The Assembly of European Regions (AER) awarded today its Best AER Youth Ambassador on Sustainable Development Project 2007/2008 to a young Czech who has been raising awareness of the issue in his region.

AER’s Youth Ambassadors had earlier presented their projects on ‘Sustainable Development’ to Ladislav Miko, Director of Directorate B – Protecting the Natural Environment, within the European Commission’s DG Environment. Aiming to involve other young people in their communities, the Youth Ambassadors have implemented some innovative projects in their home regions.

‘I found the idea very interesting. Mr Miko said today. ‘Young people can often come up with new ideas which inspire responsible decision makers. In addition, by developing projects on sustainability they help to increase awareness about environmental problems among young people’.

Following Mr Miko’s evaluation, AER singled out Anton Kuzmin’s ‘Debating tournament for the Healthier surroundings’ project. In his home region of Olomuc (CZ), he had organised in March a single-day, five-round debate tournament for youngsters between the ages of 14 and 20. More than 100 students from high schools across the region took part in the event, along with representatives from the regional office and Association of Debating Clubs. Mr. Kuzmin was given credit for raising young people’s awareness of sustainable development and encouraging them to prepare themselves about the discussion topic. His project was also publicised in regional press and on YouTube.

AER’s Youth Ambassadors were selected by young people from across Europe during last year’s AER Youth Summer School (YSS). This year’s YSS will take place on 24-30 August in Östersund, Jämtland (S), and will focus on ‘Youth Entrepreneurship in the European Regions’.

For more information: [email protected]