Who are we?

NeedYOU is a pioneering model that actively engages young people’s capacity to influence decision-making spaces within the framework of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027. It is directly connected to Youth Goal #9: “Space and Participation for All,” which aims to “Engage, Connect, Empower” young people. Our goal is to create opportunities for young people aged sixteen to thirty who have an interest in change-making.

NeedYOU aims to:

• Bring young people into the policy-making process at national and European levels in Greece and Europe.
• Create a space for young people to grow and develop their capacity to influence.
• Connect the EU with youth and realize the vision of young people by mobilizing EU-level policy instruments and inciting stakeholder actions at national, regional, and local levels.

Scope:
NeedYOU seeks to provide young people with opportunities to engage and learn to participate in civic society. By offering pathways for engagement in daily life and democratic processes, we aim for meaningful civic, economic, social, cultural, and political participation of young people from all backgrounds, with a special focus on those with fewer opportunities.

Objectives:

• To integrate young people and youth organizations into the core of planning, implementation, and follow-up activities. The EU Youth Dialogue is youth-led, with National Youth Councils as leading stakeholders.
• To ensure meaningful cooperation between the involved EU Presidencies, National Youth Councils, the European Youth Forum, and the European Commission.
• To make the European Youth Goals more visible, measurable, accountable, and open to feedback.
• To focus on high-quality participation formats in our methodology.
• To ensure participants have the necessary knowledge and involve relevant decision-makers in the dialogue.
• To make the EU Youth Conferences a more significant part of the process.
• To create spaces for dialogue at eye level where everyone feels comfortable and secure to work together, fostering “Spaces and Participation for All.”

The Consortium
PYLON ONE (Lead Beneficiary)
PYLON ONE is a newly established NGO in Thessaloniki, Greece, dedicated to empowering and supporting individuals of all ages. Our mission includes improving social and economic life, promoting education, culture, environmental protection, sports, volunteerism, and solidarity. We aim to create an inclusive and creative society by raising public awareness and fostering growth and development.

DRUSTVO ZA RAZVIJANJE PROSTOVOLJNEGA DELA NOVO MESTO (Slovenia)
Društvo za razvijanje prostovoljnega dela Novo mesto is a Slovenian NGO working in social care, youth, and culture. Our mission is to create a more inclusive and open society by including socially excluded groups and stimulating NGO development and civil dialogue. With 30 years of experience, we promote solidarity, tolerance, volunteerism, active living, clean environment, citizenship awareness, and inter-cultural dialogue.

Associazione Culturale Lighthouse – Languages APS (Italy)
Aurive Social Cooperative was established in 2007 to manage National Community Service projects in Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. We work with unemployed young people and immigrants under 30, helping them develop skills for the labor market and active community participation. Our activities include youth volunteering, intercultural education, rural development, sustainability, and media education.