European Conference on Youth: Mobility of Young Volunteers across Europe, MŠMT ČR

This conference will provide a room for discussion between representatives of state administrations and experts from the non-profit sector. The objective of the conference will be to discuss the possibilities in relation to the implementation of the Council Recommendation on trans-national mobility of young volunteers focusing on five main areas of activity: improving the level of knowledge of volunteering schemes; developing opportunities for trans-national European volunteering; developing basic quality standards for these activities; ensuring the appropriate recognition of non-formal learning outcomes of young volunteers; and providing support and training for those who work with young people with a specific focus on the involvement of young people with fewer opportunities in international volunteering.

Thematic fields: Volunteering, Youth mobility, European Youth Policy, Recognition of non-formal learning, European Citizenship

Target group: Policy makers, Youth workers, Researchers, Young people active in the field of trans-national volunteering

Number of participants: 110

Type of event: Expert conference

Participation: Ministries responsible for youth from Member states, candidate and EFTA countries are responsible for nominating the participants (2-3 per country).

Working language: English, plenary sessions will be interpreted to Czech

Venue: Kongresové centrum Praha/Congress Centre Prague, Czech Republic

Date:
The delegations are expected to arrive on 11^th March during the day. Dinner will be provided at 7:00 p.m. The Conference is going to be held from 12^th to 13^th March 2009 and the delegations are expected to depart on 14^th March during the day.

This Czech Presidency event will jointly be organised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, the National Institute of Children Youth and the European Commission.

Abstract
The programme design of the event will use interactive and participatory methodology to trigger practically oriented discussions and produce concrete results relevant for the implementation of the above mentioned Recommendation. The thematic focus will comprise:

- information about existing cross-border volunteering opportunities for youth;
- development of new opportunities for cross-border youth volunteering;
- quality assurance, incl. protection and safety of young volunteers;
- recognition of non-formal learning experiences gained trough volunteering
- promotion of cross-border volunteering activities to youth workers and youth organizations and other institutions.

Moreover, special attention will be paid to the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities and to the implementation of cross-border volunteering schemes on all relevant levels (local, regional, national, inter-national and European).

Participants will be policy makers dealing with youth policy at European and member-state levels, NGO representatives and young people experienced in trans-national volunteering as well as researchers focusing on youth and volunteering.