAL BENEFITS
Youth Point of View
Better mirror needs and peculiar visions
Dedicated services
“P - 2 - P” approach
Empowerment = > L.O.T.
MUTUAL BENEFITS / 2MUTUAL BENEFITS / 2
EFCCA perspective:
Possibility of better meet needs of a key target of the disease
Some “generational” problem
Increased use of communication tools
Investing in our future => L.O.T.
L.O.T.L.O.T.Leaders of Tomorrow program
teaching how the organization work
providing tools and resources
provinding a fertile environment for creativity
learning from each other
exchanging weaknesses and strenght
and...and...
feeding the new generation of volunteers and leaders (motivated, skilled and inspired)
paving the way towards our handover
spending much less than you can imagine !!!!
does it work ?
ACHIEVEMENTSACHIEVEMENTS
14/48 EFCCA delegates have attended at least one EYM meeting
4/8 member of the EFCCA Board have been in the L.O.T. program
the actual chairman of EFCCA founded the EYG and led it for 6 years.
ConclusionConclusion
YES, WE CAN ! if...UNITED WE STAND !