Youth and Community Empowerment in Europe: International Perspectives

Description

The current economic crisis with its gloomy implications for lost generations leaves many disadvantaged young people with ever-diminishing opportunities. The Youth Empowerment Partnership Programme (YEPP) is a fully evaluated on-going international programme focused on disadvantaged areas in eight European countries. It aims to empower young people and the communities in which they live by making them central to new decisionmaking processes involving partnerships between public, private and independent sectors. This book provides the theoretical context for the programme, gives a full account of the process and outcomes of over 10 years of joint effort in its unique development and research process and reflects on the lessons learnt for future policy. It will appeal to practitioners, researchers, policy-makers and decision-makers in foundations.

Professor Peter Evans is a consultant in special education. Formerly, he was a senior analyst at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Centre for Educational Research and Innovation where he initiated the Youth Empowerment Partnership Programme (YEPP) in partnership with Angelika Kruger. Angelika Kruger is Vice President of the International Academy for Innovative Pedagogy, Psychology and Economy at the Free University of Berlin and Director of the Institute for Community Education. She has been the Director of YEPP since its inception.

"An exceptional example of both the power of the community and importance of donor harmonization in addressing pressing social issues. A must read for advocates, policy planners and program developers." --Dr. Phyllis Magrab, Professor of Pediatrics and UNESCO Chair, Georgetown University. "This well-written record of a highly innovative programme in Europe will be of lasting value to community and youth development policymakers, practitioners and researchers. YEPP is a ground-breaking model for social inclusion and participation." --Paul Henderson, community development consultant and trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.