APPLY NOW! Study Session: "Sustainable Development Goals and Youth with Disabilities"

The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) Youth Network, in cooperation with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, is pleased to invite you to apply for the 2022 Study Session ”Sustainable Development Goals and Youth with Disabilities: What We Can Do?”. This Study session will take place at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, France, from 13 to 18 June. It includes 6 full days of programme, and two travel days. Participants are expected to arrive on June 12 and depart on June 19.

The Study Session aims to help participants to discover how they can strengthen the capacity of youth organisations, so they help persons with disabilities participate in decision making processes at local and national levels. You will get instruments to use for allowing access of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights, and encourage them to get active in their communities. The knowledge gained during the Study Session will make participants learn:

• How youth with disabilities can be engaged in political processes;
• How to empower inclusive and accessible education for youth with disabilities;
• Ways to get funds that support activities and business ideas;
• How to mainstream gender equality in daily life and in the functioning of the organisations;
• The role of personal assistance in the life of persons with disabilities;
• And much more.

Moreover, we will create a safe space to explore these concepts, which will be translated into tangible small actions (through individual action plans drafted by all the participants).

This Study Session is for:

35 people with disabilities, (age 18-35), residents of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe and parties to the European Cultural Convention (Belarus, Holy See, and Kazakhstan).

Note: Only 25% of participants can be over the age of 30.

Participants profile:

• Persons with disabilities living in urban and semi-urban areas / rural areas;
• Students or graduates in: Law, human rights, social/political science, or technical background or other relevant fields for this Study Session;
• All genders;
• 18-35 years of age;
• Fluent in English.

Participants should be interested in social inclusion, political participation of youth with disabilities, human rights and gender equality. They should also be willing to share what they have learned and implement activities in their local communities after the Study Session.

Technical information:

The participants will be selected based on their experience and motivation to continue advocating for the rights of youth with disabilities after the Study Session. The selection team will ensure there is a gender, geographical and organisational balance, by choosing 1-2 participants per country. Please note that your specific needs or accessibility requirements are not part of selection criteria. Therefore, when applying, you are strongly encouraged to indicate any adjustments we should make, so you can be as active and productive as possible. This includes bringing your personal assistant, accommodation of assistance animals, sign language interpretation, speech to text or text to speech support, a loop system, accessibility of work and lodging among others.

Fee: 50€ (includes accommodation, food, programme, travel & visa costs).

Application deadline: 28.02.2022