Deadline: 24 September 2017
Eligibility: European citizens, aged between 20 & 30 years, coming from a Council of Europe Member State
Costs: Fully covered
Description
The FutureLab Europe programme is selecting bright, active and young Europeans aged between 20 and 30 who want to play an active role in shaping the future of Europe by implementing a project with a civic impact. Selected participants will convene to Brussels in January 2018 for the FutureLab Europe Annual Forum – a four-day programme during which FutureLabbers meet each other to discuss relevant topics for the future of our continent with European stakeholders.
During workshop sessions, participants will present the project ideas they applied with, debate them, test them, and develop a limited number of final projects to be implemented over the course of 2018 together with other participants. Projects ideas can include (but are not limited to!) a blog series, volunteering activities, a picture exhibition, artwork, short movies, school visits, or a series of debates. Project ideas should be connected to the programme’s focal topics and should be European in outlook and local in implementation, ensuring the project’s relevance to different countries and contexts. The target audience should be people who are not usually engaged in European issues.
After the workshop in Brussels, participants will return to their homes, work together towards the successful implementation of their projects, and act as bridges between local citizens and EU leaders. The project results will be presented again in Brussels, at a second FutureLab Europe Conference in the Autumn of 2018. Applicants will be selected on the basis of their interest in the future of Europe, civic engagement, creative ideas and ability to turn ideas into a concrete project.
Other criteria
The FutureLab Europe programme is aimed at bright, ambitious young Europeans aged 20-30 who want to play an active role in shaping the future of Europe by implementing a project with a civic impact. Projects ideas can include (but are not limited to) a blog series, volunteering activities, a picture exhibition, artwork, short movie, school visits, a series of debates and should be connected to the programme’s focal topics:
- Democratic values in Europe– What can we as young Europeans do to ensure that Europe’s democratic values are at the basis of our societies?
- Equal opportunities for young people– How can we as young people overcome the multiple barriers we face and ensure that our society and economy offer the same opportunity to all of us?
- European identity– Has European identity meaning for us as young people and how can we contribute to further foster it?
Commitment to the European ideal, the capacity to formulate and defend one’s positions and ideas on questions of European relevance, and a significant level of civic engagement are required. Familiarity with European issues and readiness to take action in support of the European ideal are a precondition for participation. The working language of FutureLab Europe is English. Applicants should be nationals of Council of Europe Member States.
Benefits
FutureLab Europe offers participants financial support for the concrete implementation of their projects, a unique opportunity to interact with international decision-makers, to enhance their credentials as European citizens, to take action in support of the European idea and to develop and put in practice their own projects.
FutureLab Europe aims to give a voice to young people who are actively involved in their local community and/or in national initiatives, supporting their actions and encouraging them to develop ideas on how both public policies and citizens themselves could address the challenges European democracies are facing through participatory, discursive, artistic or educational approaches.
The 2018 edition of the programme will kick off with a four days-long forum in Brussels in January 2018 (click HERE to read about last year’s programme). Participants are expected to attend the entire forum. Potential applicants who cannot attend the whole week should not apply. The forum programme is followed by an Autumn event in Brussels, , the writing of individual blogs as well as the participation in major European conferences, workshops and future scenarios.
During the annual forum in Brussels, all non-travel programme-related costs (accommodation, food, course material, supervision etc.) are covered by the programme. During the follow-up Europe@debate events in Brussels and across Europe, all programme-related costs (including travel) are covered by the Alliance.
Apply
In order to qualify for the programme, applicants must be young Europeans aged 20-30, who are citizens of a Council of Europe member state. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of applicants’ communication skills, civic engagement, European commitment and ideas to implement a concrete activity impacting the debate on the programme’s focal topics. Affiliation to one of the foundations financing the programme, possession of particular artistic skills and/or belonging to a minority group will be considered advantages.
Find out more by registering HERE.
For any questions regarding the application process you may contact us at info@futurelabeurope.eu.
Additional information is available on the official webpage & HERE.