Youth with alternative care experience have equal opportunities to develop, to be a voice and to make changes through involvement, empowerment and support
“I want to learn more about the other countries experiences with the child welfare and what kind of system they have in different countries. As well as I want to share with others about my experiences with the Norwegian system”
“I interested to participate in this specific initiative in my capacity of a foster child in the past 8 years. I see the difference for a child between growing up in an institution and a family.”
“My motivation to participate stems from my original positive experience in 2008. I was overwhelmed by the power of peer support and I would like to learn/gain advice as to how I could bring that to Ireland at a more local level. Now that I have finished my studies I would like to become involved in advocating for children and young people in care at a more global level.”
“I want to learn how to cooperate with youth organizations internationally, and learn more about “Power 4 youth” as I find it very interesting, I also believe our organization has a lot to offer the conference. I can inform our members, and continue the work I’m already doing for my organization. I can also help set an example for other people that are or have been under care.”
“I would like to continue work with Power4Youth and thats mean to attend on their trainings. I hope to learn new things and activate myself more in work of P4Y. I am not sure at this moment, but surely I will talk about this training and implement my knowledge from this training in to work with young people from care in Croatia. ”
“We would like to support and promote young people in care in implementing changes in their lives and the lives of other. We would also like to promote quality care of young people. We would like to be involved in consultations and in discussions and decision – making in our country.”
“I would like to meet young people like me, from different countries, that grown in alternative care system, to share experiences, to help each other in finding best solution for childrens from alternative care system.”
“Whatever way possible”
P4Y European Seminar
Power4Youth European Seminar 2011
13th – 16th April, 2012 : The Hague, Netherlands
Power4Youth is a network of youth with alternative care experience. Believing that young people are the best advocates for themselves and their peers and that their experience is an expertise, our theme for this seminar is “be the change we want to see in the world”.
We will welcome 24 Power4Youth members for this three day event to the StayOkay Youth Hostel in Den Haag, The Netherlands – from Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, United Kingdom, Finland, Czech Republic and Romania.
“By being the change we want to see in the world, youth with alternative care experience are the best advocates for themselves and their peers, and are the future leaders.”
We’re excited to you to tell you that the Power4Youth European Seminar 2011 “Be the Change we want to see in the world” will take place in The Hague, Netherlands, April 13th – 16th, 2012. This is the same place that we held our first trainings for youth in, from and around care in October 2008! Some of the P4Y young people that participated in 2008 will also join us again here in 2012 and indeed, we will also be welcoming new Power4Youth members, to experience and broaden our reach and support of youth in, from and around care. There will be 24 young people with experiences of alternative care in Europe, from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Romania and United Kingdom.
The project is funded by the Youth in Action program which is a European strand of funding that also identified youth with care experience as a group of ‘’youth with few opportunities’’ . We are excited to partner with tme and raise the profile of youth engagement, non-formal learning as well as recognizing the similarities we can celebreate as European youth, as well as celebrating our difference
The goal of the training is to create a platform of discussion from an active network of young people growing up in care across Europe, capable and supported to participate in the implementation of quality standards in alternative care.
Topics of the training:
1) to strengthen the existing network of young people under the membership of Power4Youth by sharing experiences, exchanging knowledge on the theme of ‘Alternative Care in Europe’ and making concrete action plans for expanding our core group and activities;
2) to create a safe and encouraging platform environment where young people with fewer opportunities can exchange experiences and contribute to each others learning opportunities (non-formal learning peer support)
3) to invest in young peoples knowledge and ability to advocate for themselves supporting the recognition of skills and competencies of P4Y members in the area of European networking, youth in alternative care, social media and non-formal learning;
4) to support the use and promotion of social media, creativity and non-formal learning
opportunities as advocacy and personal growth activities for P4Y members and support their well-being;
5) to create and sustain social cohesion for young people with fewer opportunities in Europe
How to apply: Our partners in each country will identify young people who will represent them and be members of Power4Youth. They will fill in the Application Form (Down-loadable here), which will then be sent to Jean Anne Kennedy, Project Coordinator- JeanAnne@Power4Youth.net by March 16th (or earlier).
Each young person will be contacted directly and given more information. In cooperation with Youth in Action, we are happy to reimburse 70% of approved travel costs and will host them in the Netherlands (including covering costs of food and accommodation.) There is no participation fee!
Our supporters
The project has received grant funding from the Youth in Action Programme of the 
European Community. Information on the Programme is available at http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm
(However the content of the project doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinion of the EU and the Dutch National Agency. The project is not under the responsibility of these institutions.)
Our partners:
| - Bulgaria www.detebg.org
- Croatia www.udomitelijzadjecu.hr - Czech Republic www.mikulasops.cz - Estonia www.eatl.ee - Finland www.pesapuu.fi/ - International www.IFCO.info
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- Ireland www.EPIConline.ie
- Malta www.NFCAM.org -Netherlands www.Power4Youth.net - Norway www.barnevernsbarna.no - Romania www.AureliaTrust.ie - United Kingdom www.coreassets.com/governance
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For more information, visit our website: www.Power4Youth.net
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! www.facebook.com/Power4Youth
Contact our Coordinator, Jean Anne Kennedy (she’s lovely and will answer all your questions!)
Disappointed you can’t join us in the Netherlands for this activity? Want to stay in contact and hear when we will be opening new memberships? Drop Jean Anne an email and she will add you to our email newsletter and keep in contact! Thanks!
International Summit of Youth in Care
LIFT Teens (formerly Youth Business Initiative) is currently seeking dynamic young leaders in foster care to participate in the 2012 International Summit of Youth in Care. The 2012 International Summit of Youth in Care is a collaborative event of LIFT Teens, VOICES, Youth Engagement Solutions, and International Foster Care Organisation. Together, we are committed to using this event as a platform for engaging youth in care and the stakeholders that impact and influence their lives, while taking the necessary steps to ensure real and positive results. The Summit consists of a three-day meeting of the Youth in Care World Congress and a one day Multi-Generational Forum on Transition. The Congress will create a vision statement on how to best partner with system leaders to ensure that practice and policy includes language that supports youth through the emotional and psychological transition that comes with being in care. At the forum, youth will present this to system leaders and work to develop a strategic plan to move systems towards this vision.
As a social change leader and advocate with direct access to youth in care, you may recognize your youth by nominating them to attend the 2012 International Summit of Youth In Care. There is no one more qualified to identify and motivate our nation’s most promising young people than you. We are currently recruiting 120 youth to participate in our Youth in Care World Congress, of the 120, thirty will be selected to come to Washington DC and participate onsite. The remaining Delegates will participate virtually. YBI is currently securing sponsorship that will cover the cost of lodging, food, and facilitation, which averages around $1,500 per student. We ask that if your nominee is selected to attend on-site that you provide them with travel expenses to and from the Summit. For students participating virtually, there are no additional costs, they will just need to be supported in linking into the hosting site at University of Maryland via the internet.
Selected nominees will have the opportunity to either serve as a delegate at the Summit in Maryland, USA or be a delegate of the Virtual Congress and connect online. The attached brochure and our website has additional information about the event. Nominees should be between the ages of 16-26, have direct experience in care (orphaned, adopted, foster care, kinship care, institutional care, or congregate care), have a record of demonstrated leadership in their community, and have a real passion about child welfare issues and youth development policy. Nominees traveling from outside of the US must have a passport and preferably a VISA. We will be accepting nominations for the Summit through March 1, 2012, and the Virtual Congress through May 1 2012.
Ready to nominate a young leader? Please complete our nomination form. If selected your nominee will receive an invitation to submit a full application and additional information about the summit. Questions and comments can be submitted to info@youthincaresummit.info You can read our Frequently Asked Questions brochure and Summit brochure for more information as well.
We thank you for partnering with us in this momentous effort.
Latrice Ware
Executive Director
LIFT Teens
Summit Chair
www.youthincaresummit.info
Facebook.com/YouthinCareSummit
