More than 2 million children from some 60 countries took part in the 2009 international letter writing competition for young people organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The theme chosen for this year was “Decent Work”, a notion at the heart of the work of the International Labour Organization (ILO). First prize was awarded to a 14-year-old girl from the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. Here is how her letter about a bar of chocolate lead to her realizing the value of decent work. Read more about this news, click here

The article wrote by Mark Scott published at Spiegel Online International highlighted that “with one in five Gen Yers unable to find work, a new “lost generation” may be in the making in Europe“.

The current global economic crisis hit people around the world, with massive layoff, not only in developing countries but also in developed countries.  Young people hard hit by this crisis, they were 2.8 times as likely to be unemployed that adults at the global level.

Paradox situation that well-educated youth also difficult to find jobs, decent jobs! Read the experience of Jerome Delorme, 23-year-old has a master’s degree in European studies from the prestigious Sciences Po university in Grenoble - speaks fluent English, and has already had several high-profile internships. But in three months of looking for work, Delorme has been able to land only another internship, at a nonprofit organization. “The crisis has made getting a real job very difficult,”

To learn more, click here

Read also this link: Recession Robs Spain’s Youth of Jobs and Hope

Stavern , Norway. The 4th Fagforbundet Youth Summer Conference is held in Stavern from 19-21 June. Over 160 young delegates jointly in attractive and interactive program of this summer conference. The delegates who are below 30 years spent worth of time to gathering and discussing. It is about youth empowerment that the delegates travel from around Norway for Stavern. They are exploring new learning, discuss the current issue affecting young people, make a new friend, new network, and have a lot fun. While there, participants attend wide variety of subject: panel seminars, panel debates, guest speakers and other outdoors activities to bond togetherness.

The conference began with the opening speak of the Fagdorbundet Ungdom (Fagforbundet Youth) Chair, Linn Elisabeth Hemmingsen, and the President of the Fagforbundet, Jan Davidsen.

Family friendly conference being introduced to attract young couple that they can bring the family along while attend conference.

The conference talk serious issue on housing that creates hard times for young people. For young, both singles and couples as well as for families with young children – housing expenses rose considerably. Housing expenses were as high or higher while at the same time incomes were significantly lower. Need strong strong policy to overcome and help the young people said Linn on her opening remark.

Click here and here for the photos of conference

The European trade union movement launched last March a campaign to fight the social and economic crisis. ETUC is on the offensive for a New Social Deal in Europe, calling for: an extended recovery programme; stronger welfare states; an end to the recent decisions of the European Court of Justice favouring market freedoms over workers’ fundamental rights and collective agreements; an effective regulation of financial markets and a fair distribution of wealth.

This wide-ranging campaign ‘Fight the crisis: put the people first’ places citizens at the heart of the campaign and will serve to make the governments assume their responsibility of providing European responses to the crisis, rather than simply taking case-by-case measures. Read more, click here