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ERYICA: How It All Started. Presentation made by Jon Alexander, ERYICA Secretary-General (January 1986 - June 2007). WHY A EUROPEAN SEMINAR?. 1985 = International Youth Year (U.N.) CIDJ (Paris) chose to organise a European Seminar of YICs (idea of Chantal Barre)
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ERYICA: How It All Started Presentation made by Jon Alexander, ERYICA Secretary-General (January 1986 - June 2007)
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) ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
1985 Seminar: Final Report ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
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. ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
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 ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
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 ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
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 ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
1987: Launch of First “Guides for Young Visitors”L>R: Coyne (EU), Cahen (President), Pire (Wk.Gp. Guides) ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
ERYICA Bureau in 1987L>R: Labens (B), Solbiati (I), Munoz Ripoll (E), Cahen (F; President), Dekker (NL), Alexander (GB) ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
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” ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
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 ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011
THANK YOU, andGOOD LUCK toERYICA and all its partners, for the next 25 years! ERYICA-25 Conference - Opatija (Croatia), 17-18 April 2011