Model European Union Vienna 2021
2021-1-AT01-KA154-YOU-000012195

Summary

Since youth work is a practice with young people based on certain core values and principles requiring the establishment of voluntary relationships with young people, links with communities and other relevant organisations, and professional supervision from experienced practitioners, we want to implement MEU Vienna as an educational platform for youth in Austria and the region. Specifically, we want our participants who come from all across Europe and even beyond, to learn more about the EU, its institutions, the legislative procedure and negotiation processes. Through this, there will be a better understanding and awareness about the EU agenda, allowing for youth to be more informed about the EU, the society they live in and be able to contribute and take part actively in more than one way in shaping today and importantly, the society and future of tomorrow. Hence, we view the project to be a necessary push for the current and future generation to be active in politics at the national and also European level, providing an out-of-university experience through non-formal learning methods.

Similarly, as a voluntary organisation established by youth for youth, we also work with youth-led and youth-centered organizations to help bring this project to life. Through the opening ceremony, webinars preceding the main event, there are multiple avenues for politicians, professionals and experts in EU politics to contribute to the learning experience of participants and youth in general. This allows us to expand the quality and type of activities that we execute as an organisation. Moreover, we interact closely with various other national branches of Bringing Europeans Together Associations who also conduct Model European Union simulations in their respective countries. This interaction comes in the form of direct involvement as organisers in the organising team of MEU Vienna as well as through the sharing of knowledge and expertise to ensure that at the end of the day, the participant learning experience is optimised.

Furthermore, another objective of the project, from the standpoint of youth work practice, is to establish a network within Austria or Europe itself, where ex-participants and alumni of previous editions of the project are able to still take part in organising future editions of the simulation. This ensures the sustainability of the project and our organisation and allows for continuous input to be directed towards the improvement of the simulation as a whole, to the benefit of youth in Austria, Europe, and beyond.