Call for Participants

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is organising a series of training activities, as part of JEF’s 2023 Work Plan, supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. These activities are carried out in the framework of the REVIVE project, which aims at enhancing the situation of youth civic spaces in Europe through building capacities of young people and promoting the new Council of Europe Recommendation on protecting youth civil society and young people.

About the REVIVE project’s training in Budapest

Working to support healthy and resilient democracies is a core part of the work of JEF Europe. In particular, conceived in the context of JEF’s Democracy under Pressure (DuP) campaigns, the REVIVE project will respond to the first priority of the Council of Europe Youth Sector for 2022-25, ‘Revitalising pluralistic democracies’. It will combine actions that aim at supporting young people’s participation in political life, raising awareness about the shrinking of youth civic spaces and supporting youth participation in strengthening effective, accountable and inclusive democratic institutions.

The focus will be on developing the volunteers’ knowledge on the Council of Europe Recommendation on protecting youth civil society and young people, and empower them with skills and tools to implement it in order to safeguard youth civic spaces. 

The main objectives of the seminar are the following:

• To promote the new Council of Europe Recommendation on protecting youth civil society and young people by raising awareness of the recommendations and developing the skills of young people to implement it. 
• To equip young people with the competences to act for safeguarding civic space especially in countries where youth civic spaces are particularly under pressure through capacity-building training courses.
• To promote the exchange of good practices among young people across Europe on how to act for safeguarding youth civic spaces.

The sessions will be facilitated by 3 professional trainers (one junior and 2 senior trainers) with expertise in non-formal education, democratic activism and sustainable youth civic society building.

Profile of the participant

• You must be resident in one of the Council of Europe Countries. Candidates from Central and Eastern European countries and the Western Balkans are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Being able to work and communicate fluently in English.
• 18 – 30 years old.
• Interested in the topic and in being involved in supporting youth civic spaces and encouraging youth in participating in democratic processes.
• Available to attend all training sessions between March 31st and April 6th. 

What we are offering

• A full five-day training event (with arrival on the 31st of March, and departure on the 6th of April 2023).
• Accommodation and food covered for the duration of the seminar in Budapest, Hungary.
• Travel reimbursement up to 200 euros.
• An opportunity to learn about civic spaces and gain the right skills and tools to safeguard them, especially in countries where they are under pressure. 
• A networking opportunity with young people working in different development and youth sectors.
• Becoming part of an engaging and dynamic pool of participants from all over Europe, focusing on countering the shrinking of civic spaces and fostering youth participation in democratic processes in different contexts. 

Fee and finances

• The participation fee is 50 euros covering all on-site expenses.  We understand budgets are tight for young people all around Europe at the moment, and we will gladly consider your application to JEF’s Solidarity Fund for fee-free participation. In order to apply for it, you should state it in your application and we will get back to you. Be aware that this opportunity is only available for a few participants and thus be very specific in your motivation as to why you are applying for the Solidarity Fund. It is especially meant for young people coming from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Should you want to apply for this fund – after submitting your application through the form, please write your motivation in an email to michela.procoli@jef.eu. 
• The travel reimbursement will be made after the event once we have received all relevant tickets and receipts (by email and physically in our office).

How to apply?

Please fill in the application link by February 28th, 2023 at 23:59 CET.