IMPACT’s Education Division has backed the Irish Development Education Association’s (IDEA) Challenging the Crisis project, a three year project for young people which aims to get the Social & Solidarity Economy on the EU’s political and economic agenda. The project also aims to have a dedicated European Year for Social and Solidarity Economy by 2018.

Aoife McNamara of the IDEA explained that Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) is an alternative way of understanding the economy. “It puts people and the environment in the centre. It values people and their needs, abilities, and work above capital accumulation.  It demands a more redistributive and equitable socio-economic model. Challenging the Crisis aims to contribute to a more just and sustainable world by raising awareness and empowering EU citizens as global development advocates,” she said.

Gina O’Brien, chair of IMPACT’s Education division, explained “Challenging the Crisis is a three year development education project led by IDEA with partners in Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. The group is made up of young global advocates aged 16 to 30.

“Young advocates from each country will be engaged and enabled to understand the interdependency of local and global inequality and become active advocates on global justice issues, enabling them to support development policies despite austerity measures at home,” she said.

In addition, the project aims to influence policy at national and European levels, and bring about change in the public engagement approach of development NGOs and CSOs. Aoife added “By bringing together young people, it’s envisaged that a focus on global justice will show the value of responding jointly to the current financial crisis and re-engage us with the idea of a European community acting in solidarity to overcome global challenges.”

Find out more and subscribe to Challenging the Crisis HERE.