Youthnet Hellas is a non-governmental and non-profit organization that aims at engaging young people at local, national, European and international level through activities and interventions. Youthnet Hellas, started as a Youth Network 15 years ago, evolved into a Confederation of Local Youth Councils countrywide, and eventually from 2009 onwards developed into its current form, that of a flexible and modern NGO with members from all over Greece.
Youthnet Hellas, is aiming to promote young people’s participation, information, life long learning, social inclusion, voluntarism and active citizenship in community life in National, European and International level.
Youthnet Hellas’ specific goals are:
• enhancing the role of young people at decision-making centers
• promoting the role of NGOs in National, European and International level
• promoting multicultural dialogue
• endorsing the development and implementation of politics supporting children’s and young people’s rights
• encouraging environment-friendly actions that lead to better life quality
• advocating respect for democracy, peace, diversity and human rights
• participating in actions that contribute to the financial and social development of developing countries, the strengthening of democratic values and human rights respect
• encouraging exchange mobility and dialogue amongst young people regardless of their nationality
•promoting Lifelong Learning
Youthnet Hellas is implementing the following projects:
- Research, writing and presentation of the 2009 to 2015 Annual Youth Reports that were completed by an in depended – nongovernmental organization for the first time in Greece. For this project, Youthnet Hellas has been awarded the European Citizens’ Prize for 2013.
- Participation along with other 5 NGOs in the National Work Group on Youth Employment within the framework of structured dialogue for the European Cooperation in Youth Sector (Nationally coordinated by the GSY).
- Project STEPS4NGOs (“Strategic tools for effective promotion and sustainability for NGOs”), a Youth in the World – Action 3.2. project aiming at enhancing skills of NGOs with the participation of NGOs from Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, Nepal, Vietnam, Mexico & Peru.
- Three Grundtvig projects: “The threads that connect us”, “Feeling Younger by Getting Older” (A Star EU project) and “Uniting Senior Volunteers through Media”. All three projects are Life Long Learning projects funded by the E.C. Directorate General of Education and Culture.
- Youthnet Hellas has been the Youth Supporting Organisation during the Heraklion City candidacy for European Youth Capital 2012 and 2014. Both times the candidacy managed to get into the three short-listed European cities for the title of European Youth Capital tittle.
- Youthnet Hellas is an organisation that is cooperating with many Youth NGOs in Europe and globally-wide. It has experience in youth policy as it is an organization that has been active in the field of youth since 2009. Its current president Mr. Dimitrios Makrystathis was a member of the “Advisory Council on Youth” of the Council of Europe (2014-2015), and member of the Organising Team of the "World Forum for Democracy" (2014 & 2015 editions).
- Participation in over 200 EU European Projects (Youth in Action) in various EU countries with active participation of 1000 Young men and women from Greece. This volume of EU projects, brings Youthnet Hellas, informally, at the top spots amongst other Greek NGOs that participate in similar EU projects.
- Youthnet Hellas through funding from UNESCO and the State of Kuwait implemented the You.Re.Ca. project. Through the You.Re.Ca. project 51 Youth leaders worldwide (from 4 different continents) were trained from Youthnet Hellas for developing capacities as youth leaders and workers.
- Youthnet Hellas is currently partner in a KA3 project in the structural dialogue for Youth Policy Reform.