Who we are

ERYICA is an independent, European organisation gathering 42 national and regional youth information coordinating bodies present in 26 countries.

Mission / Vision / Values

We believe in building a society where young people have access to youth-friendly, reliable and comprehensive information that promotes their autonomy and well-being, while encouraging their active participation in society.

ERYICA strives to support and further youth information and counselling in Europe and beyond.

Find out more about our values and vision in the European Youth Information Charter.

+ Our history

What is youth information?

Youth information and counselling aims to uphold the right of young people to full and reliable information. It helps them to make informed choices, and promotes their autonomy, their ability to think critically, and their active participation in society.

Youth information and counselling seeks to inform and accompany young people on the delicate path to adulthood. A transitory and challenging period in which young people are expected to make a myriad of important decisions that will no doubt highly influence their future. These decisions need to be based on unbiased, complete and comprehensive information.

Generalist youth information and counselling work covers all topics that interest young people, and can include a whole spectrum of activities. The term “youth information and counselling” can encompass a wide range of services, such as informing, counselling, supporting, coaching, training, peer-to-peer networking, or referral to specialised services.

  • The generalist approach to youth information, adopted by ERYICA’s partners, places the questions and needs of young people at its core.

    What is generalist youth information?

    This approach—which has been tested and implemented since the late 1960s in more than 30 European counties—encourages the youth information and counselling centre (or service) to tackle the wide-ranging issues and questions of its users, by either responding directly or by referring them to a specialised organisation.

    The centre (or service) may also make relevant information from other sources available, as well as provide other complimentary services to its young users—including youth discount cards, transport services, cheap accommodation, or support in organising youth projects.

    The primary concern is to provide the young user with maximum choice while respecting their autonomy and anonymity.

    Guidelines (based on the European Youth Information Charter)

    — Respond to the needs of all young people, without exception.

    — Provide practical, pluralistic, accurate and regularly updated information on a wide range of subjects, in a variety of forms.

    — Personalise information for each user, respecting confidentiality and anonymity while providing maximum choice and enhancing their autonomy.

    — When necessary, refer the user to a specialised information service.

  • When there’s need for more precise information, the generalist youth information centre relies on specialised national and European bodies focused on a specific area of competence.

    A crucial function of a local generalist youth information centre is to develop and maintain good knowledge of the local and national specialised information services, in order provide the relevant resources to young people. Furthermore, the centre should continually develop contacts and cooperation with relevant youth-related services to offer the most complete and comprehensive service to its users.

    Specialised topics

    — Career guidance

    — Studies and scholarships

    — Jobs and training

    — General health

    — Relationships and sexuality

    — Social security benefits

    — Young people’s rights

    — Consumer rights

    — Legal advice

    — European opportunities for young people

    — Youth activities and exchanges

our AIMS

1.

To promote the principles of the European Youth Information Charter and to enhance their implementation.

2.

To support youth information and counselling structures and workers.

3.

To advocate for the right of young people to complete and reliable information at different levels.

Establishing quality standards and tools for service providers.

Promoting research on trends and service innovation to better meet young people´s needs.

Providing a European cooperation platform for youth information coordinating structures and professionals.

Offering youth information professionals support, resources, and training opportunities.

Engaging in youth policy development and implementation to make youth information visible.

Cooperating with international institutions, national authorities, and other CSOs.

Structure and Governance

  • General Assembly

    Composed of all its members, ERYICA’s General Assembly is its most important decision-making organ. It meets every year in an ordinary session hosted by a member of the network.



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  • Governing Board

    The Governing Board is elected by the General Assembly for a three-year mandate. It meets four-six times per year and is responsible for implementing the strategy of the agency.


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  • Secretariat

    The ERYICA Secretariat is currently based in Luxembourg, and is composed of 7 staff members. The Secretariat implements the decisions of the General Assembly and the Governing Board.


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  • Youth Ambassadors Commission

    The ERYICA Youth Ambassadors Commission (EYAC), established in 2022, is elected by the network of youth ambassadors for a 2-year mandate.

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