WHAT IS ICYE EUROPE ALL ABOUT?

The International Cultural Youth Exchange in Europe (European Association) is the association of the European ICYE national member organisations. It was established in 1977 and since 1987 it is an international organisation registered under Belgian law. The International Cultural Youth Exchange in Europe is an international movement, which aims for societies of justice, peace and human solidarity. It strives to oppose any form of discrimination and violence. It's aims and purposes, as stated in its CONSTITUTION, are the following (click here)

"The purpose of the EA is to facilitate intercultural exchanges, as mean of intercultural education and of becoming sensitive to the social, political and economical realities of Europe and the world."

• Fight against any kind of oppression, discrimination, and prejudices in the world by furthering solidarity and intercultural understanding.
• Support the exchange of young persons between nations on basis of reciprocity for long and short-term .
• Be a forum where members share their needs, interests, problems and proposals .
• Co-ordinate the resources of the members for the planning, development and financing pf the program of the EA
• Run activities on issues and developments related to the intercultural exchanges and other matters its members are dealing with.
• Seek financial contributions and grants from governmental organisations, private foundations and individuals.
• Lobby for the EA and what it stands for - to represent its members towards the European bodies.
• Further co-operate with European youth movements.

The current Mission Statement (as developed by the working group on Program and Priorities, Salamanca) states:

"ICYE should be an important voice for young people in Europe . The world is evolving and our activities should respond to these changes. ICYE is an organisation that is comitted to developing young people´s personal and professional potential through encouraging active and creative involvement in all of ist programmes."

In order for us to strive and be a leader in youth mobility and to work in solidarity as an association, ICYE has developed these priorities for the next 2 years:

• To be pro-actively involved in Youth Policies at all important levels of representation.
• To develop our principles and quality standards
• To access and involve under-represented groups (e.g. minorities, and disadvantaged young people) in our programmes
• To reinforce the Euro-Mediteranean/Middle Eastern co-operation.