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Antwerp European Youth Capital kicks off

More than 800 young people pored into Antwerp Central station on 4-5th of March to celebrate to launch of Antwerp European Youth Capital.

Concerts and activities were organised all over the station, turning the old building into one great bustling party. This weekend is the start of year long activities, with more than 150 events, celebrations and creative projects programmed throughout the year.

The "European Youth Capital" (EYC) is a title designated to a European city for a period of one year, during which it will showcase its youth related cultural, social, political and economic life and development. The EYC aims to empower youth on all levels, in order to encourage them to be more proactive actors in shaping and developing their societies.

As a city that has devoted considerable resources to its youth over the years, Antwerp represents an ideal host for the project. There are over 200 youth clubs - with 5,000 dedicated volunteers manning them - throughout the city, and each of its nine districts has a Jeugdraad, or Youth Council. Moreover, Antwerp is an incredibly youthful city: there are more than 124,000 people younger than 25 in Antwerp, one third of the city's population.

The European Youth Forum first launched the European Youth Capital project in 2009, with the city of Rotterdam chosen as the inaugural host. It was the turn of Turin last year whilst Braga, Portugal and Maribor, Slovenia have been chosen for 2012 and 2013 respectively.

In becoming European Youth Capital, each city is making a commitment to youth that will not only benefit the city throughout the duration of their appointment, but for years to come. If you think your city would make a great European Youth Capital, encourage your local authorities to apply for the right to host the title in 2014! The deadline for applications is 1st May 2011.

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