The efforts of young people involved with ATD Fourth World were recognized on May 7 when their campaign, Think, Act, and Advocate Together to Leave No Youth Behind, won second place in the European Charlemagne Youth Prize. This award, given by the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation, comes with a 5,000-euro prize and is presented annually to projects led by young people aged 16 to 30 that promote democracy, inclusion, and civic engagement across Europe.

ATD Fourth World’s campaign aimed to address a critical question: What does it mean to be a young person facing adversity in Europe today?

Five key recommendations

After two years of collaboration within local groups and across different European countries, ATD Fourth World’s European youth network published a plea entitled For a Europe That Leaves No Youth Behind. The campaign stemmed from the realization that young people living in extreme poverty are often excluded from institutional decision-making processes and public policy discussions.

Drawing from their lived experiences, participants were able to identify and reflect on the common challenges they face, including harassment, discrimination, isolation, lack of access to decent work, and limited ability to make their own choices or succeed in school.

At the conclusion of the campaign, the young Europeans put forward five key demands:

1. “We need the world to understand our lived experiences.”
2. “We want to put an end to harassment, discrimination, and their effects on our mental health.”
3. “We call for changing the dynamics in relationships with professionals to enable us to make our own choices.”
4. “We need decent jobs that allow us to access all our rights.”
5. “We must be able to effectively take part in social life and decision-making spaces.”

In addition to these five demands, the campaign compiled 13 detailed proposals in a document aimed at ensuring that no youth is left behind in Europe.

An original project

In an interview with ATD Fourth World France, Lou Borderie, the head of the campaign and Volunteer Corps member, remarked:

“Our project was unique because it was the only one out of the 27 that involved young people who are often marginalized, far removed from politics, and disadvantaged.”

Inclusion of the most marginalized individuals is central to ATD Fourth World’s mission. However, this approach has yet to be fully adopted by many organizations, despite the valuable insights people facing extreme poverty can provide. Other youth organizations could learn from ATD Fourth World’s approach, as the campaign participants demonstrated their ability to contribute meaningfully to the issues that directly affect them.

The significance of this recognition

ATD Fourth World’s ‘Think, act, and advocate together to leave no youth behind‘ campaign was among the national projects recognized with a prize. Winning second place was a pleasant surprise for Lou Borderie, but such recognition is crucial for these types of initiatives. Not only does it bring greater visibility to the project, but it also empowers participants to continue their work.

The project doesn’t end with the publication of its 13 proposals. The young people involved are now exploring ways to share their findings and experiences. The award opens doors to international institutions and media exposure, such as Lou’s interview on Eu!radio.

Additionally, the prize money will be used to support participants in their efforts to engage with professionals working with young people facing extreme poverty, as well as with policymakers.

Find out more:

Listen to the interview in French with Lou Borderie
Download the advocacy statement