Within the 2018-2019 priorities, the Joint Council on Youth has defined the following more specific focus themes for pilot activities to be supported by the European Youth Foundation in 2019:
1. Access to rights
a) Initiatives combating gender inequalities and gender-based violence.
b) Initiatives advocating access to rights for young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
c) Activities promoting critical thinking and media literacy.
2. Youth participation and youth work
a) Activities supporting young people’s political awareness, active citizenship, civil involvement, participation and decision making at local and regional levels in co-operation with local authorities.
3. Inclusive and peaceful societies
a) Activities addressing anti-discrimination and intersectionality.
b) Activities supporting social inclusion and participation of young migrants, refugees and other vulnerable groups and involving the local communities, with priority to self-led refugee organisations.
Local projects which meet the EYF quality standards but focus on other issues while still contributing to the 2018-2019 priorities of the youth sector (please refer to the priorities for the Council of Europe’s youth sector for 2018-2019) will also be considered for support.
A pilot activity is an “intervention”, namely an activity addressing a contextual societal challenge affecting young people at local level. It should be based on innovation or on replication of best practices for example. These activities should have clear links to and an impact on the local context, contribute to the Council of Europe youth programme (please refer to the priorities for the Council of Europe’s youth sector for 2018-2019), have a clear youth work dimension and be based on non-formal education principles.
When assessing applications for pilot activities taking place in 2019, the EYF will pay particular attention to activities developed with local authorities or social services/workers, and projects involving young people trained in the European Youth Centres or presented by local NGOs supported by an international/European youth NGO.