Great news! After having strongly contributed to the development of the Recommendations on Youth Work during the previous cycle, ECYC has been selected to participate in the 6th cycle of the Structured Dialogue as well! The theme of this cycle will be “Youth in Europe: what’s next?” and the three European Youth Conferences (EUYC) that compose the SD will take place in Tallinn (October 2017), Sofia (April 2018) and Vienna (October 2018).

Following an internal call at the beginning of the year, we selected Robert Nesirky from Youth Work Ireland to represent all member organisations of ECYC at the next EUYCs. Here's what Robert wrote about himself and his previous experience in the SD:

'Having lived in three countries I am conscious of the importance of community at a local, national and international level. Community is formed through engagement and thanks to the youth sector, I have been able to do so. I worked within the national youth participation structures in Ireland; including the national youth parliament, student unions, NGO's and the National Youth Council of Ireland. These opportunities were invaluable to my personal growth and my sense of engagement in my civic, social and cultural life. Upon joining third level education I have been lucky enough to avail of opportunities to engage at a European level. Last year I represented Ireland, the NYCI and Eryica at the Maltese EU Youth Conference, this year I hope to use the skill set I have been given by these opportunities as I represent ECYC in the SD.'

Robert already exceeded our expectations and even took on the role of Secretary of the European Working Group, composed of seventeen International Youth NGOs working together with the European Youth Forum to help ensure that the Structured Dialogue can be viewed as impactful at a European and a national level. 

On youth work, Robert says: 'I have maintained that youth work and participation should always have a strong focus on outreach. Youth organisations must ensure that the quality work provided by the European youth sector does not exist within a bubble, but actively engages at a grassroots level. I see myself as an example of this outreach existing and being successful. I grew up in a very rural area of Ireland, yet the participation structures at European and national levels were accessible to me.'

We wish Robert the best of luck in his new journey with us and we thank him for this time and commitment!