About

OUR VOICES is a European initiative dedicated to supporting young carers, children and young people under the age of 18 who provide care for a parent or relative, often within their own home.

Young carers represent a vulnerable and often overlooked group. As highlighted in the Feasibility Study for the Child Guarantee (2019), they are frequently exposed to multiple risks, including:

• Poor mental and physical health
• Limited educational opportunities
• Social isolation and economic hardship
• The infringement of their basic rights as children

Despite these challenges, support for YCs remains uneven across EU Member States. Public policies affecting them span various domains: health, social care, education, child protection, digital inclusion, and economic support  but rarely address their needs in an integrated way.

Moreover, while young carers should have a voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives, meaningful opportunities for participation remain extremely limited across Europe.

Project Goals

OUR VOICES seeks to change this by promoting inclusive and systemic participation of young carers at local, national, and EU levels. The project aims to ensure that young carers are not only heard but actively listened to,  especially in policy decisions that impact their daily lives.

Working through a consortium of experienced European organizations and the Eurocarers network, the project will:

• Create the conditions for active youth participation
• Develop tools and strategies that empower young carers to engage in policy discussions
• Advocate for more inclusive, responsive public policies
• Share best practices across Member States

Through coordinated action and a commitment to child rights, OUR VOICES aspires to build a future where young carers are visible, valued, and empowered to shape the systems that serve them.