Addressing the YOUTH OF EUROPE!!!

Are you looking for something exciting and adventurous to do in your spare time? Do you think that young people aren't heard enough in modern European society? Would you like to meet people from across the continent, exchange ideas and plan projects for future generations of young people??

Then fear not, for this is the email for you!

I am emailing you as a representative of the Assembly of European Regions' Youth Team. We are an elected body of young people who represent the ideas and values of the young generation in Europe. Each year, the Assembly of European Regions (check out their website at www.aer.eu) organises a Summer School for Politicians, Regional Representatives and young people, to get to know one another and work together to understand what's going on in the world around them. This annual event is a huge opportunity for all participants to get to know one another, discuss relevant issues affecting them in their area, and plan how these issues can be overcome in the future.

Even more exciting than this.... Each year, all of the young people participating, a.k.a. AER Youth Ambassadors, elect a new youth team who will represent their thoughts and ideas at various events across the continent. These elected members of the AER Youth Team work with the AER's committees, really working to get young people's voices heard and to make a difference for both their own regions and others.

The AER Youth Team has been hugely successful so far, travelling far and wide, meeting important politicians and big decision-makers, and really making an impact on the Regions of Europe.

Elections are due to take place this August at our annual Summer School, and we're inviting YOU to participate and stand for election. We have four places on offer, and two are for the South - that means YOU could be elected to represent the South of Europe at vast international events!!!

Want more information? Please feel free to contact me, it's really important the South are heard as much as the rest of Europe, and you could really be making a difference in what goes on.

Thanks for your time, and feel free to drop me an email with any questions on how to sign up!

Claire Bridges

President, AER Youth Team

Elections to the AER Youth Team

The AER Youth Team is a unique structure to involve young people in the work of an international organisation. The AER Youth Team members have the opportunity to give input to the AER’s work to make contributions and to make the voice of young people heard among the European regions. Every year, at the YSS, all the AER Youth Ambassadors elect the AER Youth Team for the next two years. These elected Youth Team members then become the representatives on youth issues in the AER and meet regularly in Europe to coordinate their activities. The 7 members of Youth Team 2007/2008 were elected at the AER Youth Summer School in Exeter (Devon, GB) on 30 August 2007. Soon after their election, they adopted their mandate working programme and the Statute of the AER Youth Team on 10 November 2007 in Udine (Itlay).

The strategy and activities of the Youth Team are based on three levels: regional (they promote the AER’ projects at regional level, involve in the organisation of the AER events and offer assistance to the youngsters in their region), European (by participating and encouraging young people from European regions to participate in projects conducted at European level and by staying in contact with European institutions: CoE, EU, or associations dealing with youth matters) and inter-AER (cooperation between the Youth Team members and all AER committees). In 2008, young people involved in the Youth Team activities will be working on Youth and Alcohol Project, Innovation Conference, AER Youth Innovation Award and AER Youth Most Friendly Region. For more details, please see: aeryouth.tk

 The Youth Team members are elected for a period of two years. To ensure both continuity and renewal over time, half of the members elected will be replaced. All participants of the Youth Summer School will participate in the voting process (expected number of participants: 60).

 The Youth Team also decided to continue as a team, and they appointed a coordinator for the work. For each Youth Team meeting, a President is appointed among the young members of the Youth Team.

In order for Youth Summer School participants to be considered for election to the Youth Team, they must therefore first gain the permission of their regions. Candidates should be between 18 and 24 years old, at the time of the 2008 Youth Summer School.

Youth Summer School participants who are interested in standing for election, and who have gained the permission of their region to do so, are asked to complete the declaration of intent overleaf. The eligible young person should not stand as a private person, but as far as possible represent a broader group of young people in their region (e.g. county councils etc).

This year there three vacant places: two from Southern Europe and one from Eastern Europe.To be a candidate you should register for the 2008 Youth Summer School and you should fill a Declaration. If you are interested, please fill the Declaration of Intent to Stand as an eligible Youth Candidate and send your candidature till 15th August 2008 to: 

Malgorzata Kucinska
AER Youth and Citizenship Officer
Mail: youth.officer@aer.eu
Tel.: 00 33 3 88 22 74 32
Fax.: 0033369201319

Declaration of Intent to Stand as an eligible Youth Candiatate