Supporting Empowerment, Engagement and Inclusion of Visually Impaired Youth

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VIEWS International focuses on empowering young visually impaired (VIP) individuals, fostering their active participation as concerned citizens in line with the EU Youth Strategy. Through volunteering opportunities, strategic partnerships, political dialogue, youth exchanges, and training courses, over 150 VIPs enhance their independence, social, intercultural, and multilingual competences. We prioritise self-empowerment and active involvement of VIPs in every stage of our projects. VIEWS promotes inclusion by organising youth worker exchanges and offering adapted volunteering placements. VIPs can participate in short and long-term European Solidarity Corps (ESC) projects, supported by accessible resources such as Braille and large print documents, tactile maps, mobility sessions, and personal assistance to ensure equal learning opportunities. These projects also focus on enhancing employability by developing both soft and professional skills, fostering inclusive workplaces, and connecting young VIPs with local entrepreneurs, raising awareness about workplace accommodations and inclusive practices. Our E+ youth worker exchanges further contribute to inclusivity by training youth workers in creating accessible and engaging spaces for VIPs. These exchanges also focus on integrating green awareness into youth work, creating practical guidelines to improve accessibility and engagement in youth organisations across Europe. Through collaborations, we help equip youth with visual impairments to actively engage in the workforce and community life. Additionally, VIEWS actively promotes EU mobility opportunities through awareness-raising events like “Dinners in the Dark” and outreach activities that build understanding of visual impairments in local communities and educational institutions. VIEWS ensures its activities are closely monitored and guided by a board of four blind young people from It, Tr and Be, ensuring that the needs of VIPs are central to all project stages.