When you make a choice, you change the future. That choice could be a disaster, or the best thing you’ve ever done. We make conscious decisions to change the future based upon our past experiences, usually to make our lives, or the world, a better place. Having just returned from the 2nd EULAR Young PARE conference, titled ‘Change the future’, I’ve never been more ready to change the future.
I’ve been a member of the EULAR Young PARE working group since January 2015, and it really has been a privilege to work with this group, and a large number of individuals across Europe. Before I tell you about the conference, let me provide you with a brief background of EULAR. The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) is the organisation which represents people with arthritis and rheumatism, health professionals and scientific societies of rheumatology across Europe. EULAR has eight standing committee, which manage and perform the various activities of EULAR on behalf of the executive committee. Standing committees provide a forum for specialists from each European country to meet and work together on specific projects. PARE – People with Arthritis and Rheumatism in Europe The national organisations of people with arthritis and rheumatism in Europe (PARE) work together via the EULAR Standing Committee of PARE. Each member country is represented with one delegate in the committee. The EULAR Standing Committee of PARE gathers representatives of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) around Europe to work together towards improving the quality of life for more than 120 million people in Europe living with these conditions. The committee’s vision is of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in Europe being empowered to lead full and independent lives. Young PARE
Young PARE is a working group of the EULAR Standing Committee of PARE. Young PARE aims to improve the quality of life of young people, 18 to 35 years old, with RMDs, by raising the profile of these conditions, and by creating a network of individuals who work in European countries on behalf of young people with RMDs. In 2014, when Young PARE was established, the group formulated eight strategic objectives, which emerged from a European research project commissioned by the EULAR Standing Committee of PARE:
- By 2020, national youth leaders are integrated into EULAR, especially the EULAR standing committee of PARE.
- By 2020, there is more awareness in society of the specific needs of young people with RMDs.
- By 2020, health care services are interdisciplinary, more holistic and focused on the need of tailor-made information, including social and psychological support for young people with RMDs.
- By 2020, educational institutions across Europe are more flexible and assistive in supporting high quality education of young people with RMDs.
- By 2020, employers and other stakeholders are more aware of the needs of young people with RMDs and that they receive more support to find a suitable job.
- By 2020, Young PARE campaigns for societal changes that make the world more inclusive for young people with RMDs.
- By 2020, every European country has an active national youth group for young people with RMDs.
- By 2020, PARE has established an active European network of national youth groups called Young PARE.
Alone, we can do so little. Together we can do so much.I came away with a renewed motivation to help people living with RMDs, and other health conditions, through my own research and advocacy work. By sharing our experiences, recognising each other’s expertise, and by working together, in true collaboration, we can achieve so much. Bit by bit, we are changing the future, for the better.