ABOVE Foundation for Youth

ABOVE is the abbreviation of “Alliance for Building an Open-minded and Versatile Europe” – which expresses our mission to help young people discover new perspectives, think critically, develop valuable skills and become adaptable young leaders ready for the challenges of tomorrow. Symbolically, the word "ABOVE" reflects our aspirations to rise above divisions, conflicts, and limitations, to build a stronger, more connected Europe where we can all thrive together. We believe that dialogue, innovation and forward-looking action can make Europe future-proof. We started ABOVE as an informal group of young people because we wanted to get more active in the field of youth work and submit our own Erasmus+ proposal for a project about smart and economically viable sustainable practices. We had several years of experience with international youth projects and educational programmes, both as young participants and organizers at different organizations and institutions. However, after years of working hard for others and seeing their shortcomings, we felt that we were ready for the next challenge. That is why we created our very own youth organization with the aim of making the most innovative, efficient and digitally native youth-led organization in Hungary and beyond. Then, in the summer of 2023, we transformed our organization into a foundation, a step that allowed us to operate more professionally and focus on strategic, long-term projects and collaborations. The main objectives of our foundation are: - connect young people in Hungary with their European peers, - spread the entrepreneurial spirit and financial awareness among youth, - strengthen the values of democracy, inclusion and peaceful collaboration in Europe, - break down prejudices and stereotypes by facilitating intercultural dialogue, - organize educational and social events to build a strong community of young leaders, - facilitate workshops and discussions that raise awareness about relevant European challenges, - create the next generation of youth workers that use non-formal education, digital tools and have an entrepreneurial mindset, - educate youth workers about the effective use of social media to reach and engage the newest generations in the age of TikTok and super short attention spans. In 2023, we also established the first ABOVE university student organizations at Hungary's two largest universities, Corvinus and ELTE, creating a talent pool of volunteers, aspiring youth workers, and future youth leaders we can rely on. With over 30 active members and more than 100 occasional volunteers, we have already built a strong and diverse team - and this is just the beginning. By providing a structured in-depth internal training programme to our members including our ‘Facilitation and Trainer’s workshop’ series, our ‘Erasmus+ Opportunities and Grants training’ sessions, and our hands-on ‘Digital Content Creation’ courses, we provide unique insight into the field of youth work for interested young people and equip them with modern skills that will help them thrive in the digital age. Furthermore, in ABOVE we actively seek to bridge the gap between young people and decision-makers. We organize discussions and workshops where young people have the opportunity to directly engage with policymakers, politicians, and business leaders. Therefore, we allow young voices to be heard and their perspectives to be considered in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. Recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives, ABOVE facilitates discussions and debates among European thought-leaders from various fields. We bring together academics, experts, decision-makers and activists to share their insights and engage in constructive dialogue on critical European challenges. This fosters a deeper understanding of complex issues and encourages innovative solutions. Besides, we promote an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging young people to develop creative ideas, take risks, and pursue their goals. The founders themselves have created a podcast channel with tens of thousands of listeners where they interviewed Hungary's most successful entrepreneurs (including Váradi József, the founder of WizzAir, and Gerendai Károly, the founder of SZIGET Festival) to incentivize youngsters to start acting for their dreams today. ABOVE is committed to provide opportunities for young people from all backgrounds. Capitalising on the 94% internet usage among youngsters in Hungary, we run successful campaigns on the most popular platforms among youth such as TikTok (our top video has around a million views and more than hundred thousand likes) to reach and connect with them effectively. We reach the most underprivileged youth through in-person visits to rural schools. Through diverse opportunities for personal and professional growth, ABOVE empowers young people to become active citizens and transformative leaders, driving positive change in their communities and beyond.