European Youth For Action

EYFA (European Youth For Action) developed from a tour that was initiated by a Swedish/German group in 1986 to save the old forests in Europe: then named European Youth Forest Action. From these 'routes', it developed into a platform for grassroots movements working to transform local and international communities in their approach to environment and social, political and economical positions. The international office located in Amsterdam coordinates EYFA's activities through administrative and communication functions and being the network's contact point for sharing local information. We further support and encourage grassroots projects and initiatives in the following ways: - Giving advice, knowledge and support in the activities and assist with fund raising and application writing, putting together projects and networking. - Dissemination of call outs and information on environmental and social justice issues - Organizing exchanges, seminars, trainings, network gatherings, projects & actions Our main aim is to encourage people's initiative and autonomy; people feeling empowered to act and to raise their voices in decision making processes that effect their lives. We promote and use consensus decision-making processes, whereby information is openly shared and decisions are only made when everyone can agree. As a social and information network we share information, resources and skills to achieve better solutions while building community based on trust. Socially sustainable and just communities go hand in hand with environmentally sound ways of living. Our environmentalist perspective is based on the understanding that most environmental problems are also a question of social and economic injustice. EYFA works to challenge the current dominant social and economic system, while creating new methods based on social and environmental sustainability.