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Young people: participating but with fewer opportunities
Statement
by Luc Henskens, Director, Red Cross EU Office Brussels, to the European Commission Directorates General for Education and Culture and for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities: Youth Conference "The participation of young people with fewer opportunities", in Brussels
3 March 2008 |
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We very much appreciate that the Commission invited us to contribute to this important European conference concerning the participation of young people with fewer opportunities.
I express our gratitude for involving the Red Cross on this particular topic and in this debate. I will approach my intervention as a representative of an organisation which is an integral part of civil society, globally and also in each of the EU/EFTA member states.
My contribution to this debate is based on the experience and activities of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and in particular the European Union Red Cross Youth network.
I am not speaking for a youth organisation or service provider specialised on young people only. Our International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian organisation.
The real implementation of our humanitarian ideal is very much down to earth and based on caring for our fellow people, between individuals.
The topic of this conference is thus at the very heart of what we are and what we do.
As a humanitarian organisation we commit ourselves to improve the life and well-being of the vulnerable people in society.
With “vulnerable people” we mean persons who are exposed to suffering, to poverty, to social exclusion and discrimination. And we provide support to people regardless of their social, economic, religious, ethnic, cultural or legal background.
We do this work in many different ways. Our approximately 100 million volunteers, staff and members in 186 National Societies are united by Fundamental Principles and humanitarian values.
We apply common working principles, methods and tools and adapt our services to the specific needs of very different vulnerable groups in each country, in each local community in which we operate – throughout Europe and beyond.
Young people have an important role in our daily work.
This importance is twofold:
1. Many areas of our work in the field addresses the problems of young people or so-called problematic young people;
2. We entrust young people with taking action and responsibility for our services.
More than half of the Red Cross / Red Crescent volunteers are young people.
Both aspects are vital for our contribution to the construction of a “healthy” civil society. We need to address the particular needs of young people, especially of those exposed to poverty, exclusion and discrimination.
And we are in need of young people to find solutions, to offer adequate and meaningful support.
I cannot claim that our movement has found the magic key to the participation of young people. Neither can I state that young people in need have access to all our services and neither would I suggest that all our national societies are equally well equipped to address the complexities.
And I would not be sure how many “deprived” young people serve as volunteers in our organisations. But we are trying hard to get there. This is hard work. And it is constant work in progress. Increasingly we are rolling out our activities in partnership with others, be it local governments, NGOs and specialised agencies.
It is worthwhile to see that this conference indeed brings this multitude of actors together.
So what is it that we actually do?
Looking at Red Cross activities from a Europewide perspective, I can tell you that the list of activities is very long and very diverse.
You might associate the Red Cross and Red Crescent with emergency and relief operations, with first aid courses, ambulances, and blood donations.
True. This is part of the story.
There is more however... Over 50 % of our resources and time is devoted to health and social care to those who often live in the shadows of our society. Reaching out to those often requires careful and sensitive action to protect and assist efficiently, far away from public attention.
Let me share with you a few examples of services that we provide, among them many organised by young people for young people
•? In countries like Belgium, the Netherlands or Austria, Red Cross volunteers organise social activities and summer camps for thousands of children from poor families, for disabled or chronically ill people;
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• In countries like Slovakia, Lithuania or Cyprus, Red Cross volunteers run campaigns, information and counselling to prevent HIV/Aids or drug abuse;
•? In countries like Sweden, Finland or Latvia, Red Cross volunteers set up projects like “Positive people” - providing assistance and support to people directly or indirectly suffering from HIV/Aids;
•? In countries like Germany or Spain, Red Cross experts offer debt counselling, assistance in seeking employment or for obtaining micro-credits;
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• In Bulgaria, Red Cross volunteers organise information, counselling, and training for action against human trafficking;
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• In Estonia, Hungary or France, volunteers distribute food supplies of the European Food Aid Programme (PEAD = distribution of food to the most deprived in society) on a daily basis;
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• In countries like Spain, Denmark or Norway, Red Cross volunteers assist in the reception and care for refugees and asylum-seekers ; and they accompany them to integrate in society through education and employment schemes.
These are just some examples, what is shows is that
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We are not concentrating on responding to one particular issue or deficit.
We do not have a specific mission to provide aid to a certain target group. The people we work with might be young or old, disabled or chronically sick ; it might be the unemployed or homeless, migrants or refugees. It might well be a young drug addict, a young refugee or a young homeless person.
In this operational context allow me to share some observations and comments on the European Commission communication “Promoting young people's full participation in education, employment and society”. We regard this as a remarkable document. It does not present young people as a “problem”.
It takes up a range of the “real” issues which we also experience as major threats to the well-being of young people. This is indeed multi-disciplinary and indeed directly relates to education, employment, inclusion, equal opportunities, health, non-discrimination and participation.
We appreciate that the EU acknowledges the relevance of these issues. Many of them correspond to what determines our work in the field.
We also appreciate that the EU mobilises its resources to raise awareness among decision-makers and practitioners in that sense.
The policy frameworks and funding instruments send an important message. ESF, PROGRESS, Youth in Action are characterised by the common objective to provide support to activities in the fight against social exclusion, poverty, discrimination and loss of economic perspective.
Those activities ask for the involvement and contribution from many and different actors in civil society.
Civil society organisations are part of this and provide important added value to enforce and implement the necessary action in the local communities.
There is one aspect I would like us to consider in particular. The Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies are primarily voluntary-based organisations as are a number of other civil society agencies.
Millions of volunteers form the basis and the main resource for individual action and engagement in addressing exclusion, non-formal education, psycho-social support and non-discrimination.
For our own Movement and for our beneficiaries it is of utmost importance that our volunteers find the necessary support and respect for their work.
But our understanding of “volunteering” is different from the one outlined in this Communication. We believe that voluntary activities should not just serve as an instrument (quote) “to facilitate the transition from education to employment”.
We have a much broader understanding of volunteering as being an aspect of life. Volunteers engage in activities in their local communities, motivated by solidarity, eager to involve with others and moved by personal commitment.
Many do this for several years, some all their life. This type of volunteering offers to acquire skills, to enjoy valuable learning experiences. This type of volunteering is not about “transition”.
This volunteering is part of life.
Local volunteering, perhaps we can even say “life-long volunteering”, has a lot to offer for young people. Many youth associations and civil society organisations base their local activities on groups of committed volunteers.
They would agree with me that volunteering can be a very effective method for achieving “participation” of young people.
Mr. Chair, in closing, let me add to this that one of the main lessons we are learning is the need to address complex situations with a multitude of tools, bringing together different actors and work in concert with each other.
And the complexity of the issues raised in this communication, ask for a diverse range of tools, methods and actors who are able and capable to respond.
Co-operation and dialogue among the different actors is important. For this reason we believe that this conference is an important step on the way. And we are looking forward to further participate and contribute in the discussions.
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