site.btaVarna Awarded European Youth Capital 2017

NW 15:24:04 20-11-2014
SN1524NW.121
121 SPORTS - VARNA - EUROPEAN YOUTH CAPITAL

Varna Awarded
European
Youth Capital 2017


Sofia, November 20 (BTA) - Bulgaria's third-largest city of
Varna was awarded the title of European Youth Capital 2017, the
European Youth Forum said Thursday.

An independent, high-level jury gave the award based on an
application from Varna that focused on making the city a "social
hub", with "Innowave" as the title of Varna's year. The jury
felt that this could lead to significant change in terms of
sustainable long-term youth participation in the city, which is
one of the key aims of the European Youth Capital (EYC) title.
In its year as European Youth Capital, Varna will focus on
social innovation, in particular on the development of social
entrepreneurship as a tool for promoting youth participation,
sustainable employment, creativity, networking, exchange and
education, the press release reads.

With a population of approximately 340,000, Varna has a large
number of young people (around 158,000 under the age of 35).
Varna was selected amongst a field of four strong bids,
including: Cascais (Portugal), Galway (Ireland) and Perugia
(Italy).

The award ceremony took place during a Youth Fair, just ahead of
the European Youth Forum's General Assembly taking place this
week in Cluj Napoca, Romania, which becomes European Youth
Capital in 2015.

The European Youth Capital 2017, as in previous years, will
encourage participation of young people through the promotion of
new ideas and innovative projects. During an EYC year, the host
city holds events and projects designed to demonstrate the
active, essential role that young people and youth organisations
can and do play in society.

European Youth Forum President Peter Matjasic said: "We would
like to congratulate Varna, European Youth Capital 2017, for
their strong, diverse and detailed proposal and their commitment
to tackle issues such as youth participation, education, social
inclusion, employment and volunteering."

"This prestigious title is a fantastic way to showcase good
practice examples of youth policy making and youth participation
at local level and think of new, innovative ideas and projects
designed by and for young people to truly engage them in the
life of their city. The EYC is also a unique way to strengthen
the bonds between the candidate cities and Europe," he went on
to say.

Maya Doneva, member of the Varna European Youth Capital 2017
team, said: "This is an amazing opportunity to show that we are
a city of innovation and the European Youth Capital title is a
great tool for that. We are absolutely delighted to win! Varna
as European Youth Capital 2017 will be a new horizon for youth
work."

Bulgarian Youth and Sports Minister Krassen Kralev, who was born
in Varna, congratulated Mayor Ivan Portnih and the residents of
the city on winning the title of European Youth Capital 2017,
Kravel's ministry said.

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