Young Voices

In Ireland the EU Youth Dialogue is delivered by NYCI through the Young Voices programme

By using dynamic and innovative approaches in our engagement with young people and those who work with them we fulfil the objectives of the EU Youth Dialogue.
Encouraging participation, promoting equal participation, including diverse voices, strengthening young peoples citizenship competences and sense of belonging and ultimately bringing about positive change.

What is Young Voices?

Young Voices is implemented by NYCI in partnership with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the National Working Group on EU Youth Dialogue.

Young Voices is a programme that offers ongoing opportunities for young people from age sixteen to thirty years who have an interest in change making.

Within the flow of the 18 month cycle of the EU Presidency we work on thematic areas that are impacting on young people across the EU.

Our challenge is to explore the issues, consult as many young people as possible and ultimately to propose actions that might have a positive outcome for young people at EU and National level.

The mission of Young Voices

  • To create a better future by empowering young people to influence decision making.
  • To develop connections between young people, communities and decision makers.
  • To connect, empower, represent, change and make a difference!

How does it work?

Young Voices has a very dynamic approach to how it engages with young people.

We organise events, arrange meetings, deliver presentations, offer outreach and make submissions to decision makers through national structures within the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures National Policy framework for children and young people (BOBF).

We send delegates to the EU Youth Conference where our ideas, experiences and analysis are combined with young people from across the EU to influence policy at European level.

We offer online consultations, we facilitate workshops and dialogue with policy makers, we host international seminars, deliver residential training courses and send delegates to national and European events.

Click on the image above to see our Prezi explaining how Young Voices works

What has it achieved?

Check out the publications section to see the wide variety of outcomes that have been delivered through the work of Young Voices.

Here you will find many consultations with young people developed as part of the EU Youth Dialogue – Young Voices process.

Watch the video to see what some of the Young People involved in Young Voices think!

Support to engage in Consultation:

WE NEED YOUTH – Inclusive Societies

Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue Consultation

The current Cycle of EU Youth Dialogue is focusing on EU Youth Goal #3 “Inclusive Societies”. Young people across Europe will be consulted on the barriers to and opportunities for more Inclusive Societies; enable and ensure the inclusion of all young people in society . The National Youth Council of Ireland is rolling out the conversations in Ireland and as always we place a high value on the contributions of a wide and diverse cohort of young people. We have designed workshops, trainings and resources for youth workers to support them to ensure their young people’s voices are included.

Support for Youth Workers/Leaders

Youth Participation Tool

New Tool for Youth Empowerment & Youth Participation!

Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue virtual showcase

A Gallery to celebrate the magnificent work of Young Voices and its contribution to positive change in Ireland and the EU

Videos

Creating Opportunities for Youth – National Youth Council of Ireland

Moving Rural Youth Forward: Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue consultation on Opportunities for Youth

This video captures some of the ideas from young people on moving rural youth forward. It was part of a consultation with young people in Ireland on Opportunities for Youth through the Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue process. See the full report from the consultation here Creating Opportunities for Youth – National Youth Council of Ireland.

What is Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue: Young Voices is a programme that offers ongoing opportunities for young people from age sixteen to thirty years who have an interest in change making.

Within the flow of the 18 month cycle of the EU Presidency we work on thematic areas that are impacting on young people across the EU. Our challenge is to explore the issues, consult as many young people as possible and ultimately to propose actions that might have a positive outcome for young people at EU and National level.

Young people taking part in Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue on the importance of the Youth Voice and taking part in the Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue process. The event was part of a consultation with young people in Ireland on Opportunities for Youth through the Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue process. See the full report from the consultation here.

I Feel I Have Been Heard: Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue consultation on Opportunities for Youth

I have a Voice

Young Voices on Diversity and Inclusion

Young Voices News

Virtual Showcase of STEAM in Youth Work

Get inspired by what other youth groups are doing    Over the past two years, NYCI has been supporting groups to explore how STEAM can be […]

Youth Residential on Empowerment & Participation

Residential bringing Young Voices together for young people from 16-30yrs. This event is a two-night residential taking place in Kippure Estate, Wicklow from the 28th- 30th of October 2022. Collection at 1pm Dublin, departure Sunday after lunch.

New interactive online module on international youth work

The National Youth Council of Ireland have partnered with Léargas and Maynooth University to develop a new interactive online module on international youth work, being launched today (25/6/21) at the What's the Story? […]

Young Voices Publications

This is Young Voices. A model of youth democratic engagement

The Young Voices programme at the National Youth Council of Ireland, with oversight from the National Working Group on EU Youth Dialogue, undertook a qualitative evaluation of the Young Voices programme.

Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue Consultation ‘Space for Democracy and Participation’

The Cycle of EU Youth Dialogue was on EU Youth Goal #9 “Space and participation for all”. Young people across Europe were consulted on “Space for […]

Space and Participation for All – Report Draft

This report was compiled from the initial findings from an evaluation of the Young Voices – EU Youth Dialogue process in Ireland to accompany a presentation […]