'Togetherness, Sharing, Joy, Challenge, Fun, Laughter, New-people, Sunshine, Company, Discussions, Party, Food'- Words used by the group to express our needs within the Retina International Youth group, Netherlands 2004.

The Retina Youth group provides an atmosphere incorporating all of the elements listed above in the safe environment of people who know and understand the challenges imposed by a visual impairment. The problems for youngsters diagnosed with a blinding condition are different - we are concerned about the affect of visual loss on our choice of education, possible careers, leisure interests, mobility, friendships and relationships. There are also issues concerning the acceptance of a condition by the individual and by others, the question of having children or not, or simply the frightening experience of the noise and darkness of a bar, disco or night-club.

The group was formed in 1999 as Retina Europe Youth (REY) and since then has hosted annual meetings in Greece, Poland, France, Netherlands and Sweden with international meetings in Japan and Brazil. The next REY meeting will be held in Helsinki in July 2008.

A range of support articles, personal experiences and photo galleries from past events are to be found in the Retina Youth section of the Retina International website. (Click on Links>Youth Pages).