Published: 18 May 2010 by EurActiv
Ninety-five percent of participants in the EU's 'Youth in Action' programme improve their language skills, while two-thirds (66%) believe the experience boosted their job prospects, according to a survey of the scheme's effectiveness published last week.
'Youth in Action', funded by the European Commission, aims to "inspire a sense of active citizenship" among young Europeans and encourage their participation in the democratic life of the European Union.
60% of participants in the programme voted in last summer's European Parliament elections compared to an average among young Europeans of just 29%, found the survey, carried out among 4,550 young people, youth workers and youth organisations at the beginning of the year.
As well as improving their language skills, participants said the programme had made them more receptive to multiculturalism (92%) and improved their ability to act in the interests of their community or society (86%).
The European Commission said the results prove that the EU's funding of youth projects has a "positive" impact on participants and confirm the effectiveness of the 'Youth in Action' scheme, which seeks to offer young people opportunities to acquire new skills through non-formal learning and encourage them to participate actively in society.
Youth unemployment soars
Read more on EurActiv