Youthfully Yours SK (YYSK)

Youthfully Yours SK (YYSK)

Youthfully Yours SK is a non-governmental organization located in the eastern part of Slovakia. Our vision is to foster ambitious and competent young people who are eager to benefit their community in our region. To achieve this, we are determined to advance young people’s competencies, empower a sense of initiative and social responsibility, and promote active citizenship, social inclusion, and intercultural dialogue among young people from Eastern Slovakia.

Local Level Initiatives

At the local level, we focus on youth empowerment and enhancing young people’s ability to participate actively in society. We strongly believe in the value of non-formal education and experiential learning. As a result, YYSK regularly organizes various seminars, educational and training activities, and collaborates with local schools, educational centers, and universities. We introduce innovative educational approaches to youth leaders and youth workers.

We aim to increase young people’s awareness of available learning, volunteering, and work opportunities at the local, national, and international levels, empowering them to apply for various educational programs, training courses, conferences, volunteering activities, and internships. As both a sending and an intermediary institution, we enable young people to access these opportunities, providing them with appropriate mentoring and assistance.

YYSK is a member of the umbrella organization RMKK – the Regional Youth Council of Košice, which gathers the majority of youth councils, youth parliaments, and 15 active NGOs operating in the Kosice region. We have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with:

  • Kosice Self-Governing Region (Regional Government)
  • RCM – Regional Youth Centre
  • CVC – Youth Centre Kosice

These agreements aim to improve the quality of youth work and non-formal education.

Additionally, we have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to support the educational aspects of sports and develop innovative educational methodologies incorporating sports elements with:

  • Climbing Club UPJS Kosice
  • Pavol Jozef Šafarik University in Košice, Institute of Physical Education and Sport

Further cooperation agreements have been established with EDUSTEPS NGO, Asian Innovation Hub, Pavol Jozef Šafarik University in Košice, Technical University of Kosice, and over 28 high schools in our region.

International Level Engagement

At the international level, we are part of numerous well-established partnerships and networks supported by various programs and initiatives, including Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens, International Visegrad Fund, European Youth Foundation, and European Solidarity Corps.

We are also a member of:

With this expertise, YYSK will provide extensive contributions to projects, including managing project finances and leading WP3 – Training Program for Youth Workers on how to train young people to mentor seniors.

Ivan Rosa

YYSK Project Manager, Certified NFE Trainer, Professional Facilitator

Since 2018, Ivan Rosa has worked as an external expert for the Slovak National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth Projects – IUVENTA, supporting the development of the Action Plan for the Strategy of the Slovak Republic for Youth. Ivan is part of a group of experts focusing on youth employability, creativity, and entrepreneurship. He plays a key role in identifying youth work priorities in these areas that should be supported at the national level, specifying goals, and proposing strategies to achieve them.

As a regional expert in youth work, Ivan collaborates with the Košice Self-governing Region and Košice City Council, supporting the team responsible for creating the “Youth Work Strategy for Košice City (2018-2020).”

Ivan is a project manager, youth worker, and freelance trainer with a formal education background in Law and Project Management. He specializes in training entrepreneurial and employability skills, using creative expression and innovative methods to enhance professional development and transform ideas into actions. As the Vice-Chairman of YYSK, Ivan regularly empowers and coaches his colleagues in developing their professional potential.

Dana Rosová

YYSK Expert on Social Work

Dana Rosová holds a Ph.D. in Social Work and is an expert in various fields, including bullying prevention in schools, emotional intelligence, communication training, children’s behavioral disorders, human trafficking, and career counseling. She also has extensive experience working with the Roma community.

Dana was the primary responsible person for implementing the project “Prevention in Schools I.-II.,” supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic. The project’s activities, conducted with local youth, focused on preventing bullying in elementary and grammar schools in Košice. During the project, a comprehensive guide with a methodology was created, gathering various non-formal education methods to support the empowerment of young people facing or at risk of bullying.

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