YUWG is a platform for activists working with and for young people from less privileged backgrounds. The group was established in 1985 with the aim of looking at the problem of unemployment among young people and trying to effect real change at a structural level. It also had practical considerations such as enacting the youth policy of SCI and coordinating exchanges. The major goal is to provide the possibility of European contacts and exchanges for young people affected by unemployment, poverty and social exclusion.
The main actions include:
- Youth exchanges
- Sheltered Placements on workcamps
- BLISS (Short Term volunteer Places on an individual project)
- Coordination meetings
- Pioneer cooperation projects with Asia and with non-European Mediterranean countries
- Training events for youth leaders.
Each year YUWG organises 2 meetings and a training. At the annual meetings, the participants discuss matters related to policies regarding work with disadvantaged young people and agree on the details of the summer youth exchanges. After an evaluation meeting between YUWG, YAP and ALLIANCE in september 2005 the 3 networks decided to build together on a new centralised Sheltered Placement Programme, taking into account lessons from the past.
Read more at their own homepage.
