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Young advocates – it is possible!. ‘The experience of the EFCCA Youth Group’. This is... . the story of a journey but, above all, a dream that became an amazing, concrete, experience the story of the EYG and also...a personal experience. WHY.
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Young advocates – it is possible! • ‘The experience of the EFCCA Youth Group’
This is... • the story of a journey • but, above all, a dream that became an amazing, concrete, experience • the story of the EYG • and also...a personal experience
WHY • Several youngster group were established in some National Association • The German team thought to invite representatives from other countries, in order to exchange views • And so...Once upon a time, in 1998: the first EFCCA Youth Meeting in Erlangen is the beginning of our story. • The tremendous success led to the second meeting, in Amsterdam, held in 1999 and still funded by a National Association
1999 • 50 participants • 12 countries • a fantastic environment • a participant with an idea: to creat a “commission” inside EFCCA for discussing problems related to young people with IBD • one year later: the youngsters spontaneously started using the name “LOEKIE COMMITTEE”
ONE THING TO REMEMBER • IBD EMERGES TIPICALLY IN A RANGE AGE OF 14 - 25 ...BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ALWAYS LIKE THAT !
HOW • NOT AN EASY NEGOTIATION • ECTIC REACTIONS • SKEPTICISM (are they going to resist ?) • GENERATIONAL GAP EMERGES • TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS (internet was not that developed...and we had analogic modems)
HOW /2 • Overcome barriers through mediation • Definition of the age-range: 18-30 • Creation (2003) of a Joint Commission • 2004: the EYG was born officially
ACTIVITIES • Vision and mission sharing • Good practices exchange • Common framework co-design • Networking (e.g. CYE) • Concrete projects development and implementation
some of the EYG projects • youngsters developing activities for kids: • the GAME (now available in 11 languages) • the SUMMER CAMP
POLICY MAKING • Preparatory work: • 2 team bulding meetings • 2 focus groups on group management and leadership • quarterly meetings • EYM as key moment of EYG activity
POLICY MAKING /2 • day to day work: • EYG-Zine • dedicated space in the EFCCA GA and Board
GOVERNANCE • 5 youngsters (+ 2 subst.) elected indipendently by the youth delegates at the annual EYM • in charge for 3 years (1 for subst.) • direct management of an annual budget approved by EFCCA GA • considered as a special “EFCCA group” • EYG leader can participate in the EFCCA Board
MUTUAL BENEFITS • Youth Point of View • Better mirror needs and peculiar visions • Dedicated services • “P - 2 - P” approach • Empowerment = > L.O.T.
MUTUAL BENEFITS / 2 • EFCCA perspective: • Possibility of better meet needs of a key target of the disease • Some “generational” problem • Increased use of communication tools • Investing in our future => L.O.T.
L.O.T. • Leaders of Tomorrow program • teaching how the organization work • providing tools and resources • provinding a fertile environment for creativity • learning from each other • exchanging weaknesses and strenght
and... • feeding the new generation of volunteers and leaders (motivated, skilled and inspired) • paving the way towards our handover • spending much less than you can imagine !!!! • does it work ?
ACHIEVEMENTS • 14/48 EFCCA delegates have attended at least one EYM meeting • 4/8 member of the EFCCA Board have been in the L.O.T. program • the actual chairman of EFCCA founded the EYG and led it for 6 years.
Conclusion • YES, WE CAN ! if...UNITED WE STAND !