Youth Council

Call for Participation – Join the Reboot Youth Council

Are you passionate about fair and ecological food systems? Do you want to connect with other young people from all around Europe to fight for climate justice, agroecology and food sovereignty? Are you keen on bringing youth demands to political decision makers? Then you should become a member of the Youth Council for the European project “Rebooting the Food System: Youth Engagement for Agroecology and Due Diligence”.

Join now!

What is the Reboot project about?

Our global food system is broken: It favours a small number of large corporations and exploits both our planet and people – and existing policies ensure that it stays that way. Globalisation has created a food system with global food supply chains and large industrial food corporations. Today, the industrialised food sector is a major contributor to climate change and exploitative labour practices while the exponential creation of farmland is displacing entire communities and destroying natural habitats. Human rights violations and environmental destruction can therefore be found in almost every supermarket product.
As a European coalition of 14 civil society organisations from 9 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovenia), we are joining forces in the EU-funded project „Rebooting the food system“ and call for an agricultural revolution now! We want to replace the broken system and create a new one based on fair and sustainable principles. Our vision is an agriculture based on agroecological principles as a counter-model to industrialised food production.
Among the people who would benefit the most from the agricultural transition into a green and fair future is the European Youth. That is why we want to mobilise and empower them to become active agents of change to REBOOT THE FOOD SYSTEM.

What is the role of the Youth Council?

The Europe-wide project “Rebooting the food system” aims to empower marginalised voices, including youth, in their contribution and fight for fairer and more sustainable food systems. Our Youth Council makes sure that youth voices are well represented, both internally within the European coalition of 14 civil society organisations as well as externally towards the public and decision makers.
The Youth Council provides advice and strategic guidance to the project coalition for all youth-related project activities. This includes an interactive youth communication campaign, a multiplier programme, a digital community platform and specific research focused on youth. Moreover, the Youth Council contributes a youth perspective to the project’s policy demands and they help to shape the programme of an international youth conference.

The Youth Council may also develop own campaign activities to jointly achieve the objectives of the reboot project. Youth Council members are also representing the youth voice of the reboot project towards decision makers and will participate in youth advocacy challenges, panel discussions etc. Youth Council members work together to spread the vision of agroecology and they help to mobilise young people to get engaged in the struggle for fair and ecological food systems.

How does the Youth Council work?

The Youth Council consists of a group of about 10 young people (volunteers/activists) from all over Europe. They meet online regularly (about once a month, for approximately 1-2 hours), and partially also in person at various events, like international youth conferences. The language of communication is English (no need to be perfect). The time commitment to be active in the Youth Council is about five hours per month on average. Those can be flexible and during this time Youth Council members participate in online meetings for coordination, prepare youth statements, plan joint activities, take part in in-person meetings or panel discussions and also have fun together.
A coordinator supports the Youth Council and facilitates their work.

Requirements to join the Youth Council?

to be between 15 and 30 years old
to be nominated by one of the project partners (see list below) or third parties
to be able to communicate in English (you can understand others and make yourself understood, no perfect English needed)
to be passionate about climate justice, agroecology and food sovereignty (no need to be an expert in these topics, but strong sense of justice and motivation to learn throughout the term)
to be aware of privileges, mechanisms of oppression and discrimination (either through own experiences or through learning, no need to be an expert, but willing to reflect and learn)
to be able to commit approximately 5 hours per month

What’s in for you?

great learning experience (both content wise but also skills wise)
trainings and capacity building opportunities
meet peers from all around Europe with the same interests and passion and create joint campaigning activities
shaping the lines of a big EU project on food systems and agroecology with your inputs and ideas
access to political decision makers
possibility to participate in many project activities, like large international youth conferences, youth advocacy opportunities and more, free of costs
a certificate indicating your time of involvement and tasks within the Youth Council

The Youth Council should represent a diverse group of young people. Therefore, we especially encourage young people who are marginalised in society to consider joining the Youth Council, including queer youth, non-binary youth, Black youth, Indigenous youth and Young People of Colour, youth from rural backgrounds, financially less privileged youth.

How to apply?

If you are interested in joining, please get in touch with Susi, the Youth Council Coordinator: susi.hammel@bundjugend.de and let her know by which reboot partner organisation (see below) or third party you are nominated.

We are excited to work with you on shaping a fairer and more sustainable food system!

For questions regarding the Youth Council or if you are unsure about joining, you are very welcome to ask the Youth Council coordinator Susi via: susi.hammel@bundjugend.de

List of reboot partner organisations:

• Austria, Südwind – Verein für Entwicklungspolitik und Globale Gerechtigkeit
• Belgium, European Coordination Via Campesina
• Belgium, MIJARC – International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth – Europe
• Denmark, Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke – Action Aid Denmark
• France, Action Aid France – Peuples Solidaires
• France, Le Mouvement Rural de Jeunesse Chrétienne
• Germany, Christliche Initiative Romero e.V.
• Germany, BUNDjugend – Jugend im Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V.
• Hungary, Tudatos Vásárlók Közhasznú Egyesülete – Association of Conscious Consumers
• Hungary, CEEweb for Biodiversity
• Italy, MANI TESE ONG ONLUS
• Italy, We World
• Romania, Asociația Mai bine
• Slovenia, Focus – Association for Sustainable Development

Systeme umpflügen – reboot food!