EXECUTIVESUMMARY

Wehavehadtwoamazingyears

championingyouthvoiceacross Europeandbeyond.

At the WSCF-Europe, we believe that our faith helps us to become the best we can be. This ultimately means to promote, protect and serve inclusive societies through empathy, respect and love for each other As a Christian youth movement of long-standing tradition, we are committed to support young people across the continent, not only to practice their religions freely, but also in respect to the rights of others, in a diverse and inclusive society We do this with, and through, our network of Student Christian Movements (SCMs), from across Europe, and our partner organisations, from other faith-based and secular organisations. We look to work with young people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to the kind of opportunities we offer

Many young people across Europe are denied their basic human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and education Promoting human rights education among disadvantaged youth remains one of our strategic priorities in Europe, which also ties closely with all our global priorities.

NatiaTsintsadze WSCFExecutiveinEurope WSCFProgrammeDirector forInterfaithDialogue

During the last two years, we have seen many positive actions undertaken by young people in promoting human rights, inclusiveness and human dignity, sometimes despite significant challenges We will continue to progress this agenda through delivering human rights education, training sessions, as well as through high-level advocacy work in promoting access to these opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

We believe that nothing should be done about young people without young people, and continue to provide a united voice and support for young people across Europe. WSCF-Europe recognises that all young people should have the right to be represented and get their voice heard in local and national decision-making processes Through our high-impact work, we ensure that the calling for youth participation in democratic processes across Europe should not be just a passing phase, but that it should have a lasting impact, in order to benefit and improve the chances that young people have in their own lives, as well as the lives of others. We feel that this should be universally recognised as a force of good, regardless of the way in which young people choose to participate and make a difference.

WSCF-Europe has always been a champion for Christian youth and for the crucial network of youth movements that support them Our members tell us how important this role is: at a time when funding reductions and right- wing political agendas have hit youth organizations so hard, their voices and the views of the young people they support need to be heard.

WSCF-Europe continues to challenge growing systemic, practical and individual injustices and inequalities facing young people. Many of our beneficiaries live and grow up in separate and divided societies. The legacy of conflicts, nationalism and destitution often affects young people’s attitudes, behaviours and choices. Young people want to change this space and to create one which is more inclusive, outward and forward looking. They may appear to be disinterested in politics, but they are actively involved in social campaigns and principled protest. Over the last two years, we advanced our efforts through youth-led campaigns and social action, events, activities and research that analyse, prevent and combat discrimination, radicalisation and exclusion

We have been on a journey of change and growth that will continue into 2020-2021, as the organisation is preparing for its General Assembly. We are looking forward to the next term of the new leadership and developing a new strategy, ensuring that youth voices remain at the heart of everything we do, and that we better focus our resources on delivering activities that best respond to the needs and challenges of young people in Europe. We know that the young people who are involved in our programmes come from diverse backgrounds and that they gain so much from using their voice for social and political change, and we want to showcase that even more, ensuring that young people are seen as a positive force for good in their communities, and that their views are sought, valued and acted upon

I'dliketothankourvolunteersandstaff,member movementsandsupporters,fortheirenormous contributiontotheprogressmadesofar.Ithas beenanhonourtoservetheseamazingyoung peopleandwewillcontinuetodosoin2020-21.