Members meet in Rome for the 2024 annual conference

A 21st Steering Committee meeting under the banner of innovation and the involvement of young people in the network's activities

From 21 to 23 October, the Mediterranean New Chance Network (MedNC) held its 2024 Conference in Rome, providing an opportunity for professionals from 10 countries working in the region to promote the integration of young people in difficulty, to exchange best practices implemented in the region and to explore new avenues for collaboration. This year's event was marked by two major advances: the MedNGreen kit and the launch of the MednYouth Council.

The importance of working as a network

Under the theme ‘Promoting young people's autonomy: new skills for better integration’, the network's institutional day on 22 October 2024 began with inspiring speeches such as that of Joan Borrell from the Union for the Mediterranean :

« As a network, you are stronger. As part of a network, you can exchange best practice, get training and strengthen your capacity to take action. You gain in visibility and attract the interest of public authorities. A network makes it easier to forge solid partnerships with companies and institutions. We, at the Union for the Mediterranean, want to remain at your side to help you disseminate the results of your work. »

Joan Borrell, Deputy Secretary General for Higher Education and Research at the Union for the Mediterranean.

As part of this network dynamic, we were able to share with members the progress of the MedNC digital platform, an essential tool for pooling resources between network members. This new collaborative space has been designed to facilitate exchanges, encourage the sharing of best practice and strengthen cooperation within our community.

Equipping Mediterranean youth for a sustainable future

As part of its efforts to enhance the skills of training and economic integration professionals, the members of the Méditerranée Nouvelle Chance network have decided since 2022 to include environmental issues among its priorities.

The day was marked by two major advances:

Launch of the the MedNYouth Council

The young people inaugurated the MedNYouth Council, a youth council made up of members from 2nd Chance schools and integration schemes in the Mediterranean. This council is essential to ensure that the voice of young people is heard, that their expectations are met and that they are actively involved in the decisions that affect them. With the MedNYouth Council, the Réseau Méditerranée Nouvelle Chance is taking another step towards amplifying the voice of young people within the network.

Deployment of the MedNGreen pedagogical toolbox

The MedNGreen toolkit is designed to train young people in the Mediterranean in green skills and to raise their awareness of careers in the ecological transition. The next steps include training Moroccan and Tunisian coaches and trainers with the MedNC team to make effective use of the kit, as well as drawing up a strategic plan for wider implementation and funding.

Through these two initiatives, the New Mediterranean Network aims to equip young people to build their future and be active actors in their own lives in a world in transition.

Inclusion of young people by private actors

Finally, we also explored the potential of partnerships between private players and youth integration schemes. The members had the opportunity to meet various Italian and international private sector players (Schneider Electric, Groupe Fondation EDF, Yunus Social Business Center University of Florence, Federation of Italian Craftsmen (Confartigianato - CNA), Albergo Etico).

Thank you to our members for their involvement:

E2O / Portugal ; AL JISR / Maroc ; ANC TUNISIE / Tunisie ; APPRENTIS D’AUTEUIL / France ; CNOS-FAP / Italie ; E2O ESPAÑA / Espagne ; MIFTAH ENNAJAH SALES SCHOOL / Algérie ; MUNICIPALITÉ DE MATOSINHOS / Portugal ; L’HEURE JOYEUSE / Maroc ; RÉSEAU E2C FRANCE /France ; RÉSEAU DES ASSOCIATIONS DES ECOLES DE LA SECONDE CHANCE /MAROC ; SEMEURS D’AVENIR / Liban ; TAMSS / Tunisie ; VIS / Italie ; VTEC / Egypte ; SELA / Jordanie

We would also like to thank our partners for their support for Mediterranean youth: Agence Eramus+ France ; Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères ; Gouvernement de Monaco ; l'Agence Française de Développement ; La Fondation de France ; and Union pour la Méditerranée.