COVID-19 contingency disclaimer  Criteria according to which we move from an in-person/hybrid event to a fully digital one: 

1. We follow closely and evaluate the situation through the reopen EU page to check restrictions.
2. We advice for representatives from risk groups not to come but rather connect online for the events (possibility to be hybrid will be offered - also in case of restrictions). Please let us know at least 3 weeks before the event if you have such a need. 
3. If more than 30% of the organisations are unable to attend in person due to restrictions then we move the discussion under alert - emergency planning with the Bureau potentially moving it online. 
4. Representatives attending should commit to not come if sick/with symptoms or were in close contact with a sick person. Then, no show fees won’t apply. 
5. Event specific regular updates on a weekly basis on the website page will be made starting second part of August.

YCA 2020 

  The Young Changemakers Academy is a programme aiming to prepare young people to take active part in their respective communities by shaping their future in given policy areas, by means of three seminars and networking support with other young people and senior political figures from all over Europe with similar interests and objectives. The Young Changemakers Academy shall be a platform to connect young changemakers engaging in political advocacy. The Young Changemakers Academy is organised by the European Liberal Forum (ELF) with the support of LYMEC (European Liberal Youth) and our partners VVD International and Friedrich Naumann Foundation. You feel passionate about a cause? You have an idea for a project? Learn how to advocate for your project and make change happen!   Event I  Friday 2 October to Sunday 4 October, The Hague (The Netherlands) This seminar will encourage young people to start their own projects and present them to stakeholders. The seminar is divided into two parts: The first part focuses on leadership skills as well as on setting learning objectives for the programme, and the second part on presentation skills, personal and project branding. By the end of this seminar, participants will:

• Have set their learning objectives
• Worked on their personal and project branding
• Have received rhetoric training

  EVENT SCHEDULE (Hybrid event both in The Hague and Online)  Friday, 2 October 2020 Venue: Bleyenberg – De Cortenbach room + online 14:00    Arrival 15:30    Opening speeches Ines Holzegger, LYMEC Bureau member Lauren Mason, Project Coordinator, ELF 16:00    Get to know each other and introduction to the YCA Moderator: Ines Holzegger, LYMEC Bureau member 16:30    Learning objectives setting and short presentation of the advocacy projects Moderator: Marten Porte, Treasurer LYMEC 17:30    Feedback and wrap-up session Moderator: Ines Holzegger, LYMEC Bureau member 19:00    Dinner at Bleyenberg END OF THE FIRST DAY   Saturday, 3 October 2020 Venue: Bleyenberg – De Cappon room + online 9:00      Leadership skills Lousewies van der Laan, D66 trainer, former ALDE Party Vice-President 10:30    COFFEE BREAK 10:50    Presentation and rhetoric skills training Carsten Zwaaneveld, D66 trainer, former advisor to the D66 delegation in Dutch parliament 12:30   LUNCH 13:30    Personal branding session Moderator: Ines Holzegger, LYMEC Bureau member 15:00    COFFEE BREAK 15:20    Advocacy project branding session Moderator: Marten Porte, Treasurer LYMEC 17:00    Interactive video wrap-up session 19:00    Dinner at Corona hotel END OF THE SECOND DAY   Sunday, 4 October 2020 END OF THE EVENT and travel back   Event II Friday 23 October to Sunday 25 October, Online  The second event will focus on lobbying for the participants’ own projects, grassroots campaigning as a way of achieving greater impact and agenda-setting. Furthermore, the progress and difficulties in realizing the individual projects will be discussed with experts in advocacy. By the end of this seminar, participants will:

• Have a clear idea of how to advocate on behalf of their projects
• Know how to reach a greater impact for their causes
• Have a clear vision of the next steps in the advocacy project process and how to make it happen

Event III  Friday 27 November to Sunday 29 November, Online In this final event, the participants will be paired up with an MEP and will be able to follow the work of them, in order to increase their hands-on understanding of advocacy on an EU level. The shadowing will be preceded by an informational part the day before to learn about online activism. The event will end with a joint discussion about what was learned and what insights the participants gained. By the end of this seminar, participants will:

• Have ideas for social media communication about their projects
• Know about the advantages and risks of online activism
• Have grown their network relevantly with relevant European political figures
• Have an idea on how to engage MEPs for a cause and manage to represent their interests at a European level

Additional support Network: participants will be in touch with one another and will be invited to support each other with their challenges/projects relating to the learning objectives of the programme; Additional training options: participants will have access to LYMEC online training events that will be taking place in the upcoming months. Application criteria

• Short CV/Resume (IN THE FORM)
• Motivation letter (IN THE FORM)
• Nomination letter by a LYMEC Member Organisation (to be sent by email to [email protected] and [email protected]) 
• Completing the form and replying to all the questions
• Short description (maximum 250 words) about the advocacy project the applicant is planning to work on to shape his/her future and community (IN THE FORM)
• The applicant must be between 18 and 35 years of age
• Applicants cannot be candidates at elections (at any level of governance) before, during and 12 months after the last YCA event takes place

  Call for Applications Every LYMEC Member Organisation (MO) will be able to nominate one person as an applicant. The official MO representative to LYMEC, normally the International Officer or a reported MO Board Member, will have to fill out the registration form with answers to all questions (including the short CV of the chosen candidate for the spot, the written motivation by the applicant, and most importantly a short description of the advocacy project). A nomination letter signed by a representative of the MO should be sent by email to [email protected] and [email protected]. All has to be submitted before the deadline. All applications, fulfilling all specified application requirements, have to be submitted by Friday, 24 July 2020 at 10 h CEST (Brussels time) through this form.   Only 10 spots are available for this programme. Therefore, MOs are encouraged to look thoroughly for a promising participant and project in their organisation.   Evaluation criteria

• Having a strong and preferably demonstrable interest in becoming involved in youth advocacy,
• Full commitment to making it to all the programme sessions (if need be skipping other commitments), as well as to proactively participate in the broader (online) learning and networking process involved during the duration of the programme,
• Be an actor of change that has the potential to shape the future of the given community or society in a certain way,
• Note, in addition, that if the number and level of quality of applications overcome our expectations, extra priority will be given to those applicants that show the greatest level of need for the skills hereby provided.

  Travel reimbursement and no participation fee There will be no participation costs, meals and accommodation will be covered during the events. There will be at least partial travel refunds, participants must buy their own tickets and request a reimbursement after the event. Please keep all original receipts, tickets, invoices and boarding passes.   Cancellation policy As all LYMEC events, this seminar also applies the rules of late cancellation and no show fees: Cancellation less than 2 weeks prior to each event leads to a late cancellation fee of 50 EUR, and cancellation less than 48 hours prior to each event or not attending at all leads to a no show fee of 100 EUR. Participants need to be minimum 18 years old at the start of the event. By registering for this event you agree to our updated privacy policy and understand that your personal data will be shared with the European Liberal Forum for administrative purposes. You also agree your name to appear during the online event to other participants and to a broader public during live-streamed sessions.   Events organised by European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) may be audio- and video-recorded as well as web-streamed. A photographer and/or a cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may have access to the meeting room in order to take pictures and videos for communication and publication purposes. Videos and pictures taken by the photographer and/or cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may also be published on the LYMEC website and on related social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.). They may also be used in other media and means of communication in order to pass on information about the event and activities of LYMEC. The European Liberal Forum might also use the pictures, video or audio in their communications. ***Disclaimer: By registering for this event you give your permission for LYMEC and European Liberal Forum to use your picture in their promotional campaigns and materials and communication about the event. Please make clear in advance if you do not wish your picture to be used by LYMEC or ELF.***  

*** REGISTER by Friday, 24 July 2020 at 10 h CEST (Brussels time) through this form ***