eryica: how it all started

ERYICA: How It All Started

Presentation made by Jon Alexander,ERYICA Secretary-General(January 1986 - June 2007)

Jon Alexander ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011

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WHY A EUROPEAN SEMINAR?

1985 = International Youth Year (U.N.) CIDJ (Paris) chose to organise a European

Seminar of YICs (idea of Chantal Barre)

Supported by French Ministry for Youth & Sport, Council of Europe and European Commission; with an international Organising Committee

23-26 April 1985, in Marly-le-Roi (France)


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1985 Seminar: Final Report


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1985 Seminar: Next Steps

Concerning “Co-operation among Youth Information Structures in Europe”, the Seminar adopted the following proposal:

“… the creation of an ongoing group [a] which would develop programmes to meet specific needs of local information centres, and would seek the means to carry out these programmes and to provide a minimum infrastructure [b] which could ensure the necessary communication and co-ordination.”

[a] The International Liaison Committee first met in June 1985 and piloted the follow-up of the Seminar until ERYICA was created.[b] The means needed to launch ERYICA were secured by the end of 1985, and it was formally founded in Madrid on 17 April 1986.


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WHY CREATE ERYICA?

Strong desire to develop European co-operation in field of generalist youth information and counselling

Goal = a light, open & flexible structure Members = national youth info networks Needed a legal entity in order to obtain

national and European funding


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WHY IN 1986?

Strong dynamic following the 1985 Seminar; several countries launched youth info initiatives: Finland, Luxemburg, Netherlands …

European co-operation/construction = priorities then, including in youth field (e.g. youth cards)

Growth of youth unemployment Political support in France (Mitterrand years) The time was right


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EARLY DATES

January 1986: Opening of secretariat in CIDJ (Paris) 17 April 1986: Founding of ERYICA by Constituent

Assembly, in Madrid June 1987: first “Guides for Young Visitors” published

(for 6 countries); 3 more in 1989 and 3 more in 1992 August 1987: ERYICA registered as non-profit association

in Amsterdam May 1988: 2nd European Seminar and 1st ERYICA

General Assembly, in Pomezia (Italy) February 1990: Council of Europe adopts Recommend-

ation 1990 (7) on Youth Information and Counselling


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1987: Launch of First “Guides for Young Visitors”L>R: Coyne (EU), Cahen (President), Pire (Wk.Gp. Guides)


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ERYICA Bureau in 1987L>R: Labens (B), Solbiati (I), Munoz Ripoll (E),

Cahen (F; President), Dekker (NL), Alexander (GB)


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THE CONTEXT THEN

1985: European Community = 10 countries Cold War, until fall of Berlin Wall in 1989 Youth info only in W. Europe: 307 YICs in

1985 listing; 1st “Eastern” member in 1991 Very few national youth info networks No Internet, no e-mail & few computers Debate: “information” vs. “counselling”


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A SOUND RECIPE

Open & diverse: governmental services, NGOs and “mixed” partners; sharing good practice

Develop info tools to promote youth mobility Co-operate with Council of Europe, European

Commission, & other European youth networks Professionalisation of youth info sector, with

focus on application of European Charter; then develop minimum standards and training activities

Democratic structure; independent European platform


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THANK YOU,

and GOOD LUCK to

ERYICA and all its partners,

for the next 25 years!

eryica: how it all started

Documents

conference opatija croatia

european funding eryica

youth field

eryica bureau

youth sport

youth information structures

youth info initiatives

international youth