Faith Based Expert Group

06 January 2009

The Faith Based Expert Group (GBEG in further text) is an informal group that gathers faith based and other programmatically compatible international non-governmental and non-for-profit youth organizations with the aims:

The FBEG serves as an expert body of the European Youth Forum (EYF in further text) as adopted at its General Assembly in Madrid, November 2004 and cooperates with other expert organizations, not necessarily members of the European Youth Forum. As such the FBEG will seek to fulfill the mandate of the EYF as outlined in its Work plan 2007-2013 adopted at its General Assembly in Vilnius, November 2006 (objective 3.2.). In this capacity the FBEG supports EYF’s endavors in the field of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and works for EYF when needed and so agreed upon.

Actual Members of the Faith Based Expert Group:


1. EPTO – European Peer Training Organization
European Peer Training Organisation (EPTO) educates youth leaders to discuss issues related to prejudice and discrimination; to lead workshops that challenge stereotypes; and to become activists against exclusion within their youth organisations and schools. Through train-the-trainer programmes, peer trainer conferences, multi-day and short-term workshops, a bi-annual newsletter and website, EPTO coordinates a network of peer trainers from several European countries who have led workshops for thousands of additional youth. For more information: http://www.epto.org

2. EUJS – European Union of Jewish Students

3. EYCE – Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe
The Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe (EYCE) has member organisations in 26 countries throughout Europe. Members include: national ecumenical youth councils, denominational youth councils or bodies, those representing Church youth in Europe. According to the preamble of EYCE's Constitution all member organisations must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in accordance with the Scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfil together their common calling to serve both Him and humankind to the glory of the one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Irrespective of differences in their backgrounds, Members share a common task: 'to initiate and further the common commitment of young people to Jesus Christ and His desire for reconciliation, justice and a lasting peace in Europe and the world' (Constitution 2.1). EYCE provides a forum for young people, and those who work with them, from all Christian denominations; for those coming from all different social backgrounds; and for those who face and live with the homeless, unemployed, foreigners, refugees and other marginalised people, to come together to pray, to share their hopes and fears, to build bridges, and to work together for Christian unity. 
For more information: http://www.eyce.org/
 
4. FEMYSO – The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisation
Its mission is to be a platform for youth organisations to congregate, exchange information, gain experience and benefit from each other, to work for a better Europe. The FEMYSO has developed into a wide network of 37 member organisations, bringing together youth from over 40 countries.
For more information: http://www.femyso.org

5. FIMCAP – International Federation of Catholic Youth Organisations
"F.I.M.C.A.P." is an International Catholic Federation of Youth Organizations. The abbreviation F.I.M.C.A.P. comes from the original title: "Fédération International des Mouvements Catholiques d'Action Paroissale". Today, 36 organizations of 27 countries in 4 continents make up whole Fimcap. Fimcap wants to unite the member organizations in the spirit of fraternity and mutual help, in order to achieve the awareness of all members that they belong to a world-wide community of children and young people. Fimcap wants to help them discover and understand the specific problems and needs of children and young people all over the world. Fimcap wants to give concrete help to the life of organizations especially by educational and systematic exchanges. For more information: http://www.fimcap.org

6. JECI-MIEC – International Movement of Catholic Students
The International Young Catholic Students (IYCS) grew in the spirit of the Specialised Catholic Action movements that were inspired by Joseph Cardijn (the founder of the Young Christian Workers) in the late 1920’s. The International Coordination was established in 1946 in the wake of the Second World War. Currently IYCS brings together 85 national movements of secondary and university students from seven continental regions. For more information: http://www.iycs-jeci.org/

7. Pax Christi International
Pax Christ International’s work is based in spirituality. It is a Catholic organisation but welcomes all religious groups and strives for dialogue and co-operation with non-governmental organisations and movements working in the same field – Christian, Jewish, Muslim and non-religious. For more information: http://www.paxchristi.net/about/html/basics.html

8. WSCF - World Student Christian Federation
The World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) is a global community of Student Christian Movements (SCMs) committed to dialogue, ecumenism, social justice and peace. Our mission is to empower students in critical thinking and constructive transformation of our world by being a space for: prayer and celebration; theological reflection; study and analysis of social and cultural processes; solidarity and action across boundaries of culture, gender and ethnicity. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the WSCF is called to be a prophetic witness in Church and society. This vision is nurtured by a radical hope for God's Reign in history. For more information: http://www.wscf-europe.org/