Eurodesk

Programmes: Eurodesk

Eurodesk is a free information service on EU funding and opportunities to work, study, volunteer and travel in Europe. It is intended for young people and those who work with them.

Eurodesk Highlights of 2019

2019 was a very creative and exciting year for Eurodesk Ireland! In preparation for the European Parliament Elections in May, we designed and ran a special survey for young people called ‘European Parliament Elections – What Do You Think?’ We received seventy replies which clearly showed young people’s interest in European matters and programmes. Many respondents expressed their intention to take part in the EU elections, be it to exercise their right to vote, to have a say in matters that are important to them, or to “make a difference”.

European Youth Week 2019

The survey results were used as a basis for European Youth Week 2019 activities run by Eurodesk multipliers. One such event was an interactive workshop European U, designed and run by Ger Cronin from Kildare Youth Service. The workshop was offered to young people in the local Youthreach centre, and included a debate about European elections and their priorities, a survey, and even a practice registration and voting exercise at a mock polling station! Participants were encouraged to take part in the European Parliament Elections, and discussed issues important to them.

Other European Youth Week events were organised by Eurodesk network members in Killarney, Letterkenny and Tipperary. They included activities such as a Taste of Europe quiz, European food and dance evening, a Democracy and Me workshop, as well as meetings with MEPs and Youth activists.

Time To Move 2019

In October, Eurodesk multipliers in Dublin, Sligo, Tipperary, Galway, Waterford, Letterkenny, Naas, Limerick and Ennis ran local and regional ‘Time To Move’ information and networking events, debates and workshops promoting European Youth mobility, opportunities and programmes. The events offered peer-to-peer learning where young people shared their international mobility experience such as volunteering, working or studying abroad. In Letterkenny, a group of European Solidarity Corps volunteers organised and ran an event together with Katarzyna Kurzeja from Donegal Youth Service. Their innovative event ‘Get Up, Go, and Explore!’ was for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. They had the opportunity to navigate a virtual airport and its facilities. The aim of the event was to familiarise young people who have never travelled abroad with physical international travel, and to inform them in a Youth-friendly way about EU initiatives and programmes such as DiscoverEU and European Solidarity Corps.

Léargas Support

For more information, get in touch with our Strategic Initiatives team at strategicinitiatives@leargas.ie.D