“Mapping of Barriers to Social Inclusion of
Young People in Vulnerable Situations”
Experts Seminar
Hosted by
Youth Partnership EU – CoE
30th -2nd October, Strasbourg 2014
Dr. Theo Gavrielides, IARS
“Erasmus+ Civil Society Cooperation”
Presentation from IARS
1. How are we; why are we here?
2. Rethinking about “Social Inclusion” – positive thinking
3. “Young People” vs “Young people in vulnerable
situations”
1. Rethinking about “barriers” and “enablers”
2. The “youth-led model”
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Social Inclusion
The EU defines social inclusion as ‘a process which
ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion
gain the opportunities and resources necessary to
participate fully in the economic, social and cultural life
and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is
considered normal in the society in which they live.
Social inclusion also ensures that vulnerable groups and
persons have greater participation in decision making
which affects their lives and that they can access their
fundamental rights’
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Disadvantage Thinking
Social youth policies and legislation fail to address young people’s needs
and realities because
Addressing youth problems instead of nurturing youth talents
Eg. Users of the youth justice system = criminals
Set measurements and targets that tailored to these “labels/problems”
Eg. Youth justice policies are measured against targets such as recidivism
To eradicate disadvantage thinking young people should be enabled to
truly participate in the civic life by influencing policies that affect them.
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Youth Participation – the IARS way
IARS youth –led programmes aim to enable young people to actively
engage in society and challenge policies and practices that affect
them by building young people’s capacity; knowledge - skills and
confidence by:
Empowering and enabling young people, particularly those with
fewer opportunities, to influence, shape and inform policy and
practices that affect them, the media and other stakeholders
Providing youth-led policy development, research and voice to the
youth-led sector and young people at local, national and European
levels.
Working with governments and statutory bodies (nationally &
European) to ensure that youth issues and the views of the youth-led
sector are heard and disseminated.
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The IARS delivery model
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IARS Strategic Aims
 Acting as a European network that enables young people and the
youth-led sector to communicate with each other, work together
and share best practice
 Piloting new ideas in order to demonstrate new models,
opportunities and emerging good practice for the benefit of young
people and the youth-led sector.
 Building bridges between young people from different communities
and countries, and encourage them to find out what unites rather
than divides them.
 Promoting inter-cultural learning and understanding and
encourage youth exchanges and voluntary services.
 Engaging young people at risk of exclusion into educational and
skills development through non-formal education, tailored training
and support programmes, provide accreditation options,
internships
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Case study 1: Youth Advisory Board
A team of young volunteers aged 15 – 25 from diverse backgrounds who
are aware of the problems facing young people in the society and who are
interested in an opportunity to do something positive about these issues.
YAB members are directly involved in IARS projects, by attending
workshops, assisting with how the projects are managed etc
The work of the YAB aims to directly influence and improve services run
by IARS, other organisations and branches of Government.
All YAB members are awarded with a certificate for their active
participation at the end of the project and they are provided with bespoke
and tailored training that will allow them to genuinely get involved in projects
and our governance.
The YAB has proved to be an excellent opportunity for young people to
get their voices heard and to address issues that are important for them.
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Case Study 2: Youth Voice Journal
The Youth Voice Journal (YVJ) is an international, multidisciplinary, peer
reviewed journal that publishes theoretical contributions and empirical
studies on issues affecting young people worldwide
It aims to;
 create knowledge and contribute to the academic literature by
publishing high quality research on issues affecting young people;
 to provide a platform for the intellectual exchange of ideas around the
globe with the aim of influencing policies and practices;
 to actively encourage and aid those young people whose voice is
rarely heard by policy makers to contribute to the journal;
 to enable young people to have their work published alongside
experts;
 and challenge issues impacting excluded young people on a European
level.
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Case study 3: 99% Campaign
• Youth led campaign and co-designed with young people, the project gives
young people a voice, enabling them to take ownership over defining the
root cause of these problems – and optimal future solution.
How
 the 99% campaign blog which is focused on the voice and thought
projection of young people. This served as a platform in which young
people from around the country could submit their blogs and articles which
were then selected by a youth editorial team;
 Bringing together young people with policy makers in constructive debates
 The 99% campaign magazine which is entirely designed edited and filled
with content by young people. It aims to get the voices of young people out
there and to connect them with the young people which it targeted with
next to no interference from outside influence.
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Case Study 4: Annual Research and Youth
Leadership Awards
Youth-led event that aims to celebrate, recognise and reward remarkable
young people who have made significant contributions to their community.
 Attended every year by 100 people
 Showcases inspirational youth projects and their impact in the community
 Creates peer role models and inspires young people to become involved
through the achievements of others.
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Thank you!
This programme is funded by the EU under the 2014-0445/001-001
agreement
Dr. Theo Gavrielides
Founder & Director, IARS
14 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road
Canada Water
London SE16 2XU, UK
T.Gavrielides@iars.org.uk
+44 (0) 20 706 44380
www.iars.org.uk
Dr. Gavrielides is also an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University
(Canada), and a Visiting Professor at Buckinghamshire New University (UK)
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