engleski

Background paper: Role of information and counselling in fostering young people's social inclusion and access to their rights

Knowledge is power and possessing information is certainly one of the most important liberating force s . People who hold information can exercise their rights of citizenship, they can actively take part in politics and in civil society, and last but not least if they have an understanding of their situation and alternatives they also have more freedom of choice. Inevitably young people have a special need for information and c ounselling . Being adolescent is probably the most impor tant period when those decisions have to be made that could have lifelong effects. Finding the right direction in education, entering the labour market and starting a career, finding a partner, leaving parents’ home an d beginning an independent life, dealing with money and with other responsibilities – just to name a few – a ll requir e well - informed and well - grounded decisions. In an ideal world these decisions would be made on complete and comprehensive information supported by adequate counselling from family members and various institutions ( e.g. schools). Of course , this does not happen in many cases , so young people clearly need those services that let them “ have access to comprehensive, accurate and balanced information that responds to their needs and questions and is designed for them, thus being customised and easily understood . ” 2 As far as the three main topics of the symposium (1. social inclusion, 2. employment and entrepreneurship, 3. learnin g and geographical mobility) are concerned in South East Europe, it is evident that meaningful youth information and counselling should be fundamental elements of youth policy and youth work in the region. Of course , information and counselling are necessa ry but not sufficient conditions for combatting against social inclusion, improving labour market positions of young people, and broadening their possibilities for mobility.

South-east Europe; youth; social inclusion; information

nije evidentirano