What did our participants want to achieve together? (Part II)

How will Power4Youth promote "Be the change you want to see in the world"? The YOUTH will be the change. Here is some quotes from the young people about why they want to participate with Power4Youth in 2012:

"We would like to support and promote young people in care in implementing changes in their lives and the lives of other. We would also like to promote quality care of young people. We would like to be involved in consultations and in discussions and decision – making in our country. We feel that this seminar can be a great contribution to our thinking and experience, we hope to learn new skills and come back home with new information."

Lucie, Czech Republic

"My reason and motivation to participate in this seminar is that I can share my way of life after leaving my institution and enter my host family... Because I volunteered for the Foundation (For Our Children) engaged in projects related to integration and training of children to leave their upcoming institutions believe that they will gain experience that would help me for my work in Bulgaria - Planning and imagining things (as a former graduate of the home for children deprived of parental care), how share experience gained after I left the institution on how such children should be able to collide with real life beyond."

Yanko, Bulgaria

"Find ways to help youth in (alternative) care in Malta."

Bernard, Malta

"I am excited to see our organisation developing and am very interested in forging our future plans together. As an experienced young person, I am eager to help others that need guidance or help. I will also happily contribute with whatever skills that might be useful and unique for me."

Kersti, Estonia

"To be part of the international event that gathers many ‘life experts’ that have gotten help from the system and are now contributing to improving it, it is always great to change experiences and good practices. I now work also as a youth educator, for more than 3 years now and can apply the knowledge and practical information directly to the young people I work with. Also I can contribute with my experience, as a child from alternative care system, but also and educator who has already a certain experience."

Meelis, Estonia

"Our group has already arranger seminar for youth in care. Our next aim is to build up a youth in care network in Finland. After the seminar I would like to know more about best practices and ideas in different countries and try those in our own work when building up a network."

Sami, Finland

"I am very interested in meeting young people from other countries who have been in care. I hope to share my experiences and learn from them also, about the things that are good and how I can use this information to make things better for other young people in care and change the system in Ireland and make it better... Using social media to raise awareness of the issues, what’s wrong with the system and what needs to change to make things better for young people in care... Get involved in bringing information to the people who make decisions... Help other young people get involved and speak up for themselves"

Dean, Ireland

"I would love to exchange life experiences in fostercare and learn from people around Europe. Coincidentally at the moment I am gathering people all over the Netherlands who have lived in fostercare. This initiative is at its very beginning. This conference is something different though. The reason I got so enthusiastic about it, because it is an opportunity to be able to change something in the policy of fostercare and learn about it and to have a voice in what is happening in fostercare."

Madeliene, Netherlands

"I would like to make the existing network stronger, build on what we already got. I can’t wait to share experiences and make plans on how to expand our network. The non-formal learning method is known but still a bit new, and I love to work with it to expand my knowledge and ability to advocate for youth in alternative care."

Marit, Netherlands

"My main motivation is the desire to acquire new knowledge. At the end of the seminar I would like to know enough that I could transfer the lessons learned in my organization."

Julijana, Croatia

"I’m hoping to gain further insight into the possibilities of what Power4Youth can do and how I can best use the skills I have to offer. My experiences working as a consultant care leaver and previous training have meant that I am able to offer mentoring, support, guidance to other care experienced people.  Amongst other things I have been working on some training which aims to be delivered by care leavers for care leavers."

Ian, UK (England)

"I can share the experiences what we have done in Finland and support to use these methods also in other countries. ... I believe I can find something what I really want to be doing. And as I said, I hope I can hear stories what other guys have done and get new ideas how to develop our work in Finland"

Pipsa, Finland

To read more motivations from other participants, visit: P4Y Participant Motivations (part 1)

Ruzzel, Norway : Franceska, Bulgaria : Danielle, Ireland : Chelsea, UK (England) : Ada, Norway : Zeljka, Croatia : Radka, Czech Republic : Cristian, Romania : Miko, Netherlands