REPORT FORM
3nd round of National Consultations of the Structured Dialogue
Period: Trio Presidency Poland-Denmark-Cyprus
DEADLINE: Wednesday, 15th of August 2012.
Please find below a report form allowing your National Working Group to communicate the results of
the national consultation to the European Steering Committee. The input you will provide through
this form will serve as a common base for the discussions at EU level.
In order to allow the European Steering Committee to integrate the results of the national
consultations in preparation for the EU Youth Conference in Cyprus, we kindly ask you to please send
this report form filled in to the European Steering Committee for the implementation of the structured
dialogue (mail to: [email protected], Cc. [email protected]) and to your
national government by Wednesday, 15th of August 2012.
The European Steering Committee kindly asks you to fill out this form in English and return it in
typed format (not as a PDF file, please).
Technical details of the consultation:
Please provide the requested information on your National Working Group:
Details of the contact persons:
Name
Ana Tomšič, Kamal Izidor Shaker (National Youth Council of
Slovenia)
E-mail address
[email protected]
Institution
National Youth Council of Slovenia (MSS)
Position
Project worker for structured dialogue and the President of
National Youth Council of Slovenia
EU Member State
Slovenia
Members of the National Working Group (number and names)
Youth Organisations
Not formally established NWG!
- National Youth Council of Slovenia (MSS): Nina Milenković Kikelj,
Vesna Miloševič, Franci Bačar, Ana Tomšič, Kamal Izidor Shaker
National Authorities
Not formally established NWG!
- Office of the Republic of Slovenia for the Youth (URSM) at the
Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MIZKŠ): Barbara
Zupan, Peter Debeljak
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National Agencies
/
Others
The National Working Group was not formally established. We
have cooperated with youth organizations, profession (experts)
and the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for the Youth (URSM) at
the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MIZKŠ).
Level of the consultation (national, regional, local)
National
Yes
Regional
No
Just before Cyprus presidency we finished with regional and
national two days events of structural dialogue on the theme of
Denmark presidency with the focus on employability and youth
participation. This is the reason that we did not have time and
other resources to implement another project on regional level
with Cyprus theme.
The problem is also that themes and guiding questions of president
country are not known on time for us. To implement the project
with constructive meetings in all regions (12) means that we need
to get a financial support for each period separately, to prepare a
working team to run them, to get participants and to coordinate all
the partners included.
Local
No
Just before Cyprus presidency we finished with regional and
national two days events of structural dialogue on the theme of
Denmark presidency with the focus on employability and youth
participation. This is the reason that we did not have time and
other resources to implement another project on regional level
with Cyprus theme.
The problem is also that themes and guiding questions of president
country are not known on time for us. To implement the project
with constructive meetings in all regions (12) means that we need
to get a financial support for each period separately, to prepare a
working team to run them, to get participants and to coordinate all
the partners included.
Methodology
e-questionnaire for the youth, for national youth organizations
and for profession
The e-questionnaire for youth consisted of 11 quite short
questions that were adopted to be as youth-friendly as possible.
The e-questionnaire was sent via different channels to reach
unorganized youth as well as organized youth (through member
organizations’ mailing lists and via personal e-mails, publishing on
web-pages, publishing on social networks such as Facebook, etc.).
The e-questionnaire for youth organizations and researchers
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consisted of 7 open questions.
The reason for e-questionnaire is the time limit we were
confronted with. At the moment we were not capable to realize
the whole process of structural dialogue in live with youth and
decision makers on both, local/regional and national level. In 2011
and 2012 we did a great and big project named “Dialog mladih!”
(Youth dialogue!), which has been really accepted among all
partners and among youth and was realized on local, regional and
national level and brought amazing results. But we do not have
enough recourse (finance, personnel) to run that kind of events
twice a year. Additionally, we also don’t know the topics and
focuses of next youth conference on time which prevents us to
apply projects on different programmes to get additional financial
support (e.g. Youth in action programme). However, usually there
are only few (e.g. three) months to plan, organize, realize, evaluate
and conclude the real process of structural dialogue on each topic
which is in our case impossible (for fieldwork and getting good
results and ideas from youth).
Suggestions/best practices
Better timing (EU conference can be organized later not directly
after summer season of vacations)
Youth friendly questions (questions were too similar to each other
and too focus on immigrants)
Best practice “Dialog mladih!” (Youth dialogue!) run by National
Youth council of Slovenia and Youth Network MaMa
(topic of Denmark presidency)
National project “DIALOG MLADIH” established space, possibility
and support for young people from all over Slovenia (more than
670 young people were actively involved) to actively participate in
discussion on theme participation trough creativity and innovation
with the focus on employability.
We addressed the most crucial challenges that young people were
facing in each local community on participation in democratic life.
Project further developed to regional two days meetings (12) with
representatives of young people from local level to discuss and
prepare recommendation for national level how to support young
people’s participation. Everything has been connected with youth
work and participation of young people.
Representatives from regional events then presented challenges
from local youth and tried to influence national policies concerning
youth unemployment working together with national decision
makers on national event. National event took place in Brežice
where young people and other representatives of other interested
parties of the project from all over Slovenia gathered and together
defined measures to answer challenges that young people
addressed. Third day all participants went to Ljubljana, the capital
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of Slovenia, to present their actions and measures to members of
parliament and other decision makers. We all gather in the
Parliament of Slovenia which was the first event that youth came
in it with constructive suggestions. The results were presented to
decision makers and have been published in publication of the
project.
The main goal of project was therefore the possibility for young
people from local community from all over Slovenia to actively
participate and send strong message to the decision makers, that
they want to be involved and want to influence policy making that
influence them and that decision makers should support youth
organisations and organisations working with and for youth.
The project really got positive effects from all the partners:
Employment Service of Slovenia, members of Parliament,
representatives from Ministries, mayor and representatives from
municipalities, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia,
youth organizations and organizations working with and for youth,
youth and other.
The project was oriented also to include socially excluded young
people. Approximately half of the youth participants were
unemployed for longer period, besides we run events on different
locations where also young people from remote areas were easier
included.
Estimated number of young people 140 (directly), 19141 (indirectly)
participating
in
the
overall
consultation
Estimated number of young people 19141 (pondered number including the answers of the
represented in the results of the representatives of the representative national organizations and
consultation
member organization of the National Youth Council of Slovenia).
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. Youth Participation leading to Social Inclusion
Empowering every young person to fulfill his/her potential to participate actively at local, regional,
national and European level is an essential factor for the achievement of greater social inclusion1 and
for the sound, sustainable and democratic functioning of our societies.
Participation means more than just turning up at elections. There is a wide variety of forms of
participation (Council Resolution on “Encouraging new and effective forms of participation of all
young people in democratic life in Europe” 2011), some of them pertaining to the category which can
Social inclusion is a process which ensures that those at risk of social exclusion gain the opportunities and
resources necessary to participate fully in 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. It ensures that they have a greater
participation in decision-making that affects their lives and access to their fundamental rights.
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be labeled as non-conventional/alternative forms of participation2. In a broader sense, and for the
scope of this questionnaire, youth participation is about young people having the right, the means,
the space, the opportunity and where necessary the support to freely express their views; it is about
being heard and being able to influence decisions; it is about having the competences and motivation
to engage in actions and activities which contribute to the building of a better society.
Although the need for the provision of equal opportunities in all fields, for all young people is widely
accepted, at the same time, it is observed that there are certain circumstances which prevent the
participation of specific groups of young people such as young people with migrant background3.
These circumstances take the form of obstacles which prevent these young people from participating
(or, in certain occasions, lead them to choosing not to participate). The successful integration of young
people with migrant background in the wider society is not only a pre-condition for democratic
participation and for social cohesion, but also a dynamic and continuous two-way process of mutual
accommodation. With increasing migration into and within an already quite culturally differentiated
EU and with a high proportion of this immigration from countries whose social and political cultures
are significantly different, there is an urgent need to strengthen policies that enhance the
participation and lead to social inclusion of young people with migrant background.
1. a. What are the main obstacles preventing social inclusion of young people with migrant
background?
b. What actions and measures can be adopted at local / regional / national and European level
to encourage the social inclusion of young people with migrant background?
Youth highlight the main obstacles to social inclusion of young people with migrant backgrounds,
which are often interlaced:
- maintenance of the dominant ideology,
- closed and not so efficient education system regarding integration young people with
migrant background and minorities,
- lack of knowledge of the language of the country in which immigrants or foreigners reside,
- learning problems and poorer academic success,
- difficulties with social integration,
- lower social status,
- poorly developed social network,
- lower economic status, often associated with poverty,
- less skilled labor and the exploitation of immigrant labor,
- narrow-minded society,
- social intolerance, a lot of stereotypes,
- Slovenian society is full of prejudice and is very reserved to foreigners,
- cultural differences, varied customs and traditions,
- faith,
"Conventional methods" of participation refer to elections, organizational membership, voting etc and "nonconventional/alternative" methods include for example participation to demonstrations.
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Young people with migrant background are young persons living in an EU country where they were not born,
irrespective of whether they are third-country nationals, citizens of another EU Member State or subsequently
became nationals of the host Member State. Many experts in the field stress that for people with migrant
background, immigration plays a key role in their biography whether they or their parents migrated. In those
cases where these people are not included, represented or accepted in the mainstream society, the migrant
background is perceived to be negative.
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5
-
different behavior, style, appearance of immigrants,
media that promotes stereotypes of foreigners and immigrants,
impunity of hostile speech,
historical context,
inflexibility of foreigners in the new environment and culture.
Some of them argue that young people with migrant backgrounds are already properly integrated
into society and do not perceive major obstacles to their integration in society.
Young people suggest next proposal to promote social inclusion:
- compulsory language course upon arrival in a new country,
- a course of the state symbols and basics in history of new country,
- support for immigrants and minorities during the regular education system (additional
educational support, adapted learning process of languages etc.),
- encouraging immigrants to become more involved in youth structures and other forms of
active participation,
- encouraging immigrants to become involved in volunteer activities,
- encouraging immigrants to participate in international exchange and other international
projects,
- adaption of young people with migrant backgrounds to the culture and habits of the country
where they live,
- focus on educating the public on topics related to migration and migrants and social
inclusion.
At the local level state institutions should provide better conditions for the integration of immigrants
and not work only on formalities and papers. This could be achieved e.g. through the integration
among schools and youth structures and other non-governmental organizations or through
connecting schools with migrant families.
At the national level appropriate legal solutions for effective implementation of laws in practice are
necessary. The interconnection of all types of institutions (government and non-government) is
recommended.
The experts also list the numerous obstacles, such as social (formal and informal) exclusion,
structural barriers, institutional exclusion, unemployment, lack of education, religious and cultural
discrimination, lower economic status and exclusion on the basis of material goods. They are warning
on a major problem related to immigrants at the level of education, such as access to education
promotion, which is also connected to the labor market access and promotion in the workplace.
Although the legislation is formally regulated young people from so called “third countries” and
foreigners in general are often discriminated.
Profession sees the solution in educational system’s completion, especially towards the trainings for
staff, expansion of personnel, enhancing plus implementing of initial and additional assistance to
foreigners, working with parents and similar. In addition they highlight the promotion of nongovernmental organizations to develop programs (together with young people), which would involve
youth in various activities. The consequence would be a better self-esteem, broader social network,
the opportunity for mobilities and greater social inclusion. It is also important to declare themes
regarding immigrants and hostile speech in public life.
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Moreover, in seeking for appropriate solutions it is urgent to result from already existent
observations and practical work which are good practices in real life. One of important observation
while working with immigrants is that young people with migrant backgrounds often do not want to
stand out, they actually feel good on neutral "gray" field.
2. a. What are the main forms of discrimination of young people with migrant background in your
country?
b. What measures can be adopted at local / regional / national and European level to combat
their discrimination?
Through national consultations youth detected the following forms of discrimination against young
people with migrant backgrounds and other socially excluded young people:
- discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and nationality,
- discrimination on undeveloped language skills and undeveloped social network,
- difficulties with integration into society,
- verbal abuse and openly labeling of young people with migrant backgrounds as inferior,
- contempt of immigrants and migrant families from the majority population,
- confronting immigrants and migrant families to the situation of inferiority,
- to attribute criminal offenses and misdemeanors to minorities, including immigrants,
- limited access to voluntary work by immigrants, as volunteering is more and more a privilege
that not everybody can afford it,
- discrimination because of bureaucracy, where communication is difficult due to unfamiliarity
with legal procedures, language, manner of work (forms etc.)
Young people have suggested the following measures to compete with discrimination against young
people with migrant backgrounds:
- Slovenia and each European country need to recognize and to increase the role of nongovernmental organizations (including youth organizations) by promoting and providing
proper financial conditions for their operation,
- there is the need to reduce and adjust bureaucracy in the way to have detailed instructions
for foreigners in different language, more simple forms in different languages, minor
dispersion by different institutions, the office for foreigners on the principle of “all in one”
place, including counselor,
- it is urgent to establish and strengthen the system of language teaching for immigrants
(greater dispersion of language courses across the country, to fulfill the system by the
program based on volunteers),
- to include more team work within the formal educational contexts,
- to increase the role of the ombudsman for human rights.
Profession recognizes most forms of discrimination as young people did: difficult access to education
and labor market, gender, ethnic, national, religious, medical, social and economic discrimination.
The emphasis is on learning disability of mother tongue and foreign language – although there is a
strategy, the process is not carried out properly. There are a lot of prejudices, racisms and
stereotypes present, which strongly influence on integration of immigrants and other foreigners at all
levels of their life. They are looking for solutions within the government and nongovernment
organizations, with an emphasis on different inclusive activities and methods already in the
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preschool and school age. In any case, it is important to consistently implement the directives and
regulations on national and international level and to sanction discriminatory behavior.
3. a. How can the solidarity between youth with migrant background and non-migrants be
strengthened?
b. How can the intercultural awareness of all young people be developed?
Youth says that we can strengthen and develop solidarity and intercultural dialogue in different
ways:
- by promoting cooperation in various (project) activities, which are including young people
who come from different backgrounds,
- through the participation of diverse profiles of young people (and young people with migrant
background) on international projects (such as international exchange),
- through the importance of the openness of youth organizations for inclusion of all young
people, including young people with migrant backgrounds and from minority groups,
- through greater promotion and information on the topic of integration of immigrants and
social inclusion,
- through education, trainings, promotion, workshops, round tables, sporting and cultural
events, exchanges of knowledge and skills, discussion groups, social games, trips and other
similar activities,
- by international exchanges of all young people (both natives and immigrants) that they gain
experience living in a foreign environment,
- by making changes within the formal education system, for example to make mixed classes in
schools, to include peer to peer education and learning assistance, to include the method
“Theater of the oppressed”, to run a program for university students actively cooperating
with high school students and schoolchildren etc.,
- using remuneration to promote social integration in the workplace,
- by increasing the role of the Ombudsman for Human Rights,
- by connecting immigrants between each other through their embassy.
In addition, young people strongly advocate that the state should devote more financial resources to
strengthen the NGO sector, which is often most effective to deal with current challenges of society.
Within the non-governmental organizations a systemic arrangement with a clear vision is necessary.
The clear vision is important especially for youth organizations and organizations working with and
for youth as they are really flexible and they quickly respond to the needs of society and they work
directly with young people. The vision of youth organizations and organizations working with and for
youth should involve an important part for supporting and achieving non-organized youth and
socially excluded young people with the aim to find a proper ways to incorporate them into society.
Youth organizations and organizations working with and for youth should focus on different groups
of young people, where it is extremely important and necessary to strengthen and to train the youth
workers for working with young people with fewer opportunities, especially with socially excluded
youth (immigrants, minorities, foreigners and other). At the same time, the state need to take care
for all young people, as all young people today face the challenges of social integration (e.g. jobs,
housing problems)!
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4. a. What are the main obstacles preventing the participation of young people with migrant
background at local / regional / national and European level?
b. What measures could be adopted / implemented at all levels to encourage their participation,
including in decision-making4?
The main obstacles preventing the participation of young people with migrant backgrounds,
including decision making process are:
- lack of language knowledge of the country in which they reside,
- learning problems and poorer academic success,
- difficulties with social integration,
- lower social status,
- poorly developed social network,
- lower economic status, often associated with poverty,
- less skilled labor and the exploitation of immigrant labor,
- historical context,
- poor knowledge of the voting system,
- being uninformed and lack of understanding of information due to unfamiliarity with the
foreign language,
- lack of interest for (any) changes.
To encourage the participation and integration of young people with migrant backgrounds youth
represent the following steps:
- to promote the involvement of representatives of immigrants in decision making processes
(some young people agree with that, other do not),
- compulsory language course upon arrival in new country, a course about the state symbols
and basics in history of new country, a course about voting system and possibilities to
actively include in it,
- to encourage young people with migrant background to become involved in youth structures
and other forms of active participation,
- to encourage young people with migrant background to become involved in volunteer
activities,
- to encourage young people with migrant background to participate in international (youth)
activities.
At the national level appropriate legal solutions for effective implementation of laws in practice are
necessary. The interconnection of all types of institutions (government and non-government) is
recommended.
Profession lists more or less the same answers as the above presented by youth. Moreover, they
both add that the whole group of young people needs to be treated as a homogenous group, without
Decision making refers to the active involvement and active engagement of young people in the societies they
live in, both individually and collectively (youth organizations). It also refers to the exercise of substantial
influence over the conditions of their own lives and the lives of others in the immediate local and wider regional,
national, European, international level.
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any exposure to certain groups! The support must be given to all young people! Giving a support to
specific groups of young people leads to exclusion of the other participants of youth from society.
5. What good practices does your country / region / community / organization use to boost social
inclusion and participation of all young people? What good practices concern young people
with migrant background specifically?
Young people presented many good and successful projects aimed at promoting social inclusion in
society. At this point we combine best practices by programs, topics and way of realization without
specific descriptions of individual projects (it is the synthesis of numerous projects where are young
people in Slovenia taking an active role in the field of social inclusion):
- Programs: Erasmus Programme (study exchanges), Youth in Action Programme (international
exchanges, European Voluntary Service, meeting young people and those responsible for
youth policy, etc.), European Social Fund (youth networks).
- Topics: minorities, foreigners, migrants, Roma, Muslims, victims of war, migration, social
integration among children, adolescents and adults with special needs, physically
handicapped people and people for reasons of health, autism, disabilities, tolerance,
intercultural dialogue, stereotypes, tobacco and drugs, young mothers and pregnant
students, young people and young people with fewer opportunities.
- Way of realization: festivals, charity concerts, workshops, publications, intergenerational
participation, care and support to individuals, learning assistance. A number of projects have
been carried out in cooperation with youth organizations and other non-governmental
organizations, schools, day centers, social work centers, retirement homes, the Red Cross,
humanitarian organizations, academic institutes etc.
Profession mentions some good practices, e.g. an extra hour of learning the new language for
foreigners (in schools), summer language course for foreigners, good (mostly voluntary) cooperation
with some schools, association and individuals in this field.
2. Support of Youth and Youth NGOs and recognition of their work and contribution
Young people and youth organizations should/need to be involved in the development,
implementation and evaluation of all policies especially the ones which affect them. By taking into
account the voice of young people in decision making and in the shaping of policies, more meaningful
and sustainable solutions pertaining to the challenges young people face, as well as to various societal
problems can be found.
Youth organizations’ role is to provide a concrete representation of the interests of young people.
Through their actions, they can support the establishment of inclusive societies where all young
people, including young people with migrant background, are supported, motivated and encouraged
to become active and engaged citizens. Furthermore, youth organizations can contribute in
promoting social inclusion strategies and in advocating for policies which enhance the participation of
young people with fewer opportunities such as young people with migrant background.
At the same time, through their participation in youth organizations, young people with migrant
background can enhance their knowledge, skills and competences. Non formal and informal learning
such as the one provided by youth organizations has a key role to play as a means of supporting their
social and economic inclusion in the wider society.
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6. How can youth organizations contribute to the social inclusion of young people in general and
those with migrant background or from other socially excluded groups in particular?
Youth organizations and their programs have to be open enough to enable the participation to all
different target groups of young people and to promote intercultural dialogue.
In addition, youth organizations need sufficiently trained staff, sufficient amount of knowledge and
experience which enable them to include youth, especially young people with fewer opportunities
(due to ignorance of the language, poorer academic achievement, smaller social networks and other
examples of social exclusion) in their activities. At this point, the practical training and educating staff
to work with (socially excluded) young people is the most important thing!
Youth organizations by their nature strongly contribute to the integration of different target groups
of young people, especially through various projects, workshops, volunteering, sports and other
activities. In the name of young people and profession we need to emphasis that we need to equally
treat all young people irrespective of their origin and other criteria - youth organizations have great
advantages, but there is enough room for improvement also.
Profession stresses that youth organizations can contribute significantly to social inclusion of young
people, but they need sufficiently trained personnel. From this perspective, they see the opportunity
in collaboration with other nongovernment organizations which have already developed effective
methods, activities and ways of working with specific target groups. Otherwise, they can help in the
field of awareness, information, activities (debates, round tables and similar activities).
7. How could youth organizations be supported in their work for the inclusion of young people in
general and those with migrant background or from other socially excluded groups in
particular?
Youth organizations and youth workers need to be involved into (practical) education for working with
young people in general and with youth with fewer opportunities, especially in the field of social
inclusion. Inclusive methods of work are widely distributed and used but we perceive the need to
upgrade them, especially to upgrade the methods for working with (socially excluded) youth and
methods for working in a specific field (drugs, handicap etc.). Nowadays youth workers also need a
knowledge associated with counseling and mentoring, so the practical knowledge (and methods)
from the field of psychotherapy is necessary.
In addition, through national consultations we detected the following guidelines:
- there is a need to introduce directions for working with ethnic groups and young people with
migrant backgrounds,
- there is a need for a financially strengthening and other kind of motivation for youth
organizations to develop and implement a program on social inclusion theme,
- there is a need for planned education and higher employment in youth organizations and
other nongovernment organizations,
- it is important to emphasis the implementation of projects involving all social groups of
young people,
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-
social inclusion is an important priority in the tender conditions, but (properly) train
personnel (can be trained youth workers) is prerequisite for effective work,
- integration of youth organizations with schools is necessary, where is the need to plan
projects ahead in accordance with real needs, to ensure appropriate staff and to indicate the
motivation incentive from both sides.
Profession emphasize the importance of continuity of funding programs which demonstrate the
positive effects of inclusion of all young people, including young people with migrant backgrounds
and other socially excluded groups of young people in society. It is necessary to set clear guidelines,
which stem also from internationally accepted documents, and to implement them effectively on
national level. Education, intersectoral cooperation and coordination between organizations are
important.
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