Eurodesk

• Maintains an open to all Eurodesk Opportunity Finder - search engine, where you can search for opportunities in international mobility, funding, influencing, and participation. 
• Manages European Youth Portal, which is an information channel for youth created by the European Commission. In the portal young people will register, for example, to European Solidarity Corps, participate in #DiscoverEU travel cards giveaway, and receive information about the youth dialogue happening in the European union. 
• Answers to questions the youth has send through the youth portal. 

At the European level the network is coordinated by Eurodesk Brussels Link, located in Brussels.

National coordinators are responsible for the Eurodesk operation. In Finland, the Eurodesk coordination is located at the Finnish National Agency for Education. National Eurodesks have differences, depending on the country's situation and needs. 

Eurodesks main target in Finland is informing the youth and giving guidance by the suitable professionals. Eurodesk will offer them knowledge, guidance, training and tools about international possibilities to share to the youth. Thematically Finland's Eurodesk is focused on youth internationalisation outside schools, on their free-time, hobbies and organisational activities. 

At the Finnish National Agency for Education, Eurodesk is located at Internationalisation Services for Youth, Culture and Sport. Finland's Eurodesk activity is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the European Commission as part of the Erasmus+ programme.  

Eurodesk services for professionals in the field of youth information, counseling, and guidance are:

• European network
• information and counseling
• training
• tools
• materials and methods

Eurodesk Finland provides information about international opportunities for young people during their free time, hobbies and organisational activities. We particularly communicate about EU-funded youth programs (Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps) and other EU-related topics such as civic engagement and internships in EU institutions. Information about studying abroad can be found on the Studyinfo website of the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI).

Youth information, counseling, and guidance professionals are Eurodesk's most important partners and channels for reaching different young people across the country. We especially want to reach young people who do not actively seek international activities themselves but need professional support and encouragement to do so.

Our services are open to all professionals in the field of youth information, counseling, and guidance. Eurodesk multipliers can be, for example:

• Youth information and counseling services
• Municipal youth services
• Youth center
• Organization
• Ohjaamo (One-Stop Guidance Center)
• Employment office
• Study counselor

If you want to broadly inform young people about various international opportunities in your work, feel free to contact the Eurodesk coordinator. Let's think together about where you can start and how the various internationalization services of the Finnish National Agency for Education can help you. New messengers are always needed!

European network

You can find the network members on the Eurodesk Multiplier map. You can contact a network member when you need information or advice about a specific country. Among the members, you may also find partners for international cooperation projects. If you are actively sharing information about international opportunities and want to be visible on the map as a Finnish Eurodesk multiplier, contact the Eurodesk coordinator.

Information and counseling

Eurodesk provides reliable and easily understandable information about international opportunities both directly to young people and to those working in youth information, counseling, and guidance. You can get information through Eurodesk's social media channels or by subscribing to the EU:n nuoriso-ohjelmat 360° newsletter. The Eurodesk coordinator also advises and helps in utilizing the information.

Training

Eurodesk supports the maintenance and development of the expertise of professionals in the field of youth information, counseling, and guidance by organizing training both domestically and abroad.

You can find information about trainings in the Finnish National Agency for Education's event calendar or by subscribing to the EU:n nuoriso-ohjelmat 360° newsletter. The newsletter is published in Finnish and Swedish. The trainings organised by Eurodesk is free of charge.

Tools

Eurodesk offers tools to professionals working with young people to facilitate information gathering.

Eurodesk Opportunity Finder

Eurodesk Opportunity Finder is a database where you can search for opportunities for young people in:

• Learning (courses, training)
• Volunteering (international organizations and funding programmes)
• Internships (EU institutions, scholarship programmes)
• Participation (e.g., competitions, awards, and challenges for young people)
• Grants (project funding and scholarship programmes)

European Youth Portal

The European Youth Portal is the European Commission's information channel for young people. On the portal, young people can, for example:

• Register for the European Solidarity Corps
• Search for open volunteering opportunities and apply for them
• Participate in the #DiscoverEU travel pass lottery
• Get information about the EU Youth Dialogue and other current topics

Youth Portal's advisory service

In the Youth Portal's advisory service, young people or those working with young people can ask about international matters. Questions are answered by members of the Eurodesk network across Europe.

Materials and methods

Eurodesk produces up-to-date materials and methods that can be used in youth information, counseling, and guidance work. The materials are free of charge.

You can print the materials below or order them from the Eurodesk coordinator.

Looking for more international opportunities for yourself?

There are also other pathways for the internationalization and professional development of those working in youth information, counseling, and guidance.

The Euroguidance network supports guidance professionals in questions related to the internationalization of education and working life. It also promotes European cooperation and information exchange in the field of guidance.

Erasmus+ Youth supports the international mobility and professional development of youth sector actors. The programme can provide project funding for study visits, partnership building, or broader international development projects.

What routes EuroPeers have taken in Europe? Check out the international stories of these peers. The stories include a quizz about European union's youth programmes.

The newsletter of the European youth programmes and Eurodesk will keep you up to date. Read the newest one and subscribe. The newsletter is available in Finnish and in Swedish.