25 years of EYFA: European Youth for Action Network – Yeah!!!!

EYFA – the European Youth For Action Network (one of the radical roots of the european environmental movement and key node in providing resources for social movements in Europe) is celebrating 25th years. Folks are collecting memories and anecdotes, here is mind, Mayo

EYFA = Happiness + Love + Friendship + Gratitude + School of political maturity skills + Accumulative knowledge + Resilience

If someone would ask me which has been the more complete and positive (even if sometime difficult) experience in my life, EYFA would came to my mind and subsequently an smile would appear in my fase.

EYFA has been a very important and significant for my formation, both on a personal and political perspective.

In 2001-02, I was involved in the Movement of Global Resistance of Catalunya; we also as part of People Global Action network, were involved in promoting a Social European Consulta (inspired by the Zapatist Consulta); in order to promote its internationally I though to ask EYFA to host me in the office for some months and help me to spread the project though EYFA network, and EYFA said yes!. I went to live to Amsterdam. The office was in a transitional period, a bit in a loose mode, but a series of coincidence of new people and projects arriving creates a very dynamic working group, I enjoyed so much that I finally stayed for almost two years. Even if I believed “in principle” before, in EYFA I fully understand and experience my self that principles such as consensus decision making, horizontal structures, community projects, radical action … are not incompatible with large scale international networks and with persistence over time, with going beyond moments of mobilization and develop more consolidated infrastructure. I learned many skills (fundraising, international sustainable camps organizing etc.), but importantly I learn to work and do with others under principles of equality, collective driven, personal being politics, that being in community (Viva Ecotopia!!!!) could be very magic, and love. EYFA gave me the context where to met and learn from people who afterward has became part of my best friends and which I keep connected and in periods doing projects together since them: Mariel, Albi, Irina, Amaranta (even if from ASEED office), Sonia, Natasha, Kevin and a long etc. etc. etc. etc. But EYFA is also a lesson of hope in terms of being able to hold, this, my experience, but also to build a line and to be a container of accumulative learning and knowledge – when I was in EYFA I could understand how “my” EYFA (what I was learning and the tools and resources I could and could enjoy building upon) was the result of the sum and building upon the many EYFAs of the people who was there before with your same radical principles, able to keep the fighter over time – and you can feel and notice that. Now EYFA is doing 25 years – and it keeps me transmitting me so much happiness that this process of learning and accumulation of savvy for radical action keeps alive and continue, keep connecting us – I can not feel more than a very deep gratitude for so much!. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who has ever contribute to it!