Where do you work?

International Center for New Media

Your position at work

European Youth Award Manager

Organisation's Website

http://www.eu-youthaward.org

Organisation's Address

Leopoldskronstrasse 30
5020 Salzburg

What does your organization do (100-word description)

ICNM is a non-profit association located in Salzburg encouraging individuals to solve societal problems using digital technologies to enable positive social change. ICNM’s key activities are international contests and events (European Youth Award (EYA) & World Summit Awards (WSA)) to select best practice solutions in digital innovation with positive impact on society. Competitions allow participants to learn, demonstrate their achievements & compare results.

What digital skills training or activities do you or does your organization offer (if any)?

SHacks (Social Hackathons) and different events with workshops, etc.

Number of digital competence centres linked to your organization (if any)

-

Your function and/or responsibilities related to digital skills training and empowerment

EYA Project Manager

How are you involved in digital inclusion / empowerment?

I am the project manager of the European Youth Award (EYA) and responsible for the successful conduction of the whole project and all related programs and events.

EYA is a European-wide movement of young innovators who never stop learning, questioning and improving the world we live in.
Under the umbrella of EYA, we organize several activities and events throughout the year: the flagship initiative, the EYA contest and the Festival (Winners Event), coding events (e.g. SHacks (Social Hackathons), Game Jams), the Youth for Innovation programs, mentorship programs and more.

The EYA contest aims at young people, social entrepreneurs and start-up-founders (under the age of 33) in Europe and the MENA region (59 eligible countries) producing digital projects with a positive impact on society (e.g. websites, apps, IoT). Digital projects can be submitted in solution-orientated categories reflecting the goals defined by the Council of Europe and Europe 2020 as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The best out of all submissions are selected by outstanding and socially engaged experts coming from all over the world. They evaluate all submitted projects in terms of content, design, innovation, initiative, interactivity, impact and social value.

The EYA jury is organised in several steps:
Jury online (1 round) -> shortlist
Jury online (2 round) -> nominee
Jury onsite (3 round) -> Winners

The most important event I am responsible for is the annual European Youth Award winners’ event aka the EYA Festival. It is a unique event combining knowledge, innovation, networking, inspiration and motivation, taking place in Graz at the end of November. It is a public event.

How did you learn about this community?

I got an invitation from a network member

Why would yo like to join the network?

I would like to inform the network about the European Youth Award which is a great chance for all young social entrepreneurs using digital technologies to make a difference.