European Youth Centre Open Day (Strasbourg, 16 September 2012)
European Youth Centre
Open day on
16 September 2012
The Strasbourg European Youth Centre celebrates its forty years of existence this year. Thousands of managers and activity leaders from youth organisations in Europe and other continents are received and accommodated each year in this building for study sessions, seminars or courses. These activities have the hallmark of being decided jointly by the governments and the youth organisations. The EYC also hosts local and regional voluntary-sector activities.
Two European Youth Centres (EYC), the one in Strasbourg created in 1972 and the one in Budapest (Hungary) created in 1995, implement Council of Europe policy and programmes on youth.
These international training, convention and education centres are served by an accommodation capability and a team of educational advisers enabling them to host several thousand participants each year (300 000 in 40 years). The programmes of the Youth Centres are aimed at promoting human rights, democracy and cultural pluralism. The European Youth Foundation (EYF), with an annual budget of some 3 million euros, finances these activities.
Open day takes place on 16 September 2012 from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM, Strasbourg (Rue Pierre de Coubertin, Wacken, Tram E).
Working for Europe's future
Young people are at the centre of the Council of Europe's work. They hold the future of Europe in their hands.
For decades, young activists have been involved in protests – from the 1968 student demonstrations to today – showing their desire to have a voice in the political process. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe responded by calling for the creation of a youth centre where young people could meet, develop ideas and solutions to the problems facing them.
The Strasbourg European Youth Centre was finally created in 1972 and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Architecture
This functional contemporary construction was planned by the Norwegian architects Kjell Lund and Nils Slaatto in the late 1960s. Its present furnishings were designed by the Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen. An outstanding example of modern Scandinavian architecture, the European Youth Centre (EYC) offers an example of an austere building style focused on showing off the concrete and aluminium used. Another traditional Scandinavian feature is its sauna.
The Council of Europe has been the driving force behind youth policy and youth work in Europe for over 40 years, breaking new ground with innovative policies, approaches and educational materials.
