YEU International
Strategic priorities 2026-2028
What makes YEU unique:
Uniting force: YEU brings together young people from all over Europe and beyond.
Methodology: YEU uses interactive and educational approaches.
Community: YEU fosters a “family spirit” and sense of belonging.
Empowerment: YEU broadens horizons and opens spaces for creativity, personal development, and cooperation.
Capacity building: YEU focuses on strengthening organizations and individuals within the network.
Platform for all: YEU provides a platform for organizations of all sizes to participate in impactful international projects.
Inclusivity: YEU is a unique umbrella organization that brings together diverse NGOs and creates a collaborative environment.
The final list of words effectively captures the essence of YEU’s values and spirit: Family, Positivity, Creativity, Friendships, Connections, Partnerships, Opportunities, Laughter.
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Vision
A world united by shared values of peace, justice, understanding, and respect for diversity and human rights – where all young people have the freedom and opportunities to shape inclusive and sustainable societies.
Mission
YEU is an inclusive, youth-led network that promotes active citizenship and empowers young people through non-formal education, intercultural exchange, and human rights-based learning. We foster peace, solidarity, and mutual understanding, while strengthening young people’s capacity to drive positive change in their communities and beyond.
YEU Aims
- To realise youth activities that foster closer cooperation and better understanding among the young people of the world, both between and within continents, particularly by encouraging the exchange of information, ideas and opinions.
- To promote cooperation and solidarity-based partnerships between developed and developing countries for cultural, educational, and social development.
- To work towards resolving conflicts and promotion of peaceful societies through recognition and respect for others.
- To improve the relationships and promote tolerance among young people of different cultural or political realities.
- To work together on issues related to protection of the environment and sustainability.
- To encourage the active involvement of all young people in society without distinction because of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, social status, educational background, disability, or any other factor that impacts young people and their engagement negatively.
- To equip young people with the skills, values, and critical awareness needed to navigate and shape the digital age, including AI, online participation, and digital rights.
- To help young people become more resilient and adaptable in times of crisis, by encouraging them to imagine positive futures and take part in shaping them.
- To promote the mental health, emotional wellbeing and social inclusion of young people, by creating safe and supportive environments for expression and care;
- To bridge young people's voices from local realities to the European level, ensuring their needs and perspectives shape policies and decisions that affect their lives.
Values
YEU is guided by values that put people first – creating inclusive, just, and supportive spaces where young people can be themselves, grow together, and make a difference in the world.
Values list non-discrimination, solidarity, integrity, inclusion, equality no matter of the background, gender, culture or religion, transparency, volunteering, Youth Empowerment, Mental Wellbeing, respect for human rights, environmental awareness and care.
Approaches
Working towards our vision and implementing our mission YEU will be taking the following approaches in its work:
- Strengthening member organisations based on their learning and organisational needs while supporting knowledge transfer, communication, synergies and partnerships among them;
- Developing and maintaining a sense of belonging to the network as a supportive environment for both personal and professional development, including digital tools;
- Empowering young people to influence local, national and European decisions – especially those most affected by exclusion – by amplifying their voices and making space for real participation;
- Linking grassroots youth experiences with European processes to promote inclusive and impactful youth participation;
- Innovating non-formal education by creating inclusive, needs-based methods and approaches together with young people while following high quality standards and principles;
- Creating and nurturing safe and inclusive spaces, both physically and digitally, that promote the free expression of identities, ensure the holistic well-being of young people, and provide comprehensive support for their mental health;
- Supporting creativity and innovation through diverse methodologies and digital tools, to bridge socio-economic, cultural, and geographical gaps among young people, fostering understanding and collaboration across different backgrounds;
- Promoting emotional wellbeing and mental health support as key parts of youth development, by creating safe and caring learning environments;
- Helping young people and youth workers understand and shape the digital world, including safe online participation, critical media thinking, and basic awareness of AI and its impact on society;
- Supporting young people to become more resilient and adaptable in times of change, by helping them imagine positive futures and take part in creating them.
Until 2028, YEU is aiming to be a strong, financially stable European NGO with strong member organisations in more than 40 countries around Europe and beyond and, at the same time, recognised by relevant institutions as an important stakeholder in the fields of human rights, education, youth work and social cohesion.
YEU Member Organisations commit to:
- Being active in implementing YEU Strategic Priorities together through organising joint activities and cooperating in long-term processes
- Supporting and brainstorming in the development of new activities together with other Member Organisations, and apply for joint projects and long term programmes
- Supporting each other by offering their expertise and resources for the development of the network and the YEU Member Organisations
- Participating in consultations and providing feedback on topics important to YEU by directly involving young people of different backgrounds with an aim to voice their needs to the European level
- Cooperating among each other for the positive change in societies and strengthening young individuals in their communities by providing them learning mobility opportunities on European level
- Cooperating among each other for the positive change in societies and strengthening young individuals in their communities by providing them learning mobility opportunities on European level
- Innovating, developing and trying out new models, tools, methods and approaches with an aim to build better mechanisms of youth participation around Europe
- Staying curious, creative and committed in building better and stronger communities around Europe and the world.
YEU Priorities
All YEU priorities are based on three actions:
- RE-THINK
- EMPOWER
- VOICE UP
Sustainability and climate actions as the overarching priority of YEU work
At YEU, we recognise that the climate crisis is not a future threat – it is a present reality that affects every aspect of young people’s lives: their health, education, wellbeing, opportunities, and sense of hope. Sustainability is therefore not just a sectoral concern for YEU; it is a cross-cutting priority that influences all our actions, values, and vision for the future.
YEU and its Member Organisations are committed to mainstreaming sustainable development (SD), fighting climate change through actions and contributing to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as overarching principles of work and thinking within YEU network as cross-cutting topics of our programmes.
Rationale: For YEU and its Member Organisations, youth work is planned and purposeful, with focus on the personal and social development of young people, who are encouraged to develop new attitudes, skills and knowledge. Youth work in the Member Organisations is focused on learning, practicing the successful approaches but also experimenting/testing the new ones.
Through youth work, young people are supported to reach their potential, to gain autonomy, to work towards improving the quality of life for themselves as well as for their communities.
As the focus of this strategic priority, YEU Member Organisations design, implement and evaluate youth work activities based on the YEU Quality label and in line with the European Youth Work Agenda.
Within this priority, YEU will:
RE-THINK:
- Explore incorporating new and digital technologies into youth work activities for diverse groups of young people to better facilitate their learning in different settings and environments including ethical use of AI, digital wellbeing, and access for those in digitally excluded communities
- Explore cross-disciplinary creative solutions to adapt the existing or develop new practices for youth work provision based on the needs of young people of diverse backgrounds and realities, including those affected by crisis.
EMPOWER:
- Increase the capacities of Member Organisations to achieve the same level of quality by following the standards of youth work as in the YEU Quality Label, and offer consistent and quality youth work at the local and European level
- Support young people to achieve their full potential on personal, social and professional level through quality youth work at local, European and global levels
- Through training, peer learning and long-term programmes, we promote wellbeing-based, rights-based and resilience-focused youth work.
VOICE UP:
- Advocate for the recognition of youth work at the local, national and European level, in accordance with the European Youth Work Agenda
- Work towards professionalization of quality youth work by (re)defining the necessary youth work competences framework at local/national and European level while implementing and showcasing it through Member Organizations
To achieve this, YEU will:
- Revise the YEU Quality Label and Code of Ethics of youth workers to make sure these are clear, accurate and user-friendly and support a holistic approach to a continuous youth work provision including that in a digital environment – Include a thematic focus on youth mental health and emotional wellbeing in the revised Code of Ethics
- Support the implementation of the YEU Quality label in Member Organisations through training, strategic cooperation and long-term support of youth workers working in the local communities, especially in the deprived and disadvantaged neighbourhoods (such as a curriculum for youth workers or one stop shop platform on youth work practices)
- Increase the capacities of Member Organisations to offer consistent and quality youth work at the local level for developing young peoples’ qualities, skills and competences, by following the standards of youth work as in the YEU Quality Label through long-term projects, job shadowing, capacity building activities and trainings
- Develop strategies, policy and position papers towards the European Union and the Council of Europe in regards to youth work support and youth work recognition
- Remain a relevant stakeholder at the European level by creating synergies and joint advocacy actions with other organisations to ensure the institutional support in the establishment of sustainable youth work provision at local, national and European level
- Further explore new dimensions of youth work, it’s practices and approaches, including green and digital youth work.
Rationale: YEU is a pioneer of non-formal education developing capacities of generations of world known educators and focusing on a learner and needs-centred approach to education since its very beginnings. Nowadays, YEU aims to explore and innovate the non-formal education methodologies together with young people and in line with their needs, struggles and challenges.
YEU and its Member Organisations produce innovative approaches within non-formal education, in order to provide ultimate educational experiences aiming at learner’s personal and socio-educational and professional development.
YEU aims to be recognised as an innovator of non-formal education methodologies with young people directly involved in the creation of new tools and methods based on societal realities around the world.
Within this priority, YEU will:
RE-THINK:
- Explore new and effective models of non-formal education programmes built around self-directed, learner centred and needs based approach ensuring self-responsibility and self-assessment of the learning achievements
- Advance its work on developing and incorporating digital tools within non-formal education, such as the gamified approaches and activities supporting different learning styles and abilities
- Re-define the quality standards in YEU non-formal education programmes regarding preparation, delivery and self-assessment of learning outcomes
EMPOWER:
- Strengthen capacities, competences and knowledge of educators ensuring that high quality standards in non-formal education programmes are followed at local, national and international level
- Build capacities of educators to explore new approaches to topics of young people’s interests through development of new or adaptation of existing programmes, methods and tools based on the needs of young people and communities they live in
VOICE UP:
- further advocate for the recognition and validation of the learning and competences gained by young people, through non-formal education
- Reinforce its legacy and position as a leader of non-formal education among the youth sector, sharing its expertise with various external organisations and networks
To achieve this, YEU will:
- Create spaces where educators, experts, Member Organisations representatives and young people in general can discuss, re-think and experiment with new approaches in non-formal education through the development of both online and offline learning tools, guidelines, curricula and methodologies
- Organise educational and capacity building activities for educators and experts in the field of non-formal education, representatives of Member Organisations to ensure quality standards in preparation and delivery of non-formal education activities at local, national and international level
- Improve the quality of learning of YEU participants by utilising learning badges and similar self-assessment tools to ensure the understanding of newly gained knowledge and skills
- Ensure the quality of learning mobility and other programmes in YEU and its Member Organisations by developing and further improving internal guidelines and procedures on the implementation of learning and capacity development processes within YEU
- Continue advocating for the recognition of non-formal education at the European level by developing position papers, contributing to joint advocacy actions on validation and recognition of learning and competences gained by young people towards the European Union and the Council of Europe
- Build cross-sectoral partnerships and projects exploring the potential of gamification as a learning method, based on the experience of the GamifyEU process and its outcomes
Rationale: Social cohesion, solidarity and active citizenship of all young people are essential for YEU and its Member Organisations, as without those there are no inclusive societies.
Diversity, equality, peace and well-being are some of the core values of YEU and its members. YEU aims to be a leader in the field of social cohesion through involving young people of different walks of life in international activities and following up with Member Organisations on local level to contribute to the building of peaceful and inclusive societies in which young people of different backgrounds are learning to live and work together.
As a focus of this strategic priority, YEU and its member organisations contribute to building inclusive societies by fostering a holistic and intersectional approach to their work, especially in the light of the post COVID-19 impact and the growing influence of crises such as armed conflict, displacement, climate stress and digital inequality on individuals and communities.
Within this priority, YEU will:
RE-THINK:
- Continuously evaluate and re-discover the approaches of reaching out to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those in rural areas, displaced communities, and digitally excluded environments while ensuring their meaningful and active participation in that process
- Continue building up the culture of acceptance of diversity and inclusion in societies by nurturing safe space, safe space, mental wellbeing, and equality in all aspects of YEU work and programmes while combating all forms of discrimination
EMPOWER:
- Strengthen Member organisations, their leaders, youth workers, educators to build bridges between people of different backgrounds including migrants, refugees, youth in conflict/post-conflict areas, and those facing discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, ability or identity. in local communities through creative and innovative programmes fostering intercultural dialogue, solidarity, diversity and inclusion as the main drivers of communities
- Strengthen capacities of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to actively participate in societies and decision making processes following the “nothing about us, without us” principle
VOICE UP:
- Represent the voices of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, with attention to mental health survivors, neurodiverse youth, and youth with lived experience of displacement or violence through their meaningful participation and inclusion in development of approaches, positions and strategies of YEU
- Position YEU as an organisation that assures safe spaces for everyone, through offering opportunities for meaningful and respectful debates, challenging attitudes and supporting inclusive practices in both physical and digital spaces
To achieve this, YEU will:
- promote human rights education and education for democratic citizenship among young people as the basic principles and values of our societies through capacity building programmes, new approaches and methodologies, with a special focus on gamification as a tool
- further explore the link between the promotion of human rights and the challenges linked with greater digitisation and the (lack of) digital rights, by developing new approaches and methods to working with young people on fostering inclusive communities
- foster intercultural learning and mutual understanding through creative programmes and approaches at local and international level such as theatre, dancing, singing, cooking, storytelling, gardening and similar
- Initiate conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives among and together with young people, experts, other organisations through, among other, deconstructing harmful narratives and developing new approaches to building bridges between people and communities
- empower young people and youth workers to recognise and react effectively against (cyber)bullying and hate speech by creating safe spaces for discussion, prevention and support against any kind of violence, online or offline, while enhancing self-awareness, empowerment and healthy environments
- develop an inclusive, intersectional and respectful approach towards mental health of young people by tackling different “taboos” through implementation of awareness raising activities, internal guidelines, procedures, position papers and capacity building programmes for young people, youth workers and educators
- directly involve young people from both disadvantaged and privileged backgrounds to foster dialogue, togetherness and solidarity through volunteering, outdoor education, sports, grassroots initiatives, youth work activities at local and international level
- empower young people to act as change-makers in their society, by advocating for inclusiveness and safety for all communities.
Rationale: YEU is the interlocutor between its Member Organisations and the decision makers at European level (European Union and Council of Europe) thus having strong organisations at local or national level is a prerequisite for the highest possible outreach to young people and strong impact at any level. YEU and its Member Organisations are committed to mainstreaming youth-related issues in all segments of society, including wellbeing, environmental justice, digital transformation, and youth resilience and ensuring that the voice of the young people across Europe is listened to when the policies are created and decisions are made.
YEUs main focus within this priority is empowering young people and youth organisations to actively participate in decision making processes and youth policy development on local, national and international level. It will be achieved through development of strategies on fundraising and diversification of funding for youth organisations; working on membership development, growth and empowerment; increasing MOs competences for reaching out to diverse youth groups; professionalization and capacity development of the staff of YEU office and its MOs etc.
Within this priority, YEU will:
RETHINK:
- Explore concepts of resilience, by embedding the culture of continuous learning and development into organisations with a focus on improvement of COVID-19 recovery, and broader ongoing disruptions, such as digital transitions, climate emergencies, and global conflicts
- Support Member Organisations, and others, in including youth-led models, inclusive leadership, and care-based management practicesframework leading to stronger organisations’ legacy, smoother generational changes and overall sustainability
EMPOWER:
- Build and strengthen capacities of Member Organisations and their leaders, educators, youth workers and young people overall through various needs based educational programmes, job shadowing, buddy system and joint long term projects on specific topics such as mental health in organisations, digital transformation, AI and ethical tech, and inclusive leadership
- Invest in development of human resources of YEU network as its most precious capital through strengthening the internal structures, tools, processes and guidelines leading to stronger leadership and more agile individuals and organisations
VOICE UP:
- advocate for development of youth friendly spaces at all levels,including accessible digital spaces, mental health-responsive spaces, and those inclusive of underrepresented identities and more accessible funding opportunities for youth organisations, with a focus on YEU Member Organisations needs and their local realities
- further position itself as the voice of the Member Organisations towards the external stakeholders, maintaining the role as the main link and facilitator among the members and the European stakeholders
To achieve this, YEU will:
- Work on strengthening of YEU Member organisations and internal working structures (working groups, pool of representatives, pool of trainers, YEU Alumni, Project Developers pool) through capacity building programmes (YEU Academy), solidarity initiatives, getting to know each other actions and programme (YEU Convention), toolkits and guides based on their needs, regular reviews and evaluation
- Ensure the knowledge transfer, organisational memory and generational changes by providing online and other spaces for organisational growth and networking, stimulating the development of joint positions and sharing good practices
- Stimulate constant network growth through the engagement of new Member Organisations, possibly focusing on topics not yet prioritized by the current members, such as migrants, LGBTQI+, gender, disabilities, in order to increase the diversity of the network
- Review existing strategies (such as Fundraising strategy, Communication Strategy, Advocacy Strategy) and communications channels to ensure the relevant and hands on approach to fulfilling its mission and aims and higher sense of belonging of Member Organisations to YEU
- Strengthen the sense of belonging among YEU Member Organisations through creation of safe spaces to discuss, support, express solidarity and grow together ensuring knowledge sharing and a safety net among organisations and their leaders which will result in overall resilient and agile approach to organisational management
- support Member Organisations in conveying their messages to European level, and amplifying their voice by the engagement of the network and the creation of space for mutual issue-based advocacy among the membership.
Rationale:
Young people today are growing up in a time of complex uncertainty — from climate breakdown and digital disruption to war, displacement, and widening social inequalities. Despite this, they are not just passive victims of crises; they are agents of change, innovation, and hope. YEU recognises the need to go beyond resilience — to empower young people to reclaim agency over their lives, their futures, and their communities. This requires supporting their leadership, fostering collective imagination, and ensuring spaces for action, solidarity, and healing.
Within this priority, YEU will:
RE-THINK:
- Challenge the narrative of “resilience” as mere survival, and instead promote youth-led futures built on agency, imagination, and justice.
- Explore interdisciplinary methods (art, storytelling, technology, foresight) that help young people process uncertainty, envision alternative futures, and co-create meaningful action.
- Rethink responses to crisis by grounding them in solidarity, care, and systemic transformation — not only individual adaptation.
EMPOWER:
- Support young people to understand and navigate uncertainty through skills like critical thinking, future literacy, emotional intelligence, and collective decision-making.
- Build peer-led structures that promote mutual support, healing, and learning — especially for those with lived experience of trauma, marginalisation, or conflict.
- Strengthen community-based initiatives that bridge generations, geographies, and identities to reimagine shared futures.
VOICE UP:
- Promote youth agency in global conversations on crisis, recovery, and transformation — particularly in peacebuilding, sustainability, mental health, and tech ethics.
- Advocate for the meaningful inclusion of youth perspectives in decision-making processes that shape collective futures, ensuring that uncertainty becomes a catalyst for equitable change.
- Create space for radical hope and collective dreaming, recognising these as acts of resistance and political participation.
To achieve that, YEU will:
- Facilitate intergenerational and cross-sector dialogues on youth agency, uncertainty, and crisis response — ensuring that young people are recognised as co-creators of solutions, not just beneficiaries of support.
- Co-develop learning programmes with young people that blend emotional literacy, creative exploration, future-thinking, and systems awareness to foster confidence and collective resilience.
- Create and promote youth-led research, storytelling, and multimedia campaigns that surface diverse lived experiences and showcase how young people are reclaiming their power amid uncertainty.
- Develop and share adaptable methodologies for working with uncertainty in youth work — including trauma-informed approaches, community healing practices, and participatory scenario building.
- Partner with organisations working on peacebuilding, foresight, education, mental health, and justice to amplify young people’s visions for alternative futures.
- Advocate for policies that acknowledge the psychological, social, and political impacts of living in constant crisis, and demand structures that truly support youth agency and wellbeing.
