Abbreviation ENGSO Youth Official language English | Established 2000 Chairman Paolo Emilio Adami | |
Headquarters Olympic Committee of Serbia Generala Vasića br. 5
11040 Beograd, Serbia Website | ||
European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation Youth (ENGSO Youth) is the non-governmental umbrella youth organisation of ENGSO (European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation). It has the aim to represent the young Europeans in sports in 40 countries and to achieve, promote and support the implementation of the ENGSO guidelines for children and youth sport. ENGSO Youth promotes sport, health and participation of children and young people as well as volunteering and international cooperation in the sport sector. ENGSO Youth is member of the European Youth Forum since 2007.
Contents
History
At the beginning of 2000, on initiative of the German Sports Youth (Deutsche Sportjugend) eight national sport umbrella organisations from eight European countries started to co-operate in the "Network for the European Youth Work in Sports – Sport Youth goes Europe“. These partners have joined forces on European level to engage and lobby for the interests of young people that are organised in sport clubs and federations.
Vision, mission and aims
According to the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation Youth website, their vision, mission and aims are as follows:
Vision
To represent the interest of people under the age of 35 dealing with sport in Europe.
Mission
ENGSO Youth is a democratic, youth-led organisation, representing national umbrella organisations for youth sport from across Europe. To provide support, advice and guidance for members who want to establish their own youth structure; To work in partnership with the European Union, the Council of Europe and other European organisations to represent the voice of youth sport; To provide up to date communications and good practice to all member organisations.
Aims
Structure
ENGSO Youth is structured with a General Assembly as the highest decision making body. The General Assembly meets annually and decides about statutes, the political platform and the work plan, as well as it elects the Committee of ENGSO Youth. The Committee is elected every 2 years. The Committee consists of 9 members and is responsible for leading and representing the organisation between the General Assemblies. The Committee and the Secretary General coordinate the daily work of the organisation. ENGSO Youth has a European secretariat based in Belgrade(Serbia) and two branch offices, one one in Rome (Italy) and one in Salzburg (Austria). Besides the Secretary General, the secretariat consists of a Project Analyst and a Communication Officer.
Current Committee
Each committee is elected by the entire membership every 2 years at the General Assembly, it consists of:
The Secretary General attends the board meetings as a non-voting ex-officio.
Activities and projects
ENGSO Youth has realized several project all using physical activity and sport as a tool for a social change. All project have been realized thanks to grants by the European Union or the Council of Europe. In particular through the Youth in Action Program (Youth Unit, DG Education and Culture), Preparatory Actions in the Field of Sport (Sport Unit, DG Education and Culture) and the Youth Department grants of the Council of Europe. ENGSO Youth is cooperating with several European and International Organisations with which shares objectives and aims. More in detail is a partner of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) of the Council of Europe. ENGSO Youth has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Paralympic Committee ENGSO Youth is tightly cooperating on several project with the European University Sports Association - EUSA. A mutual and constant cooperation is also active with the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation - EGLSF since 2012. ENGSO Youth is the creator of the campaign Youth Sport speaks out on TabooPhobia - Developing a youth led campaign to challenge homophobia in and through sport and is currently cooperating in a European funded project (DAPHNE III) against sexual and gender harassment and abuse in sports, Sport Respect Your Rights.