Rogier Elshout was born in Rotterdam. He started to deal with youth-participation activities in secondary school.  Instead of being a participant, more and more he became a facilitator for these kinds of projects. He did voluntary activities in the National Youth-Parliament. He attends Utrecht University where he studies Public Administration.

He took a sabbatical from his studies at Utrecht University to participate in the award winning 2005/2006 United Netherlands delegation to Harvard Model United Nations and to work for the Greens in the national parliament. He had various courses on debating and politics, like lobbying and fundraising in Europe, Organisational Communication and Workflow Management Seminar and Conflict Management Course.

He then turned his hobby into his profession, as he became the programme-manager of Rotterdam European Youth Capital 2009, trying to help young people to get the best out of themselves and stimulate a local and European culture of participation. He didn’t give up volunteering: he also works for a foundation, called Youth4dialogue, as a board member, where he organises youth-conference in Marakech.    

Abstract:

In 2009 Rotterdam will be European Youth Capital, branded YOUR WORLD. From the beginning of 2009, young people are at the center of attention, have the opportunity to really make things better in their own city and, of course, take part in a whole host of fun and interesting events and activities organized for, by and with young people.