About Eurodesk
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Eurodesk is a European youth information network created in 1990. As a support organisation to Erasmus+, Eurodesk makes information on learning mobility comprehensive and accessible to young people and those who work with them.
With a network of 38 Eurodesk Centres connected to local information providers in 36 European countries, Eurodesk raises awareness on European opportunities and encourages young people to become active citizens. Eurodesk federates over 3000 so-called “multipliers and ambassadors” that are regional or local organisations working with young people, delivering youth information and advising young people on mobility opportunities.
To ensure the quality of services in all 36 countries, Eurodesk offers its members quality training and support, and access to youth information services and tools.
About Eurodesk
Eurodesk is administered by an Executive Committee (EEC) consisting of at least 5 and at most 7 Executive Committee members, of whom one is the President. The EEC is the governing body of the network with a mandate to plan the direction which the organisation should take, and the activities and campaigns it should carry out both at European and at national level.
The members of the EEC also have a role in building partnerships with other organisations, whenever it is in the benefit of Eurodesk.
Eurodesk Brussels Link (EBL) is the coordinating body of the network and also the managing body of the Eurodesk brand. Its role is to give support in carrying out the mission of Eurodesk in the different countries and facilitate communication about the ongoing projects both internally and to the public.
EBL therefore regularly issues publications and initiates and coordinates European level campaigns and activities that are then carried out in the 36 Eurodesk countries. EBL also provides first-hand European information on youth mobility as well as tools for training, information management, quality assessment and communication to the Eurodesk officers in the various countries.
EBL supports the European Commission in developing and maintaining the European Youth Portal, regularly editing European contents, assessing the quality of Eurodesk national centres and giving them technical support.
There are 39 Eurodesk national coordinating offices (3 in Belgium) in which national coordinators work together to carry out Eurodesk's mission at national level. National coordinators provide support to multipliers to organise their events, as well as channel youth information to them. At national level, the coordinators manage the European Youth Portal, and organise national events and campaigns.
National coordinators release publications and communication materials whenever it is appropriate. Some national coordinators communicate regularly to young people through events, some do not. This depends on the national structure they work in. In any case, national coordinators answer the enquiries received from young people from the same country.
There are over 1155 Eurodesk multipliers and over 1858 Eurodesk Ambassadors in 36 countries all over Europe. Multipliers are local organisations (e.g. youth centres, associations, municipalities) but despite their variety, their core mission remain the same. As one of the most important tasks within the structure, multipliers maintain a face-to-face connection with young people through events and campaigns they organise. Multipliers are the body in the system who make sure that the mobility information collected in the network reaches young people who then through the work of multipliers receive youth information and counselling based on their personal profiles.
Partnerships
Eurodesk, the European Youth Card Association (EYCA) and the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA) are three European organisations committed to promote quality youth information services, youth mobility, and to foster young people’s autonomy and active participation in society.
The three information and support networks have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 September 2016 in Brussels in order to strengthen their cooperation.
As a concrete follow up, the three organisations have published a joint position paper “Engage. Inform. Empower.” on the role of learning mobility and youth information in the framework of the EU Youth Strategy.
EYCA, ERYICA and Eurodesk have also been involved in the joint project 'Reach More Young People: Promotion of Youth Work and Youth Information Services', from January to June 2017.
The project aimed at broadening understanding of practices and policies in youth work and youth information internationally and at enhancing the modernisation and effectiveness of youth work and youth information services.
A joint training was organised in Brussels on 5-7 April 2017, and a collection of good practices was produced to showcase innovative examples of how to reach out and engage young people.
The European Platform on Learning Mobility (EPLM) is a network coordinated by the European Union - Council of Europe Youth Partnership. It focuses on the learning mobility of young people and practitioners in the youth field.
Eurodesk is a member of the EPLM steering group. The group consists of researchers, policy makers and practitioners.
Learning mobility in this framework aims to increase participation, active citizenship, intercultural learning and dialogue, individual competency development and employability of young people.
In 2016, the EPLM released a Charter on Quality Framework for Learning Mobility in the Youth Field.
Eurodesk and Salto Participation and Information Resource Centre (Salto PI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in February 2019. The aim is to reinforce the cooperation and build synergies, and more particularly to foster a more strategic approach to communicating EU programmes to young people.
To that purpose, Eurodesk and Salto PI will develop and implement joint initiatives such as working groups, seminars and training sessions as well as share and disseminate information about their respective activities/initiatives.
In 2020, Eurodesk and Salto PI released a joint Communication Hub with resources for Eurodesk coordinators and NA communication officers. Joint webinars on communication hot topics are also regularly organised.
Eurodesk works hand in hand with the European Commission on various initiatives targeting young people, including the European Youth Portal and the European Youth Week. It is also an observer of the EU Youth Dialogue, a dialogue mechanism between young people and decision makers taking place in the framework of the EU Youth Strategy. It aims to ensure that the opinion, views and needs of young people and youth organisations are taken into account when defining the EU's youth policies.
Eurodesk also works with the European Parliament, and its youth outreach unit in particular, on key events such as the European Youth Event (EYE) taking place every 2 years. This biannual event gives young people from all over Europe and beyond the opportunity to get involved in the European project and to play an active role in shaping its future.
Eurodesk History
It all started in 1990... Get to know the story behind our organisation!
The mission of Eurodesk
is to raise awareness among young people on mobility opportunities and to encourage them to become active citizens.
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