MedNYouth

The Youth Council of the Mediterranean New Chance Network 

MedNYouth, which brings together young people from Second Chance Schools and integration programmes, is a unique and unprecedented initiative in the Mediterranean. It promotes cooperation in a region marked by diversity and shared challenges and fosters intercultural dialogue in a multilingual context (4+ languages). It places NEET youth at the heart of discussions on the region’s social, economic, civic engagement, and climate issues. Too often excluded from decision-making spaces, MedNYouth is a forum built by and for the young people concerned, with the goal of empowering them to help build an inclusive and sustainable future.

Its history

As part of the activities outlined in the network’s 2023–2024 Advocacy Strategy—and its goal of enabling youth to make their voices heard—the members of the Mediterranean New Chance Network expressed the desire to create a “Youth Council,” bringing together young beneficiaries of their integration programmes as well as their trainers. In June 2024, trainers developed an application process to select 2–3 young people (men and women) per organisation.

In September 2024, the elected youth representatives met online for the first time, marking the beginning of a collaborative process aimed at shaping active youth participation within and beyond the network. MedNYouth was officially launched by the young members in October 2024 in Rome during the network’s annual conference. In May 2025, the first MedNYouth seminar took place in Marseille, bringing together young people from nine different countries.

Its objectives

• Exchange : MedNYouth is a space for work, discussion and dialogue between young people and trainers.
• Participate : MedNYouth is a space for youth participation and proposals regarding the network’s activities (including advocacy).
• Learn : MedNYouth is a space for learning and developing leadership, communication, interpersonal skills, and youth engagement.

Its activities 

MedNYouth  is a space for exchange and new opportunities for young people. Representatives carry the voices of their peers as ambassadors within their schools or integration programmes. In 2024, a large-scale consultation involving 230 young people was conducted to identify the priorities of Mediterranean youth. Three key issues emerged: 1- Breaking stereotypes, 2-The importance of digital skills, 3-The difficulties young people face integrating into the labour market.

MedNYouth also helps make young people’s realities visible by enabling them to: participate in regional and international events, speak publicly, meet decision-makers, and share key messages with their peers at the local level.

In May, nine MedNYouth representatives met in Marseille for their first in-person gathering. After three days of rich exchanges, training sessions, and visits, the young participants collectively defined their roadmap for the coming months. Two clear objectives emerged from their consultation: