From 17th to 20th November, took place in Braga, in the North of Portugal the Council of Members of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), to whom DBYN belongs as an observer member. As representative of a Don Bosco organization is a great chance to get to know other European realities, both Youth Councils and Youth Organizations, and at the same time share what young people working in Don Bosco style thinks.

There were many Assembly moments, but also working groups in which several topics were treated; several policy papers on the most varied issues you can imagine from Voting at 16 to the need to invest in Education; including the Climate Change. Without any kind of doubt the most important topic for us is the Future of Youth in Action; the new Programme called “Erasmus for All” and its terrific consequences for Youth Organizations, especially those like DBYN.

At the same time is amazing how many decisions and conversations are held in the corridors; especially when there are elections or important amendments are voted; and this was the case: there were elections for the Advisory Council representing the YFJ in the Council of Europe, the renewal of the General Secretary Giuseppe Porcaro or accepting the new member: the Croatian Youth Council. I was an exceptional witness of all that as I was one of the observers.

There was also time to celebrate Braga’s Youth Capital and get to know this wonderful city, elect Tesaloniki as 2013’s Youth Capital. The meeting took place in Bom Jesus, a really nice site from where you could see all the city of Braga; and also see some friends from the Portuguese Youth Council which I met in the past.

I have to thank DBYN for this opportunity and the pre-meeting training which was crucial, and I was also very lucky to be accompanied by another two Spaniards, one volunteering in Confe Don Bosco, with whom I am very confident and could assess me in the different parts of this important meeting.