About us

YEPP is a collaborative initiative of several European and US foundations, the International Academy at the Free University of Berlin (INA), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) operating under the auspices of the Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation (NEF).

YEPP seeks to address social challenges and improve the lives of children and young people at risk in defined areas of social disadvantage throughout Europe. This is achieved in an integrated and systemic way by promoting coordinated efforts and strategic alliances of the public, private and independent sectors.

During the initial phase of YEPP (2001-2006), the participating foundations and their partners identified seven local communities in six European countries, as the focus of their activities. In these sites, YEPP provided a variety of opportunities for young people to actively participate in their local contexts. YEPP encouraged local ownership of the programme and promoted its sustainability.

The local processes were supported by internal evaluations, based on action research; through capacity building at the local level; and through exchanges and know-how transfer at the national, European, and international levels. The OECD/CERI undertook an external review of the programme's development.

The current partners then decided to extend the programme by a further multi-year period (2007 - 2011) during which new partners with similar visions will be engaged, new sites within Europe will be developed and policies supporting the empowerment, inclusion and participation of vulnerable children and young people will be advocated.

The YEPP Community Network will continue to influence and be influenced by an international exchange of experience, expertise and best practices both within and outside of Europe.

For more information please download our promotional material as pdf documents:

YEPP Flyer in English

YEPP Flyer in German

YEPP Flyer in Polish

YEPP Flyer in French

YEPP Flyer in Swedish

YEPP Flyer in Finnish

YEPP Flyer in Italian

YEPP 2007 - 2011: A brief overview