The EYP network is active in 40 countries across Europe. This is possible thanks to young volunteers who dedicate their free time to developing the organisation in their respective countries. Our National Committee spotlight series continues with Luke(19) from UK.
My name is Luke Moynan, I’m 19, and I began my journey in EYP back in 2017, where I was a delegate at the UK Summer National Session and then at the Thrace International Forum of EYP Greece. Since then I’ve taken on a number of roles within the organisation, including head organising a regional event, chairing and being on a jury team as well. I’ve been extremely grateful for the immense number and variety of opportunities that have been open to me in only a matter of two years.
I think I had a rather natural inclination to stay involved and to give others this opportunity as well, and set out to head organise a regional forum. Furthermore, last year I held the position of Regional Forum Coordinator on the NC. This involved me working with my close friend Lucy in liaising with the head organisers of each event to ensure that the standard set in former years is maintained and to ensure that the events run smoothly and effectively. Lucy and I had both been delegates at the same regional, national and international forum, and it was amazing to have the opportunity to work together again.
Having finished my role as Regional Forum Coordinator, I am now serving as President of the Alumni Association Executive, tasked with the running of EYPUK on a day to day basis. Alongside my amazing team, we are responsible for events, outreach, communication, fundraising and alumni development. This year we are setting out a number of ambitious plans and goals for each portfolio, building on our already impressive reach of events and organisation.
I
think I had a rather natural inclination to stay involved and to give others
this opportunity as well, and set out to head organise a regional forum.
Furthermore, last year I held the position of Regional Forum Coordinator on the
NC. This involved me working with my close friend Lucy in liaising with the
head organisers of each event to ensure that the standard set in former years
is maintained and to ensure that the events run smoothly and effectively. Lucy
and I had both been delegates at the same regional, national and international
forum, and it was amazing to have the opportunity to work together again.
The
role of Regional Forum Coordinator is slightly different to how it is coined
internationally, as EYPUK is rather unique in running its regional events in
the style of one day GA-days. Up to 100 delegates come from all over the region
having prepared speeches and points from the resolutions they have been
assigned, to debate them in the traditional EYP GA format. They are hugely
successful events in that we have a high number of loyal schools with
participate yearly as well as engaging with many new schools each year as well.
We are currently running fifteen of these events yearly in February and
March.
The
one day format is something we value highly as an organisation, as it allows us
to run more events and engage with more students year on year. Notably, we run
events in all four nations of the UK, and we bring them all together at our National
Sessions each Summer and Autumn. This diversity is something which we seek to
celebrate as an organisation, such as through the running of the traditional
Scottish Ceilidh at our national session this summer, and the inclusion of a
Welsh debate at our regional in Cardiff.
Having
finished my role as Regional Forum Coordinator, I am now serving as President
of the Alumni Association Executive, tasked with the running of EYPUK on a day
to day basis. Alongside my amazing team, we are responsible for events,
outreach, communication, fundraising and alumni development. This year we are
setting out a number of ambitious plans and goals for each portfolio, building
on our already impressive reach of events and organisation.
One element of our organisation of which we are particularly proud is our outreach scheme – EurVoice. These are free one day events where young people aged 11-18 come together and participate in various workshops as well as a question-time style Q&A panel with local figures/politicians. Above all, EurVoice is about giving a platform to all young people, regardless of socio-economic background or ability. Through the running of workshops on areas ranging from EU institutions, lowering the voting age to 16, and youth justice, and by opening dialogue between young people and decision makers, we encourage active citizenship, communication and personal growth. We recently held our EurVoice event in Liverpool Town Hall which brought together almost 75 students from public schools in such a setting. As well as hosting physical events, we also run EurVoice Live, which operates via Twitter instead. We have a panel of officials just as on a normal event, but students instead tweet using the EurVoice tag and are able to communicate with decision makers indirectly.
The work of EYP UK is increasing importantly in encouraging open dialogue, cooperation and the empowerment of young people across all four nations, and we remain as vigilant as ever in our mission to help the development of the citizens of tomorrow.
The EYP Spotlight series collects the stories of young people from different backgrounds who run the European Youth Parliament in their countries. Would you like to share your story with us? Get in touch with communications[at]eyp.org, #EYPNCSpotlight.
