Europe
In Europe, we’ve helped young people connect to their dreams, goals, and communities and develop the skills to make their aspirations and a career attainable. We’ve also empowered our local partners to grow and operate sustainably. Our Make a Connection initiative, launched with longtime partner Nokia, supported youth civic engagement and life skills in 12 European countries. We’ve been empowering young change-makers through our Laureate Global Fellowship and national YouthActionNet® institutes in Spain and Turkey.
Armenia
Initiatives
Our work in Armenia focused on nurturing young innovators.
Belgium
Initiatives
Through Future Smile, the Belgian adaptation of our global Make a Connection initiative in partnership with Nokia, we supported youth volunteer groups here focused on sustainable development.
Czech Republic
Initiatives
In the Czech Republic, our Make a Connection initiative, locally known as Pripoj se, responded to local needs by promoting civic engagement.
Finland
Initiatives
As part of a global partnership with Nokia, we launched our Make a Connection initiative in Finland.
France
Initiatives
Through YouthActionNet® we’ve supported young social entrepreneurs driving change in France.
Georgia
Initiatives
Rooted in our belief that young men and women can offer innovative solutions to pressing global problems, we’ve empowered youth social entrepreneurs in Georgia.
Germany
Initiatives
In 1994, just five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we provided seed funding for the creation of the German Children and Youth Foundation (DKJS).
Hungary
Initiatives
In response to 40 years of centralized and one-party politics in Hungary, the local adaptation of our Make a Connection initiative, Kapcsolódj be!, focused on community involvement and active citizenship.
Ireland
Initiative
We’ve based our work on sustaining long-term support for young people at the local, national and international level.
Italy
Initiatives
We supported young people here as creative and innovative contributors to local society.
Moldova
Initiatives
We strengthen and expand the impact of youth-led social ventures in countries such as Moldova.
Netherlands
Initiatives
Known locally as the Youth Press Agency, our Make a Connection initiative connected youth at risk in the Netherlands with access to positive, productive leisure time activities.
Poland
Initiatives
We provided seed funding for the creation of the Polish Children and Youth Foundation (PCYF) in 1992, as the country was emerging from a post-communist recession.
Portugal
Initiatives
We’ve always recognized youth as change-makers, and in Portugal our efforts focused on nurturing young social entrepreneurs.
Romania
Initiatives
We worked to spark and sustain a national service learning movement across Romania through our Make a Connection initiative, known locally as IMPACT.
Russia
Initiatives
Through partnerships with global entities such as the Caterpillar Foundation, Alcatel-Lucent Foundation, and Nokia, we began working in Russia more than a decade ago.
Slovakia
Initiative
After the fall of communism in Central Europe, we worked to support young people here by helping to establish the Children of Slovakia Foundation (NDS).
Slovenia
Initiatives
In the early 2000s, a robust partnership with Nokia brought us to Slovenia.
Spain
Initiatives
For years, we’ve empowered young innovators in Spain through YouthActionNet®.
Turkey
Initiatives
Throughout our years of experience in Turkey, we worked with local partners to build their capacity to serve youth and increase opportunities for young people.
Ukraine
Initiative
United Kingdom
Initiatives
Through the Make a Connection initiative, known locally as Life Routes, we focused on having a deep impact on individual young lives.