ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Aruba Youth Invited to Join EU OCT Youth Network as Minister of Kingdom Relations, Education, Youth, Innovation and Sports Gerlien Croes encourages young Arubans to participate in a unique year-long exchange program connecting Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) with the European Union.
The OCT Youth Network brings together 25 young people between the ages of 20 and 28 from the 13 Overseas Countries and Territories associated with the European Union, including Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, French Polynesia, Greenland, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.
Each edition of the program creates a diverse network of young participants who spend one year learning about the partnership between the OCTs and the European Union while building lasting connections with peers and European institutions.
Learning and International Exchange
Participants take part in a year-long learning journey that includes:
- A one-week study visit to Brussels to learn how European Union institutions operate.
- A series of online webinars to strengthen knowledge and professional skills.
- Networking events with young leaders and key stakeholders.
- Dialogue sessions with European Union policymakers.
- Participation in major international events such as the OCT–EU Forum, where members contribute the perspectives of young people from the Overseas Countries and Territories.
The network was first launched in 2022 with the goal of strengthening ties between young people living in the OCTs and the European Union while increasing youth engagement in the OCT–EU partnership.
Goals of the Network
The initiative aims to:
- Connect young people from the 13 Overseas Countries and Territories with one another and with European Union institutions.
- Bring youth perspectives into the OCT–EU partnership.
- Increase understanding of the European Union among young people in the Caribbean OCTs.
- Build stronger links with regional, national, and European youth initiatives.
Throughout the program, members have opportunities to engage directly with European Union representatives and leaders from the Overseas Countries and Territories, expanding both their professional networks and their understanding of international cooperation.
Participants also play an active role in shaping the network by helping identify priority topics and contributing to the planning of future activities.
Minister Gerlien Croes encouraged interested young people in Aruba to take advantage of this unique opportunity to broaden their knowledge, gain international experience, and represent Aruba within the OCT–EU partnership.
Applications can be submitted through the European Commission’s OCT Youth Network portal, while additional guidance and information are available through Aruba’s Ministry of Kingdom Relations, Education, Youth, Innovation and Sports.
