Over 10,000 youths contribute to European Capital bid

Over 10,000 young people have become involved in developing Derry & Strabane's bid to become European Youth Capital.
The team driving the European Youth Capital bid locally.The team driving the European Youth Capital bid locally.
The team driving the European Youth Capital bid locally.

The final bid has now been lodged and Derry is in the running alongside four other areas across Europe.

The ‘Youth Capital’ a title granted by the European Youth Forum for a period of one year, during which the chosen region is given the chance to showcase its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development.

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The Council’s Director of Legacy, Oonagh McGillion, told the Governance and Strategic Planning Committee at its October meeting that young people have been at the heart of the bid process.

Ms McGillion said that thousands of young people “have been involved” in helping to shape the draft EYC19 Programme.

The young people have prioritised five areas which are: Youth Democracy, Health and Wellbeing, Education & Skills, Access and Inclusion and Cultural Programme, for development.

Independent Councillor Darren O’Reilly congratulated staff working on the project and said this was a “great foundation to build upon”, and said that he hoped the project would lead to help for young people, not just in terms of fun events but in issues like mental health and unemployment.

SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney said: “It is very important we do all we can to give young people the opportunities we may not have had at that age.”