Despite abundant information sources, especially online, recent studies conducted by the ERYICA network reveal that young people across countries find it hard to access reliable and understandable information. In the context of mass disinformation, young people are more than ever in need of assistance in selecting and processing information to make their decisions. Information is a right and in the transition to adulthood, this right is key to shape the future. The essential aim of Youth Information and Counselling (YIC) is to assist young people in all aspects of their lives and their autonomous decision-making. While some specialised information services can be found in the Western Balkans, there are no national structures for generalist youth information services ensuring universal access of young people to quality information and counselling. Young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, significantly lack information on services and options related to essential aspects of everyday life such as healthcare, participation, mobility, education, employment, special support, protection, and so forth. With this project, we seek to set the basis to develop and expand YIC services in the Western Balkans (in the Programme Country North Macedonia and in the Partner Countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) and to promote the integration of the right of young people to information in national youth policies. Under the coordination of ERYICA (Luxembourg), The consortium is composed of CSOs operating in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and of ERYICA Members in Programme countries (Slovenia, North Macedonia and Spain).
Despite abundant information sources, especially online, recent studies conducted by the ERYICA network reveal that young people across countries find it hard to access reliable and understandable information. In the context of mass disinformation, young people are more than ever in need of assistance in selecting and processing information to make their decisions. Information is a right and in the transition to adulthood, this right is key to shape the future. The essential aim of Youth Information and Counselling (YIC) is to assist young people in all aspects of their lives and their autonomous decision-making. While some specialised information services can be found in the Western Balkans, there are no national structures for generalist youth information services ensuring universal access of young people to quality information and counselling. Young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, significantly lack information on services and options related to essential aspects of everyday life such as healthcare, participation, mobility, education, employment, special support, protection, and so forth. With this project, we seek to set the basis to develop and expand YIC services in the Western Balkans (in the Programme Country North Macedonia and in the Partner Countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) and to promote the integration of the right of young people to information in national youth policies. Under the coordination of ERYICA (Luxembourg), The consortium is composed of CSOs operating in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and of ERYICA Members in Programme countries (Slovenia, North Macedonia and Spain).