Taking the initiative on youth health

The European Commission has just launched a new Youth Health Initiative (YHI) project designed to encourage young people to become active partners in promoting their health.  ESU is a partner in the project, and you can visit the newly created website here.

As part of the launch, a European youth health competition is running to give you the opportunity to share your views across Europe about the health issues that concern you most –from obesity, smoking and drinking to the effects of poor housing and poverty – and solutions that you believe could help to address them. To participate, all you have to do is to send us a short message together with a drawing, poster, photograph or video expressing your ideas. The only rule is – be creative!

Provided your entry meets certain criteria, you can then post it on this website, or send it to us by regular post.

You have the chance to win either a Nintendo Wii, a video camera, a photo camera or an Ipod. You could also be invited to present your ideas at the EU conference on youth and health, which will be held in Brussels on 9/10 July 2009. (Please check the rules and prizes sections for further info).

You can also share your views by taking part in the blog discussion.

So, have a go…