We believe that they are our future. What about you?

Ana, Manuel, Mariana and Pedro already know what they can do to change the world. The four of them attended the Youth Meeting organized by Amnesty International Portugal (Campo de Trabalho). In 2016, with your help, we would like to bring more young people to this human rights education event.

For 54 years, Amnesty International believes – and has proven – that “you must be the change you wish to see in the world”, as Mahatma Gandhi stated. That’s why in Portugal, Amnesty International works on Human Rights Education with several projects. We need funds for one of these projects: the 17^th edition of the Youth Meeting, previously called “Campo de Trabalho”, which will take place in November 2016. 

What is the Youth Meeting (“Campo de Trabalho”)?

This is an event that Amnesty International Portugal organizes annually, since 1999. 4 days which bring together about 80 young people from across the country, with ages between 15 and 18.  In an informal and unique format in Portugal, the meeting consists of workshops, debates and several sessions about human rights, with recreational activities and moments of entertainment.

Each year, the Youth Meeting takes place in a different city of the country and the participants are accommodated in the same space where the activities are occurring. You can see some images of the last meeting below.

Over 1.500 young activists have been in the 16 editions of this annual meeting. 

What is the impact of the Youth Meeting (“Campo de Trabalho”)?

More than words can ever express, it’s worth seeing and listening to the moving testimony that Ana, Manuel, Mariana and Pedro present in the video of this project. They, better than anyone, represent the impact of this Youth Meeting!

In just 4 days the participants gain a further awareness of what human rights are, since most of them had never debated them and were unaware that there are a lot of people whose human rights are denied. They also learn how each one of them can help to make the difference they want to see in the world!

34 student groups have been created  and are dedicated to human rights all over the country in the last years following the Meeting. Today, these young activists organise events to promote and defend human rights and actively participate in the building of a world that is fairer and freer. 

Encontro de Jovens 2015 - Novembro - Leiria

About the author

Amnesty International is a global movement founded in 1961 that counts with more than 7 million people in over 150 countries and territories. Our vision is a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

We are independent from any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and we are financed by fees and donations of our members and supporters.

Amnesty International is a movement that congregates people from around the world who engage in campaigns in order to respect and protect internationally recognized human rights. We believe that human rights violations anywhere are a problem for everyone.

Outraged with the violation of human rights but inspired by the hope of a better world, we work to improve people’s lives through campaigning and international solidarity.

Amnesty International has existed in Portugal for 34 years. One of its working areas is Human Rights Education, with projects like the creation of educational tools, direct intervention in schools and training for different targets. You can learn more about this work in bit.ly/AcoesEDH.

Budget and due dates

The 17th edition of the Youth Meeting will have a total budget of 12.500 Euros, for travel, logistics, lodging, educational materials and food for about 80 young people from across the country, 20 supervisors and guest speakers.

At this stage we ask for your help to get at least 3.125 Euros, accounting for 25% of the total budget. This value is necessary to decide whether we are able to move forward with the realization of another edition of this Meeting. We encourage everyone to continue donating even if the target is achieved. All amounts raised in this crowd funding by the end of January 2016 will go to the Youth Meeting 2016.

Further events of fundraising will follow with the aim of achieving the total amount of 12.500 Euros, so that at the end of August 2016 we can decide the dimension of the meeting. If we cannot reach the total budget, the meeting will still be held, albeit with an adapted format and dimension to the raised value. With 3.125 Euros we can hold a meeting in a reduced format, with 20 young people.

Images