Discover Europe and find out a world of opportunities! In Florence experiences are shared with Youth on the Move

Florence, 11 February 2011 -  Curbing school drop off rates from 15 to 10%, increasing the percentage of young people with a higher level degree from 31 to 40% within 2020, and leading employment rates for youth up to 75%: these are some of the objectives of the flagship EU strategy called “Europe 2020” set by Youth on the Move. This initiative, now involving Florence, is aimed at improving access to the labour market through experiences such as fellowships and European cooperation projects. The launch in Italy of Youth on the Move, aiming at broadening the learning mobility opportunities for all young people to the year 2020, will take place in Florence from the 7th to the 9th of May within the framework of the Festival d’Europa.
“In this period of crisis, - stated Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth – our best investment is on people, allowing them to acquire the key skills to adapt and to face a rapidly evolving society. Mobility and adaptability are essential to provide a chance to each one of them. They must be the rule and not the exception. They provide young people with the possibility to improve their linguistic knowledge, to enrich their cultural background and to broaden up their horizons”.
Youth on the Move is an initiative promoted by the European Commission, which has already achieved excellent results in many European cities, especially in Budapest and Bordeaux. For the first time, it will reach Italy in May. The event is aimed at raising young people’s awareness on the importance of mobility in Europe to achieve better opportunities and to implement all the linguistic, professional and social skills which are pre-requisites for future employment.
Youth on the Move also aims at highlighting tools and opportunities that EU Programmes make available to support mobility, such as study and training fellowships, cooperation programmes, teaching exchange programmes and volunteer activities abroad.
One of the main squares in the city centre of Florence will host a number of expositions to present to the public some of the experiences carried with the financial support of EU funds.
Young people will be the protagonists, benefiting from the opportunity to meet and interact in playful and creative ways. Youth on the Move is an occasion to exchange ideas and create new links. The Florence event is especially aimed at the public to raise citizens’ awareness on the contribution that European Union initiatives can provide, to improve the future of young people, especially with actions supporting mobility.
The programme of the Youth on the Move days is organized by LLP National Agencies (www.programmallp.it) and Youth in Action (www.agenziagiovani.it).