With our call to take part in the global climate strike, we would also like to draw your attention to our active citizenship efforts in general. Whilst active citizenship was one of three guiding values of the previous Board, it has in the meantime been formalised as a floating portfolio (i.e. one of the portfolios that the Board Members allocate among themselves after their election). Additionally, it is represented in the new National Strategy 2021-25 of EYP Austria (1.1 Societal Impact, 1.4 Educational Value, 3.3 Pluralism), as well as the international EYP Strategy 2021-25 (first pillar, “A network that works as a catalyst for Active Citizenship”).

This year it is my pleasure to be in charge of this new portfolio, and I hope to realise projects that will inform our members on issues of our time and encourage them to actively shape their future and exchange their views among each other. To achieve this, I hope to have you on my side. If you are part of any interesting initiative that you would like to publicise or discuss, please reach out to me (Philipp Leindl | philipp.leindl@eyp.at | +43 6645229286 | Social Media | EYP AT Discord) so that we can find an adequate outlet! As the Board, we are happy to support constructive causes that are compatible with our articles of association.

In the tradition of the previous Boards, the current one has also determined a guiding value for its term under the supervision of the Advisory Board.

This year, the Board will focus on “Mehrwert”, the benefits and perks that members of EYP Austria, session participants, team leaders and members, and even Board Members themselves can get through EYP activities and in their positions. Specifically, this means all types of learning experiences and educational opportunities that can come with different tasks in the organisation. Furthermore, it also includes the friendships that are made through EYP, and even the simple joy of partaking in EYP activities itself.

Through the format of the guiding value and with the help of the Advisory Board, we want to put these aspects of EYP Austria at the top of the agenda – without sidelining the other important parts of our work. Concretely, this will happen through personal goals of Board Members, but the guiding value will also be something that the Board will refer to in light of decisions for the organisation, and will become a part of how the Board approaches its day-to-day business as well.

We hope that we can get you on board with our guiding value and that it will have a positive impact on EYP Austria!

The International Office is holding EYP Summer Talks over the months of June, July, August and September to gather opinions on some of the most relevant topics of the EYP network, with the following talks still lying ahead:

• Role of the International Office in the EYP structure – postponed due to calendar issues, a new date will be communicated shortly
• Alumni Work – 2 September, 18:00 CEST

The next one with a fixed date is happening on Thursday, 2 September, at 18:00 CEST, and will centre around Alumni Work in EYP. We encourage our members to use this opportunity to get informed and discuss their opinions on the topic! You can register for this and all upcoming talks here.