CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
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International Exchange
UNIVERSAL YOUTH VILLAGE
15 – 22nd August, 2015 Dilijan, Armenia
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Background of the project
Culture and conflict are inextricably linked. When problems surface, between or within cultures, it is often a response to difficulties in dealing with differences. Whether this pertains to racial, religious, political, social, or economic matters difference is often a source of fear and misunderstanding.
For any conflict that touches usthere is always a cultural component. The Armenian-Azeri or Transnistria-Moldova, as well as nowadays exploded Ukrainian-Russian conflict for example, are not just about land - it's also about identity. Conflicts between teenagers and parents are shaped by generational culture and conflicts between spouses are influenced by gender culture. Cultures shared by dominant groups often seem to be "normal" -- "the way things are done" to the dominant group, but are less obvious to other minority groups. We only notice the effect of cultures that are different from our own.
The initiated project is a set of activities aiming at raising young peoples’ and societies awareness on cultural aspects of different conflicts, at the same time by passing Intercultural Learning and Non Violent communication competences to young people to prevent and/or lower the possibilities of future conflicts.
The objectives:
- Create a platform (time and space) for young people and civil society organizations to share their expertise and experience about cultural aspects of conflicts,
- To foster partnership and networking between young people from different cultures and countries,
- To develop participants leadership skills
- To declare the willingness of new generation of dealing with conflicts in a peaceful ways,
- To improve intercultural competences,
- To develop non- violent communication skills,
- To raise awareness and/or change attitude towards “otherness”,
- To increase CSO’s expertise on dealing with different type of conflicts in a Non Violent way.
The project will have 4 phases:
1. Training Course for Leaders/Multipliers on Intercultural Learning, Non Violent Communication/Peace Education and Conflicts 20th – 26th July in Ukraine
2. International ExchangeUniversal Youth Villages in Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine.
3. 4 Days Open Space; 04 – 08.10 in Armenia– self organization conference on the topic of “Cultural Aspects of Conflicts”:
3.1. Implementation of local activities/projects planned during the Open Space
4. Publication (online/CD) of the results of Open Space Conference – Book of Proceedings and inputs from participating CSOs and Experts
The universal youth village is the second phase of the project which aims to raise awareness on cultural aspects of different conflicts, at the same time empowering participants in Intercultural Learning (ICL) and Non Violent communication competences by practical activities and shared experience.
The aim is to bring together young people from different culture to share about topics of Peace Education, Conflicts, Non Violence and ICL. The participants of the villages will later be invited to apply for the next phase of our project –Open Space – to talk about the experience they gained and plan next activities to be implemented in local communities.
The universal youth village will involve diverse methods of non-formal learning: interactive games & exercises, creative workshops, expert inputs, project visits, public actions, excursions etc.
Organisers of the project/ Contact organisations:
SCI Germany, AVI Moldova, ArmActive Armenia, SVIT Ukraine
Countries eligible to participate:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Germany, Moldova, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Russian Federation, Serbia
Recruitment of participants:
We expect to meet around 22 young people - youth workers, youth leaders and volunteerswho either already have experience in the field of Peace Education, Conflicts and Non Violent Actions, or else young people would like to have an experience of an international peace project and are highly motivated to become active in this field.
All participants selected for this project must meet the following criteria:
- be minimum 18 years – 30 years of age;
- be able to communicate well in English language;
- be strongly motivated to act as a multiplier in the field of promoting peace & intercultural understanding;
- commit to implement the learned knowledge and skills in practice back home;
- commit to actively participate from the beginning to the end of the village
- come from one of the countries listed as partner of the project.
As a next phase of the project, participants can apply for the Open Space Conference, that will take place in Armenia, 04 – 08.10.2015.
You are invited to mention in your application form if you want to participate also to the Open Space Conference (travel reimbursements will also be available).
How to apply?
Application forms should be sent by e-mail to: placement@avimd.org.
Application deadline: 27.07.2015!
Applicants will be informed if they are accepted or not within one week.
Financial and practical conditions of participation:
All costs of the programme (including food, accommodation, trainers) will be covered and 80% of international travel costs will be reimbursedup to the maximum of 275 euro for participants from Moldova.
There is no registration fee.
Contact:
If you have any questions regarding the project and your application, don't hesitate to contact us:placement@avimd.org
We are looking forward to welcome you in
Universal Youth Village!