Since its inception in 2001, the Youth Empowerment and Partnership Programme (YEPP) has implemented an innovative approach that brings together foundations, municipalities and local actors to work in a systematic way that addresses complex social challenges and brings about change through civic participation in disadvantaged European communities. YEPP has tackled youth related issues together with young people - not for them.

In 2011 YEPP turned 10! An alternative model of youth participation in local decision-making has been at the heart of the YEPP.  Supported by a consortium of foundations, YEPP has been implementing its "Concept of Change" by promoting partnerships between young people and the public, private and independent sectors. After celebrating 10 years of the successful programme implementation last year, this year during their colloquium "From Confrontation to Participation: Reflecting on 10 Years of Youth and Community Empowerment across Europe", an international panel of experts will draw on 10 years of youth and community empowerment to explore a number of questions:

- Which are the key factors behind youth alienation and unrest across Europe and beyond?

- Is youth participation a substitute for or a complement to protests and conflict?

- What added value can YEPP bring to the field of youth and community empowerment?

Source:  Eurochild