European Year of Youth
It was in 1983 that the European Parliament proclaimed the first European Year by means of
a Directive. Through this kind of campaign, the European Union seeks to enrich the
awareness of its citizens on a specific theme that has a direct impact on their lives. In 1983,
the European Year had an economic theme, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) and the craft sector; this year, the theme chosen is skills.
From 9 May - Europe Day - until 8 May 2024, various events and activities will be held
throughout the European Union to promote the acquisition of vocational skills and to help the
business sector to address the weaknesses related to vocational skills.
Since last year, our partnerships network, through the Meteversing Project, has been aligned
with the goals of the most recent European Days campaigns: the European Year of Youth and
the European Year of Skills.
The European Year of Youth aimed to involve young people in shaping the future of Europe
and to integrate their perspective into policy-making at local, regional, national and EU
levels. The main ambition of the EYY was to put young people at the center of the stage, to
increase their participation, to listen to what they have to say and to act accordingly.
The 4 objectives of the European Year of Youth:
1. To renew positive perspectives for young people, highlighting the opportunities
offered by the environmental and digital transitions.
2. To support young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, to become active
and engaged citizens and agents of change.
3. Promote opportunities for young people at all levels.
4. Promote the inclusion of a youth perspective in all relevant policies and issues. The
report will provide the EU institutions with further information on the implementation
and results of the European Year of Youth. It will provide an overview of the main
actions and activities carried out in the framework of the Year.
To support the objectives of the European Youth Year and to amplify this dialogue and
foster a sense of connection, the Metaversing Project spearheaded a series of events
dedicated to disseminating the European Year of Youth. These events harnessed the
power of the Metaverse, creating immersive and interactive virtual spaces where young
individuals could not only express their thoughts but also actively participate in shaping
the discourse surrounding their future.
Our main objective was to provide a platform for meaningful conversations, where
young people's voices were heard, and making them active citizens, both in their
community and in the virtual world. The events addressed various aspects of the
challenges facing young people, from education and employment to mental health and
social well-being.
As we embarked on this journey within the Metaverse, young people from diverse
backgrounds joined us in shaping the narrative of the European Year of Youth. Together,
we built a future that reflected the aspirations and resilience of the younger generations.