For the 18th year running, the 17th October 2010 saw the global community stand together for the UN's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Importantly, participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the day's celebration since its very beginning, in order to reflect the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty. With 2010 being the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, this year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty saw a greatly in increased focus on the topic.

The European focus comes at a time when the Belgian Presidency, through a recent social inclusion and education conference in Ghent, highlighted that education and training is key to tackling poverty. The Presidency was keen to point out that although mobility in education is important, it should not be forgotten that such learning programmes should aim to help break the vicious circle of poverty by better adapting education to children with poorer backgrounds. Education is key to tackling poverty, but it should not be forgotten that, without better support mechanisms for the transition of young people from education to the labour market and without provisions for quality employment and internships, there are still real dangers of many young people being socially excluded.

Since youth participation is key to combating poverty, the European Youth Forum has partnered with a number of non government organisations in a coalition working against poverty. Over the past weeks the European Youth Forum has organised and participated in a range of activities that address varying elements of poverty and social exclusion. From organising a workshop in the European Parliament on Youth Health Inequalities, to participating in the Belgian Presidency Roundtable on Poverty and Social Exclusion, though to speaking at a workshop on education and transition to work, the European Youth Forum strived to take a holistic approach to the topic during this period.

Useful Links:

United Nations Social Perspective on Development Branch – The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion – Official Website

End Poverty Coalition of Social NGOs Across Europe – Official Website

Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union - Ninth Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion

2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion – 19/10/10 - Participatory Forum "Building together a society for all – A circus against exclusion"

The European Youth Forum - Overcome social exclusion and poverty by investing in young people – now!