Structures

Board & Office

YEN's Board consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents, three Convenors and one Treasurer, who belong to youth minorities from all over Europe.

Board is a key part of YEN body, which takes over the main decision-making process. Each Board member assumes a certain functional role to maintain and develop the internal, as well as external work of YEN. Board members are driven by the needs of YEN member organisations and follow the core democratic values of the youth organisation, contributing to the diversity of Europe and young people from minorities.

The Board will be elected during the annual General Assembly for a period of two years.

The roles of Board members:
The President of YEN leads, manages and develops our network. He informs and communicates significant developments and changes in the internal and external relations.
Vice President for External Relations (VPER) is responsible for the external representation of YEN, promotion of its mission and fostering relations with YEN’s external partners.
Vice President for Internal Relations is responsible for the Internal Strategy and Development of the organization
Treasurer keeps an eye on the money and other treasures of the organisation.
Convenor of Communication takes care of the merchandise, designing campaigns, and is a trusty sidekick to the other convenors when it comes to giving ideas and providing tools for them as well.
Convenor for Member Integration takes care of YEN’s member organisations while building relations with new and potential Member organisations and partners.

Executive board

Johanna Marlies Kézdi smiling, standing before a white background
Johanna Marlies Kézdi (she/her)
President/Präsidentin

German in Romania / Deutsche Minderheit in Rumänien

johanna.kezdi[at]yeni[dot]org

Wencke Andresen (she/her)
Vice President for External Relations/Vizepräsident für Externes

German Minority in Denmark

wencke.andresen[at]yeni[dot]org

Filip Budar (He/Him)
Vice President for Internal Relations/ Vize-Präsidentin für Interne Beziehungen

Sorbe in Deutschland / Sorbian in Germany

filip.budar[at]yeni[dot]org

Lena Fletcher (she/her)
Treasurer/ Schatzmeisterin

Ils Rumantschs/die Romanen

Board

George Fudulea
Convenor for Communication/Kommissar für Kommunikation
Martin Kits Niewenkamp (he/him)
Convenor for Minority rights and Politics / Kommissar für Minderheitenrechte und Politik
Sophie Hajszan (she/her)
Convenor for Member Integration/Kommissarin für Mitgliederintegration

Burgenlandcroatian in Austria / Burgenlandkroaten in Österreich

Luka Olip (he/him)
Internal Auditor/Revisor

Carinthian Slovene/ Kärntner Slowene

luka.olip[at]yeni[dot]org

Office

Marie Benthin (she/her)
Secretary General / Geschäftsführerin

marie.benthin[at]yeni[dot]org

Working Groups

About the working groups : The working groups bring together ideas from our network to inform the work of the JEV. Within these groups, young people from various minority organisations engage in-depth with a specific topic, build up specialist knowledge and develop projects, concepts or research initiatives that shape the JEV’s strategic direction whilst also strengthening their own organisations at local and regional level.

Our member organisations can set up a working group at any time, if required, on any topic that is in line with the JEV’s remit. New members can join throughout the year.

Here’s how it works: A working group can be proposed by the Executive Committee or by at least three people. It requires 3–8 members from at least two member organisations. You can also submit a proposal to set up a working group. This should include names and organisations, motivation and objectives,as well as the nature of the initiative (e.g. project, policy, research). The Executive Committee decides within two months whether to establish the group. Once the group is active, it operates independently and elects its own leadership. It can apply to the Executive Committee for funding, reports to our Coordinator for Minority Rights and Policy, and presents its findings at the General Assembly.

Do you have an idea or a topic close to your heart? Fill in the application form and put your idea into action.

Create a new Working Group

Join a Working Group

General Assembly

YEN's main decision-making body is the General Assembly, which takes place once a year.

It elects the Presidium of the organisation, which consists of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer and three Commissioners. The commissioners chair the working groups, whose members are elected by the General Assembly for one year.

Statutory Documents

The two documents regulating the functioning of YEN as an organisation are its Statutes and Rules of Procedure.

Any changes must be decided on by the General Assembly of YEN.

Code of Conduct der JEV

To achieve our goals YEN uses a variety of activities. A main element of our work is implementing international youth exchanges, international seminars, congresses, workshops, cultural and social events. We believe that intercultural exchange is a key to achieving greater understanding and to empowering young people from minorities.

During YEN events we want participants to freely express themselves, and to gain a greater understanding of the diversity amongst minorities in Europe. We expect anyone joining our events to do so with an open mind and to treat everyone in a way that ensures respect, dignity, equality, and their right to participate.

Therefore in 2023 YENs General Assembly approved a Code of Conduct which describes how YEN envisions how everyone should act at a YEN event: