YouthNET is a  Europe-wide network of young people, NGOs, youth experts, trainers, activists, administrative bodies and decision makers that aims to strengthen youth co-operation and participation all over Europe and supports regional and local co-operation in Southeast and Eastern Europe.

YouthNET - Creative Partnerships with SEE (2006 - 2009):

              Three thematic sub-project groups from neighbouring SEE countries as well as EU partners are continuously working together for a 3 years period to cooperatively develop pilot projects and an action plan for regional cooperation. The three general topics are “Environment and Peace” (Countries/Regions involved: Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, EU countries), “Art and Culture” (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, EU countries), and “Tolerance through local participation” (FYROMacedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, EU countries). All activities are prepared by one of the partner organisations in close cooperation with young people from the area where the activity takes place. Young people’s organisations can contribute their ideas already in the planning process, visit projects in the respective municipalities, meet local people in charge of youth issues, etc. Exchange visits between the groups and common project activities offer opportunities for young people to develop their own follow-up projects with partners from abroad. Information, advice, and trainings will be offered on how to make efficient use of the new “Youth in Action” programme and other support available on national or European levels. YouthNET Brochure

YouthPROTECT Peace and Environment

Cross Border Training Course on Protected Areas

The exchange brought together a diverse group of youth from a variety of countries including Macedonia, Portugal, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Austria and Italy. The program agenda revolved around each participants involvement in one of the five workshops offered:

      “The Wall”: participants of that worksop had to re-paint an worn down wall outside the hotel into a nice-looking piece of art.

      “Creative Language”: with Asia, about how we can use the variety of languages in different situations and that sometimes there is no matter what language you are speaking, you can still be understood.

      “Freeze”: with Daniela, included activities during which the participants - whatever they are doing - when signaled from Daniela, were supposed to learn how to freeze at the position they are and control their emotions, reactions whatever is happening.

      “Photography”: with Babis intended to teach the participants how to make pictures that could have a great impact on people who see them.

      “Land Art”: with Eduardo, was a workshop aiming to show how everything in nature can be used in a meaningful way and you can make art of every small thing.

Other activities over the course of the exchange included time spent on Ohrid Lake in St. Zaum, intercultural evenings, visits to some of the cities historic sites, team building games, and a boat trip to St. Naum’s Monastary. 

“After walking in the monastery and the streets we headed to another coast on Ohrid lake, called “St. Zaum”. This was the most relaxing time of the week’s training. Everyone was swimming, sun bathing, taking pictures and having fun. After it though we made a meaningful environmental action for the place we were. The trainers gave everyone some gloves and plastic bags and in few minutes all participants cleaned the garbage on the beach as much as we could. It was a nice picture too see how almost fifty people were doing such team work and in no time we did a very useful job. After it we made an improvised human out of every waste product we found on the coast such as shoes, tins, plastic and glass bottles or even lady purses. We put a t-shirt with the logo of “YouthNET” and we left it near a tree for the people to see not only that there is much garbage everywhere, but also that there should be done something and that there are people who care about this problem and know about reusing and recycling of garbage, and not throwing it around the nature.”

                                              -Group EVS Journal