On 31 May and 1 June, the EYF secretariat carried out a monitoring visit to the international activity of Solidarity Action Day Movement in Europe (SAME), in Lubeck, Germany.

This was an international seminar to support new youth organisations to carry out a solidarity action day in their countries. Over 25 participants from 11 countries attended this seminar, learning more about how to organisation solidarity action days (SAD) and how to empower young people overall.  

About the SAME network and SADs

The Solidarity Action Day Movement in Europe (SAME) strives to empower young people in Europe to get informed, take a stand and act. SAME is a youth-led European network of organisations that carry out a so-called Solidarity Action Day (SAD). During this day, pupils swap school for a job of their choice. They donate their salaries to youth-related projects from all over the world, changing perspectives to the needs and life realities of peers in other countries, reflecting on global challenges and development issues and taking joint action for a common cause. The vision of SAME is that young people, as active citizens, act in solidarity with their peers and stand up for democracy, equity, human rights, and intercultural understanding.

The SAME mission is to empower young people to make their voices heard. SAME believes in the power of youth and encourage them to become a driver of societal change in their local and the global community. For SAME, organising a Solidarity Action Day is more than a fundraising tool. It is an impactful instrument of youth participation which organised according to the SAME standards inspires active citizenship, youth-led development and promotes global solidarity and human rights. SAME spreads the idea and concept of the SAD across Europe and support new youth-led Solidarity Action Day initiatives. Throughout Europe, so far, about 300,000 young people participate annually in the SAD.

This annual work plan is co-funded by the EYF through its annual work plan grant scheme.