Institute

Hegoa is an organisation not oriented to profit. It was founded in 1987 as a union in the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea. Moreover, since 1999 it presents itself as an institute of university. In Hegoa we work in the support of the lasting human development of the people and try to provide the debate on development and international cooperation for the whole society. The areas in which we structure our work are: documentation, education, sensitization and education for development as well as consultation and research.

Main goals of the principal are to contribute to change values in our society which promote a critical, united and global understanding of problems of our earth. We go out from a vision which stands alternatively to the prevailing developing draught which is directed at the person as a center and protagonist of the development and is based on the values of the equality and solidarity. All activities must be measured for this basic principle in the paradigm of a lasting human development. In addition we try to combine the technical professionalism and experience of the members with the continual position of the research and reflection by the achievements and areas of work in our work.

To achieve these aims, we are directed at the civil society as whole, to public institutions, social organizations and educational institutions, as well as to the people who deal by their engagement or in the professional life with cooperation and development.

The Euro-Mediterranean Youth Platform aims at facilitating networking between all those involved in the youth sector in the Mediterranean and Europe. It brings young people from the region together in an environment of tolerance and mutual understanding, facilitating networking between them, assisting in the capacity building of youth organisations, increasing youth participation, sharing of relevant information, and exchanging good practice. Some 4500 organisations from all European and Mediterranean countries have joined the Platform to date.

We assist in the search for partners, publish a magazine in 3 languages, organise meetings, provide an on-line FORUM for discussion, and assist in financing youth initiatives.

Our objectives are the nurturing of democracy and its established instruments, and fostering mutual understanding as well as improvement in the issues of racism, gender equality and minority rights.

The Platform researches the situation of young people in each country. The uniqueness of this study is that it is not a treaty by academics, but the situation of young people as seen by young people themselves. This is a good reference tool for those working with a country for the first time.

We also facilitate the creation of Euro-Mediterranean youth networks. These include one for young people involved in trade unions, a Euro-Mediterranean Student Forum, a network for youth involved in political parties, one for officers responsible for youth in local governments, one for those working with sexual minorities, another for those working on youth trafficking, and one for those working on gender-related matters.

The Platform received the 2005 Newropeans Grand Prix Award for its contribution to democracy.