Young advocates – it Young advocates – it is possible!is possible!

‘The experience of the EFCCA Youth Group’

This is...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

WHYWHY

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

Amsterdam Days...Amsterdam Days...

19991999

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 ONE THING TO REMEMBERREMEMBER

IBD EMERGES TIPICALLY IN A RANGE AGE OF 14 - 25 ...BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ALWAYS LIKE THAT !

Who’s Loekie ?Who’s Loekie ?

HOWHOW

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 /2HOW /2

Overcome barriers through mediation

Definition of the age-range: 18-30

Creation (2003) of a Joint Commission

2004: the EYG was born officially

ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

Vision and mission sharing

Good practices exchange

Common framework co-design

Networking (e.g. CYE)

Concrete projects development and implementation

some of the EYG some of the EYG projectsprojects

youngsters developing activities for kids:

the GAME (now available in 11 languages)

the SUMMER CAMP

POLICY MAKINGPOLICY 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 /2POLICY MAKING /2

day to day work:

EYG-Zine

dedicated space in the EFCCA GA and Board

GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE5 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 BENEFITSMUTUAL BENEFITS

Youth Point of View

Better mirror needs and peculiar visions

Dedicated services

“P - 2 - P” approach

Empowerment = > L.O.T.

MUTUAL BENEFITS / 2MUTUAL 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.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...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 ?

ACHIEVEMENTSACHIEVEMENTS

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.

ConclusionConclusion

YES, WE CAN ! if...UNITED WE STAND !