U-Active Forum: Networking for Developing Youth Projects

We are pleased to invite you to the first Forum of International Youth Projects, titled “U-Active: Networking for developing youth projects”. The Forum will take place on the 24-26 November, 2011 in Grodno, Belarus. The Forum intends to bring together interesting, initiative and active students all over Europe and let them exchange their ideas by providing informative sessions and learning opportunities with outstanding speakers who have a huge international project experience and a will to help us with idea and project generation.
 

This is supposed to be the Forum where there will be a chance to establish contacts with young people, share experience, find partners for interesting project ideas and probably for future social and business projects. U-active Forum idea has been developed by a group of students studying in Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno and acting in Youth-In-Club, nonformal group of students interested in developing and participating in international projects. “U-active” has a triple meaning: “you active”, “active youth” and “active University”. We are proud to welcome our delegates from all over Europe, especially those coming from our partner universities.

Important Dates
3th November, 2011 - Registration deadline
7th November, 2011 - Participant notification
24th - 26th November, 2011 - Forum days
 

Registration
Each participant has to register for the U-Active Forum. The deadline for registration is 3th November, 2011. Please fill in the Registration Form on-line carefully to provide us the relevant information (especially those who need visa to Belarus) and send us your short CV. There is a recruitment process for all applicants. All participants will be notified by e-mail until 7th November, 2011. The information about participants will be also published on the web-page.
 

Registration Fee
There is also a registration fee for participants of the U-Active Forum.
Participants have to make a payment of:
- 20 EUR: all participants
- 70 000 BYR: Belarusian participants
 

Donations from participants should be made on their arrival at the registration point. Donations in Euro are accepted equivalent to Belarusian rubles on the day of arrival.
 

The registration fee includes:

• participation in the Forum;
• access to all the program sessions;
• coffee breaks during sessions;
• conference materials;
• breakfasts, lunches and dinners throughout the Forum;
• accommodation in the student's dormitories during the Forum;
• cultural program.

Who can participate?
U-Active Forum intends to bring together interesting, initiative and active young people all over Europe and especially from partner universities. The Forum encourages the participation of both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

You can participate in the Forum if you:
- have high motivation and active life style;
- are a leader of a youth or student organization;
- have some experience of youth projects realization;
- would like to realize joint international projects;
- would like to exchange your experience with Belarusian students;
- have good knowledge of English (communicative level).
 

Main requirements:
- To fill in the registration form (on-line);
- Provide a short CV (1 page).

You can read more and apply here.

Contact Information: 
tel.: +375 152 731 954, fax: +375 152 731 910
e-mail: u.active.forum@tut.by

Vacancy for EVS Volunteer in Poland

Centre for Creative Activity is looking for EVS volunteer for the period of February-November 2012. Our project is about promoting voluntarism, building local activism. Volunteer is a person involved in making actions, workshops for youth and children, can also to adults. During EVS you will be involved in coordinating local and international projects, fundraising, writing application for grants and working at school:))) also sometimes you will be involve in travelling in a region with promotion of youth in action and your country! 

Tasks

EURODESK INFORMATION POINT  - answering mails, updating website , making databases (for ex: grants, international summer courses etc)  - helping with international events 

NDIVIDUAL WORSHOPS - This activity depends of a volunteer him/her self. Depending of the wanted activity and the profile of volunteer that we will host, they will have opportunity to develop their own activity by share of his/her own interest (which means that if they are good in theatre they will have chance to organize theatre worshops or if they are good in belly dance, we will start new open for local youth).  Our main target are kids and younsgters till end of university 

WORKING ON A FIELD - In this part we planned to bring volunteers in projects on which we work, like:  - helping with local actions like: helping with studies for youth - organising free time activities for kids and youth such as concerts.  - promotion of the European integration process ( in a political and social meaning) by developing.  The four main areas, where we plan that the foreign volunteers could involve in are:  - cooperation with European School Clubs (ESC) - informal unions between the students and teachers in different types of schools from the following voivodeships: LUBUSKIE, WIELKOPOLSKIE, DOLNOŒL¥SKIE. The volunteers will travel around those voivodeships to give lectures and make workshops in kindergardens, schools about their own countries (traditions, history, educational system, young people's lifestyles) and the European Union (especialy educationals programms for youth). Apart from this the volunteers will help our volunteers to organise Europan day and Europan Youth Conference. To show the possibilities in EU for young people.  This part can be flexible, because volunteers will be involved in everything that we will do in a certain moment. If we will organize art festival they will have opportunity to be involved. In periods where field work is not necessary volunteers will have chance to develop their own  3) St. Staszic Complex of Schools in Wschowa  - helping Career Councelour with office work and leading worshops for youth 

 

Criteria

We would like to welcome a volunteer in the age between 18 - 30 y.o. with as much artistic as realistic soul, who is enthusiastic and keen to do a lot of different activities, who would like to either teach teenagers important things about dance, music, theatre and/or acting or, help with creating/editing webside of our partners institutions and our NGO. We plan that the volunteer to his/her advantage will learn many things about Polish culture and language. We need a person who would like to share with kids, and youth what is "youth in action" and what kind of europan programmes they can use in their lifes. That person should like working with children and teenagers and have communicative command of English language.It would be also perfect if person is experienced in writing grants application and fundraising. Selected candidate will be contacted in order to receive further information about the procedure and to explain details about our organisation and the available acivities in Centre for Creative Activity.

  

Procedure

ALL INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS SHOULD SEND:  

- CV  and cover letter 

- Movie about herself/himself (with info how they can contribute project , why they choose our project) 

TILL 10.10.2011 - 23.59 CET TO THE EMAIL EVS@FUNDACJA-CAT.PL.  MAILS SENT TO KONTAKT@FUNDACJA-CAT.PL WOULD BE REJECTED AUTOMATICALLY!!! We prefer if sending organisation can apply in its own country, becuase our project is still running (first one)

• Contact person: Marlena Pujsza Kunikowska
• Organisation: Centre for Creative Activity
• Location: Leszno, Poland
• Deadline: 10/10/2011
• Start: 27/02/2012
• End: 26/11/2012

Summer School on Religion, Culture and Society

The Summer School on Religion, Culture and Society is organized by the Universitair Centrum Sint-Ignatius, in Antwerpen, Belgium. It is a one-week course taking place from Sunday 28th of August until Sunday 4th of September 2011. Our focus this year will be Religion and International Relations. It is evident that religion, culture and society are strongly interwoven and are crucial for understanding the contemporary world. With globalization touching on all aspect of our lives, religion(s) and culture(s) have to understand their position in this complex globalizing process. It is the aim of the interdisciplinary UCSIA summer school to better understand the dynamic interplay between the macro- and micro-social developments concerning religion that takes place in much of the contemporary world.  

The program offers these young academic researchers and PhD students the opportunity to attend classes taught by established researchers, to present their own work and discuss their ideas in a relaxed and open atmosphere and within a multidisciplinary framework.

Eligible Participants

This summer school is open to PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the field of theology, the humanities (religious studies, philosophy, linguistics, history and literature) the social sciences (anthropology, sociology, political sciences, law and economics), or in other disciplines if engaged in relevant research. UCSIA expects every applicant to submit a paper in which he/she presents his/her current research project. The papers should be structured as a research proposal and address one of the general topics addressed by the guest lecturers.

Application Process

To submit your application, please fill in the online application form.

Plus, you have to submit:
# Curriculum vitae, in English, with attached list of publications
# Copy/scan of the highest obtained diploma, with translation in English
# Motivated request and cost estimate travel grant (if applicable, for further information click here)
# A research paper of min. 2500 and max. 4000 words in English (read the guidelines)

Costs and Funding
Selected participants will be funded by UCSIA in the following aspects:
* tuition fee
* study materials
* lodging and meals while in Antwerp

Participants should pay for their own travel expenses to Antwerp. However a limited number of (partial) travel grants is available for participants who are unable to fund their own travel and are not eligible to apply for a travel grant in their host institutions.

Contacts
Ms. Sara Mels:
sara.mels@ua.ac.be
Tel.: 0032-3-265.45.99

Read more here

Young Journalists Competition

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Europe invites young journalists from around Europe interested in socio-economic and environmental issues to take up the challenge to cover Enterprise 2020 in an innovative and creative way. CSR offers participants the opportunity to connect with CSR Europe’s partners in a variety of countries across Europe. The competition is open to citizens of the 27 EU Member States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. All submissions must be submitted to CSR Europe by e-mail between 28 October 2010 and 31 December 2010.

Participants will also get the chance to speak to member of consortia developing these new joint ventures on CSR issues including enabling technologies for environmental sustainability, demographic change in Europe, new business models against poverty, health literacy, financial capability for Europe’s youth and retirees, and many more.

Background

CSR Europe, the European business network for corporate social responsibility. Enterprise 2020 is the future vision for sustainable and responsible business in Europe. Today’s economic, societal and environmental challenges are driving a profound transformation of our world. Within the next decade, they will increasingly bring into question our current patterns of living, working, learning, communicating, consuming and sharing resources. What will the world look like in 2020? How will trends such as increasing globalisation, demographic change, natural resource scarcity, technology acceleration, global health challenges and social divisions shape business and society? How will they influence the capacity of enterprises to create value that contributes to economic, societal and environmental progress? The competition is organised in partnership with European Youth Press and supported by the Belgian EU Presidency.

Why Participate?

• The entries will be published on CSR Europe’s website.
• The 3 winners will be rewarded with prizes of technical equipment for journalists from sponsors.
• A selection of entries will be published in an online catalogue disseminated to all CSR Europe’s member companies and published on CSR Europe’s website and newsletter.

General Rules and Eligibility

• Participants must be aged between 16 -30 years.
• Topics of all entries must be clearly linked to corporate social responsibility and the issues addressed by the Enterprise 2020 initiative.
• Submissions must be submitted to CSR Europe by e-mail between 28 October 2010 and 31 December 2010.
• Entries must be written / presented in either an official language of one of the EU Member States, or Croatian, Norwegian, Russian, Turkish or Serbian.
• Entries must include an English synopsis of a maximum of 300 words for the international jury.
• Team entries will be accepted provided that all major contributors (e. g. researchers, journalists and editors) are listed and that the team does not exceed 3 people.
• Previously published entries are eligible.
• The winners will be chosen by a jury comprising representatives of CSR Europe, CSR Europe’s member companies and national partner organisations, media and the European Commission.
• CSR Europe reserves the right to use the winning articles for presentation and publicity purposes, and is allowed to reproduce them for the promotion of the competition and its results.
• Entries will not be returned to competition participants.

In addition, the following specifications must be followed: 

Written Articles

• Articles must be written in a journalistic style. Academic papers will not be accepted.
• Articles should not exceed 1500 words in length.

Radio

• Entries can include interviews, documentaries, panel discussions, reports or short stories – formats that are eligible for being aired in radio stations.
• Format of the radio entry: MP3 or Windows Media file.
• Entries must not exceed a maximum length of 5 minutes.

Video

• Entries can include interviews, documentaries, panel discussions, reports or short stories – formats that are eligible for being aired in radio stations.
• Format of the video entry: Windows Media or Flash video file.
• Entries must not exceed a maximum length of 5 minutes.

For more information on the Enterprise 2020 initiative, please visit the website http://www.csreurope.org/pages/en/youngjournalists.html

X-Change Inc. - Developing Youth Exchanges

X-Change Inc. - Developing Youth Exchanges to combat poverty and social exclusion - This training is organised by Leargas, the National Agency in Ireland for the management of national and international exchange and cooperation programms in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training. The training will take place on March 04-06, 2011 in Dublin, Ireland.

This is an opportunity to meet project partners working with young people with fewer opportunities to develop youth exchanges through the Youth in Action programm particularly projects working across the theme of Combating poverty and social exclusion.

X-Change Inc. aims to provide space for participants to:
•Develop contacts and networks to engage in youth exchanges with other participants working with young people with fewer opportunities.
•Share information and experiences of their organisation, target groups and projects working across the theme of combating poverty and social exclusion
•Gain a clear view of the possibilities and priorities within the Youth in Action Programm
•Understand how to include non formal learning and Youthpass in your project

Working methods:

This seminar will be dynamic using interactive and non-formal learning methods.A mix of workshops, facilitated discussions and other active tools will be used in which the participants are invited to play a central role.The activities will be led by experienced facilitators in Youth Exchanges and working with youth people with fewer opportunities.

Eligibility

• at least 18 years of age and are able to communicate in English
• working with and interested in develop youth exchanges on the theme of combating of poverty and social exclusion
• working directly with young people with fewer opportunities
• knowing what their objectives are and knowing what their young people want to reach with a youth exchange
• a youth exchange within the framework of Youth in Action

Costs

Board, lodging and programme costs will be provided and paid for by the Irish National Agency of Youth in Action. The travel costs will be paid by the National Agency of Youth in Action in your country (Please contact them to check if they will support your participation). The Irish National Agency will request €50 participation fee from Irish participants. Please check with your own National Agency on application for confirmation of participant contribution.

Application

Fill in the application form, available here, and send it to:
Patricia Dalton
Leargas 189-193 Parnell Street Dublin 1 Ireland
Phone: +353 1 8731411 /+353 1 8871218
E-mail: pdalton@leargas.ie

Go to the official website

TICTAC Network Training in France

TICTAC is a Network Training open for all National Agencies for the Youth in Action programme and targets at voluntary and professional youth workers and youth leaders involved in international youth work and interested in using Action 4.3 (also within 3.1) as support measures in their organization’s long term strategy.

By bringing together representatives of youth organisations from different European countries, the TICTAC TC aims at improving the potential of the participants to get involved in Action 4.3 of the Youth in Action programme and consequently increase the quality of Training and Networking activities.

The international dimension of the TICTAC TC is given by the different nationalities of participants and trainers team. This is an asset for the intercultural dimension of the course. The course methodology is based on the concept of experiential learning, in an atmosphere where participants can learn a lot from each other and have a lot of fun. Within the frame of ‘recognition of non-formal learning’, participants will receive a ‘Youthpass’ Certificate after the course upon their request.

Objectives

-  promote the YiA Programme as an Educational Tool;
-  explore the YiA Programme with a special focus on the aims of Action 4.3 and its activities;
-  understand the role of Action 4.3 & 3.1 projects within a long term strategy;
-  simulate the first steps of organising an Action 4.3 & 3.1 project within an international team;
-  develop participant’s competences in Planning Non Formal Education and InterculturalLearning Processes;
-  promote Youth Participation and European Citizenship as key elements when designing a YiA Project;

Eligibility

* youth workers and youth leaders experienced in international activity
* participants from: Belgium – FR, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Croatia, SOUTH-EAST EUROPE, EASTERN EUROPE AND CAUCASUS, Switzerland

Costs

To be checked with the National Agency of your country. The travelling and hosting costs for the participants from Eastern Europe and Caucasus and South East Europe will be covered.

Go to the program website

Training Course "Talk and Listen" in Romania

"Talk and Listen" is a training course on conflict management and communication aiming at exploring the concept of conflict on two sides: intra-personal and interpersonal level as well as understanding the mechanisms of communication.The event will be held on 19-24 March 2011, in Brasov, Romania.

Themes of the training course are:
* Sources and classification of conflicts
* Conflict and communication
* Types of personality (including personality tests)
* Meaning of body language
* Conflict resolution methods
* Negotiation techniques

Objectives
* To provide the participants with knowledge about conflict and negotiation
* To provide the participants with practical tools on conflict management and negotiation techniques
* To facilitate the cooperation between the participants in order to develop future projects within Youth in Action program
* To empower the participants to act as mediators in future conflicts.

Eligibility

*  Member of the 27 EU countries (it is a 4.3 action)
*  Able to stay focused throughout the whole training course
*  With  experience  in  managing  youth  projects  (writing  or implementing projects)
*  Able to make decisions in their organization
*  To have analytical skills

Target Group
* Youth volunteers working in conflict areas: social inclusion, ethnic minorities, refugees
* Young volunteers with disabilities
* Young volunteers belonging to minorities
* Young European immigrants
* Volunteers willing to improve their conflict management skills

Costs and scholarships

*  Transportation covered 70%
*  Food and accommodation covered 100%
*  Participation  fee:  20  euro  (will  be  deducted  from  the transport reimbursement)

Application

please send the signed and stamped Part III together with the application form before Tuesday 26th October 2010 to the following e-mail address: talkn.listen@yahoo.com

Afterwards you must send the original Part III at the following address:
ACDC Romania
Str. Paraului 38; Bl A-14; sc. B; ap. 14;
Brasov
Romania

Go to the official webpage

Sauvé Scholars Program for Young Leaders, Canada

The Sauvé Scholars Program (Montreal, Canada) has already welcomed 100 scholars from 45 different countries. Launched in 2003, the Sauvé Scholars Program has evolved from the Jeanne Sauvé Youth Foundation, created in 1991 by the late Jeanne Sauvé, the first woman to serve as Governor General of Canada, the country’s Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. The Sauvé Scholars Program exists for young leaders from across the globe who want to change the world. 

The Scholars are chosen above all on the basis of criteria laid out by the Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé:
* Initiative
* Motivation
* Vision
* Imagination
* Demonstrated communication skills
* Awareness of international and domestic issues
* A strong desire to effect change

The Sauvé experience, a period of personal and professional growth, is founded on:

* Intense exchange of ideas and experience, supported by communal life
* Extensive intellectual freedom, allowing each participant to develop according to his or her needs and aspirations
* Focus on action accompanied by a clear commitment to the community —including the host community
* Commitment to dialogue among cultures, which allows participants to understand and assimilate viewpoints built within multiple frames of reference.

Eligibility
* Between 23 and 30 years old on December 31st 2010
* A highly motivated self-starter
* A committed agent of change
* Fluent in English
* A minimum of 2-3 years of professional and/or work experience (paid or unpaid). Experience may include positions in a volunteer or internship capacity
* Completed your undergraduate education, or the equivalent, by 31 July 2010 (advanced degrees are welcome but not a requirement)
* A record of accomplishment and ability to meet challenges
* Demonstrated leadership qualities
* Proven communications skills
* A highly developed curiosity about the world
* A strong interest in international and domestic issues
* An eagerness to engage with the complex issues of the day

  

Scholarship

* Round-trip transportation (one trip only) to and from Montreal is arranged for each Scholar and paid for by the Program (the Program also assists in securing and paying for visas to Canada for Scholars who are neither Canadian citizens nor residents)
* Monthly allowance of $1,000 (Canadian dollars) to cover meals and incidental expenses.
* “Welcome allowance” of $500 to be used by Scholars to purchase any necessary supplies, and winter clothing for Scholars arriving from warmer climates
* The Program covers the expenses related to activities developed during the nine-month Programm
* Accommodation at Sauvé House (modern individual compact bedroom/studies, all with cable TV and Internet access, and with private full bathrooms).

Deadline for applications is 01 November 2010.

More detailed information on the Programm Scholarship

Open Forum "Faces and Fakings of Volunteering"

The Open Forum Bruges "Faces and Fakings of Volunteering" on 26-28 November 2010 is the first part of the project v11 which consists of a series of events contributing to the European Year of Volunteering 2011. As a first attempt to approach the topic, this weekend event will provide a framework for discussing different understandings and meanings of the term “volunteering”. This project is supported by the European Union under the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme.

What is the OpenForum Bruges about?

2011 was declared the “European Year of Volunteering” by the European Union. All over Europe Institutions and organisations will highlight the importance of volunteering for individual development and for society. Together with partner organisations from all over the continent, Citizens of Europe will realise a series of events and activities dealing with volunteering. As a first attempt to approach the topic, the OpenForum in Bruges will provide a framework for discussing different understandings and meanings of the term “volunteering”.

The aims are in particular:

- to map different meanings of the term volunteering in different social environments and based on different cultural backgrounds

- to define voluntary work in contrastation with other forms of unpaid work

- to analyse different motivations of volunteers and their respective contexts

- to identify interesting questions, controversies and topics to be addressed during the coming phases of the project and the Workshop/Seminar day on 6 May 2011 during the European Days of Volunteering in Landau in der Pfalz.

What are OpenFora?

OpenFora are weekend debates. Their objective is to bring together people from all Europe – regardless of their age, social or professional background – in order to exchange views and experience on topics related with current social and political life in Europe. So far, we have realised nine of them (see http://www.openfora.eu).

OpenFora setup spaces where European diversity can be experienced in practice. They are not conferences where showmanship is the top priority. They do not target at a specific group – be it youngsters, academics, politicians, media professional, or whatsoever. Instead, OpenFora welcome all people that are willing to actively participate in a European debate on topics that are important to them.

OpenFora is part of the Citizens of Europe project portfolio. Each OpenForum is realized with the support of a local partner organisation. The OpenForum 10 in Bruges is part of the project cycle “v11”, Citizens of Europe’s contribution to the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

Whom would we like to meet in Bruges?

Every one willing to actively engage in a debate characterized by low hierarchies is welcome to this OpenForum. All opinions are valuable and will be considered. Academic and professional backgrounds are relevant for us only to the extend they allow for interesting contributions to the debate.

We are willing to meet participants coming from the public and private sector, the academic community, civil society, arts, etc. Involving people with a variety of personal backgrounds will contribute to a lively debate with substantial results. We are particularly interested in people and organisations interested also in contributing to future parts of our project v11.

What does the OpenForum Bruges offers?

The weekend debate will follow a three-phased schedule (opening audience discussion, workshop, and special closing event). Hierarchies are meant to be particularly low, everybody coming will be encouraged and expected to contribute with own thoughts, knowledge and experience. Citizens of Europe will present a framework, initiate the debates and involve the participants according to their personal profiles and the points of view expressed when applying.

What will you gain by participating in the OpenForum Bruges?

You will get to know people involved In voluntary work or dealing with it from different contexts and geographical backgrounds. You will network and exchange experiences among exciting people; you will appreciate mutual respect and recognition when initiating and participating in a transnational European debate.

What are the conditions for participating?

Participation requires the ability to take part in a debate held in English language.

Room and board are included. A participation fee of max. EUR 60,00 (according to your place of residence) needs to be transferred to our bank account after your application has been accepted.

Find out about the fee applicable to you on: http://wiki.citizens-of-europe.eu/images/c/c0/Participation_fees_OFBruges.pdf

On request, we can refund travel tickets (max 70 %, max. 125 EUR).

What do you need to do in order to apply?

1. Fill in our application form and motivational letter, downloadable at: http://wiki.citizens-of-europe.

eu/images/8/8e/Bruges_Application_Form.doc

2. Write a short text (up to 4.000-5.000 characters), or send us visual material produced by you, which may provide an answer to one of the following questions:

• Is volunteering a life style?

• Examples for a misuse of the term “volunteering”

• Why I am a volunteer

• Volunteering & Exploitation – where is the borderline?

We are happy to receive any additional material of yours on the general programme “Contemporary Challenges to Europe” or on the specific topic of OpenForum Bruges (e.g. Internet links, artistic works, publications, etc…).

Please send your application to the following address: office@citizens-of-europe.eu with the subject: OpenForum Bruges.

The deadline for applications is 30 October 2010.

You can find the project website at: http://projects.citizens-of-europe.eu/openfora/?page_id=331

Balkan Youth Sport Democracy Training

The International Sport and Culture Association, in cooperation with Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations and Sport For All Serbia, has the pleasure to invite you to the Balkan Youth Sport Democracy Training that will be held on November 22-28, 2010 in Serbia.

The main themes of the training are:

- intercultural dialogue through youth and sport activities

- democratic youth participation.

The objectives of the training:
- Develop the skills of Balkan youth leaders in promoting inter-ethnic dialogue through youth and sport activities;
- Support Balkan youth leaders to discover and develop innovative ways of participating in democratic decision making processes in their local communities;
- Establish a network of youth leaders that are actively pursuing and implementing cross-cutting initiatives in the youth and sport field in the Balkans.

Eligibility
Participants should be:
- aged between 15 – 30 years
- involved in local NGOs
- have experience from other related events
- show motivation to be part of an international learning experience
- residents of one of the following countries: ALBANIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, KOSOVO, MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, SLOVENIA AND DENMARK.

The working language will be English, therefore each participant is required to have good communication skills in this language.

Financial conditions and financial support
ISCA and DGI will cover all costs related to accommodation and food. The participants should arrange their own travel to and from Serbia. Participants will receive a travel reimbursement of 70% of the total costs, up to the amounts mentioned below. The organizers will need to see all original tickets and receipts to be able to enable a refund. We encourage participants to make use of the cheapest methods of travel possible.

Maximum reimbursement of travel costs:

- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia € 70
- Croatia and Montenegro € 100
- Albania, Macedonia and Slovenia € 120
- Denmark € 200

The participation fee for the seminar is 30 euro and will be deducted from the travel reimbursement.
 

Application procedure
Please complete the online application form before 20th October 2010. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted. On the basis of the applications received ISCA and DGI will take a final decision on accepted applicants.The results of the selection process will be sent to all applicants on the 25th October 2010.

Read more and apply online

Euro–Arab Training Course for Cooperation Youth Projects

Council of Europe and the League of Arab States are aiming to develop the capacity of youth organisations active in Euro-Arab cooperation, in the areas of non-formal learning, training and intercultural dialogue.

Background for the course

Euro-Arab youth cooperation was initiated more than 15 years ago by the Council of Europe with a series of activities in the area of Euro-Arab Dialogue. Nonetheless, the most important area of cooperation in the recent years has been in the Euro-Mediterranean region, in particular through the human rights education and intercultural dialogue of the partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the field of youth.

Aim of the course

The course aims at supporting Euro-Arab youth cooperation by developing the competences of thirty leaders of youth organisations from the Council of Europe and the League of Arab States as well as to support the development and the implementation of innovative projects for youth policy development, youth participation and intercultural dialogue through non formal learning and by youth organisations.

Participants’ projects criteria

During this course, each participant will have to develop a concrete project to be implemented with young people, based on non formal learning and intercultural dialogue. The projects should start after the first residential seminar in Strasbourg (5th – 13th December 2010).

Profile and selection of participants

The course is organised for youth leaders of youth organisations and of youth projects in member states of the Council of Europe and of the League of Arab States who are:
• Having some experience in running youth projects and intending to engage further in Euro-Arab youth cooperation ones;
• Supported by their organisations for participating in the course and in their intentions to contribute to increased Euro-Arab youth cooperation;
• Motivated to learn and to share their experiences on youth work and youth policy;
• Able to act as trainers or multipliers within their organisations;
• Committed to develop and implement a cooperation project;
• Able to work in Arabic or/and English (if needed, simultaneous interpretation Arabic-English will be provided for the duration of the course)
• Available to attend the full duration of the course including the e-learning and project development phases;
• Aged between 18 and 30 years (preferably).

Working languages

The course will be held in English and Arabic. If needed, simultaneous interpretation will be provided for the residential seminars. Documents for the seminars and for the elearning phase will be made available in both languages where possible and if necessary.

Financial conditions

Board and lodging as well as the travel expenses for the seminars will be covered. The co-organisers will not cover the costs of using the Internet during the e-learning phases. Participation in these phases will not require the purchase of extra software by the participants.

The Council of Europe and the League of Arab States will not directly fund or co-fund projects to be developed by participants, as this is a responsibility of the latter and of their organisation. However, both institutions are committed to provide participants with the necessary educational and institutional support needed for the development of their projects.

Procedure for applications

All applicants from European countries should apply using an Internet-based application form. The form is available, after registration on the website. In case of technical difficulties, please contact Ms. Viktoria Karpatska at Viktoria.Karpatska@coe.int. Applications must be submitted in English.

All interested persons from Arab states should contact the office of the League of Arab States by email: youth@poplas.org for receiving information about the application procedure.

The support letter for the candidate should be presented by their sending organisation. The recommendation letter can either be uploaded on the website mentioned above, or sent separately by email to the respective person in charge of receiving the application. Applicants without recommendation letter will not be considered. 

The applicants must provide also a brief outline of the project that they intend to develop and implement during the course. The project outline is important to illustrate what the applicant has in mind and the social context within which the project is placed. The possible acceptance of an applicant does not imply, for the Council of Europe or for the League of Arab States, automatic support or acceptance of the project.

Deadline for applications

All applications must be completed, validated and sent by the 15th of October 2010. Selected candidates will be informed of their selection by the 22nd of October 2010. A waiting list may be drawn up.

More information here

'Empowering Women' Seminar in France

French National Agency in cooperation with SALTO EuroMed, with the support of SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus, and SALTO South East Europe organize a building seminar "Empowering Women"  that will take place on 13-18 December 2010 in France. 

The seminar will deal with the empowerment of women: it will deepen what empowering means (liberty and power, knowledge and capacity for taking decisions and the opportunity for fulfilling them) and how it is searched in various sectors of life (economy, politics, education and health). Participants will have a direct touch with the empowerment of women in the seminar venue, by visiting places and organisations active in the field. All this in order to let participants build partnerships and draw draft ideas of future common projects, which will be monitored with an impact evaluation after 6/12 months.

Aims and objectives

1. facilitating the networking process among participants and promoting new common projects
2. letting participants deepening the topic and its corollaries
3. deepening the analysis of the fields where empowering it’s needed in the four regions (EU + MEDA + SEE + EECA)
4. getting a direct touch with the external environment, with organizations and bodies with strong connections with the thematic
5. sharing experiences in the field
6. facilitating the networking process among participants and promoting new common projects.

Eligibility

1. Youth workers, trainers belonging to organisations or bodies dealing with the thematic.
2. Coming from EU and the three regions (MEDA + SEE + EECA)
3. A gender balance would be REALLY appreciated (or at least a significant male participation)

Working language: English/French. Group size: 24

Application
You have to fill in the application on-line. Only the application forms submitted and correctly filled-in will be taken into account. Deadline for applications is 16 October 2010.

Selection process
Programme countries: pre-selection through sending National Agencies for the YiA programme Mediterranean Partner countries: Salto-Youth EuroMed with support of EuroMed Youth Units. Other partner countries: Salto-Youth EuroMed with support of SALTO SEE and SALTO EECA

Costs and scholarships

Travel, boarding and loading of participants will be covered. The selected participants will be contacted by the organisers about their travel’s cost.

More information

Young Innovations Europe Magazine Contest

Young Innovations Europe (YIE) is a new magazine showcasing youth-led best practices in Europe across a variety of fields,  including Politics, Economy, Arts, Science, Social Sector and many more. It main aim is to inspire and engage young people to become active change makers in their field of interest, while inform the adults of what young people are up to and the impact their projects are having throughout Europe.

As a way to collaboratively shape our path and the next steps for the upcoming year, we invite you to fill in the survey and compete for the chance to win Euro 1,000!

Eligibility Criteria
- Up to 35 years of age
- Currently living in one of the countries of the Council of Europe
- Interested in launching a local initiative

Application

Fill in the survey at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CHZZYZW until October 25th, results will be announced in early November.

For further information, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at info@younginnovationseurope.org and have a look at our website www.younginnovationseurope.org

Odessa National University Model UN 2010

9th Odessa National University Model United Nations will take place in Odessa, Ukraine, on November 26-28, 2010. ONUMUN gives a unique and interactive opportunity for university students from all over the world to become familiar with international issues and to enhance their understanding of the institutional and political in-workings of the UN organization. At this role-playing game participants assume roles of diplomats representing various member-states of the UN and simulate the debate happening in several bodies of the UN and one regional organization, following the corresponding rules of procedure. We have a great traditional support from the General Consulates accredited in Odessa and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Participation is open to anyone interested in international affairs and aged 18–30.

Purpose of the conference:
* building knowledge about the United Nations and European structures;
* bringing understanding of multilateralism and multilateral diplomacy;
* raising awareness about democratic values;
* promotion of International Education;
* making valuable and potentially fruitful international contacts with peers, professors, guests.

During the conference the work will be in the following committees:

* Security Council – (Topic to be discussed: Situation in Iran)
* Human Rights Council – (Topic to be discussed: Domestic Violence)
* Economic and Social Council- (Topic to be discussed: Economic Crimes)
* United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change- (Topic to be discussed:Climate Change and its Influence on Human Security).

Participation fee
Citizens of Ukraine – 15 euro (150 hrivnas)
Citizens of the CIS states — 20 euro
Citizens of the EU, the USA, Canada and Switzerland — 40 euro
Citizens of other states — 30 euro

Participation fee includes free lunches during 3 days of the conference. No travel grants are available.

Please, take into account that you should pay for your accommodation, but our team will do its best to arrange the cheap hostel for all participants.

Deadline for registration: November 01, 2010.

You can register and read more here

Global Youth Essay Contest 2010

Raise Your Voice, Share Your Ideas, and Get Involved in Democracy! Submit your essay on democracy, and win an opportunity to attend one of the largest global gatherings of democracy leaders!

The World Youth Movement for Democracy (www.wymdonline.org), a youth network of the World Movement for Democracy (www.wmd.org), is pleased to announce the launch of its Global Essay Contest. Fifteen semi-finalists (3 in each region: Asia, Central/Eastern Europe & Eurasia, Middle East & North Africa, Latin America & Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa) will be announced on Human Rights Day, December 10, and will have their essays published on the WYMD Web site. Two global winners will be invited to participate in the upcoming Community of Democracies Ministerial Meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2011. (www.community-democracies.org)

Questions

Democracy has been practiced in different ways and in different contexts. We believe there are core universal democratic values and aspirations that we all share, which transcend our differences, even though we live in different cultures, speak different languages, and eat different food. The purpose of this essay contest is to highlight personal engagement in democracy by promoting critical thinking about the role of young people in democracy and to connect youth with broader democracy movements. The questions posed below for this essay contest aim to challenge youth to write about their perspectives on democracy and their understanding of democracy activism, particularly their own.

Essays are required to address one or more of the following questions:

1. In what ways have young people contributed to democratic participation in your community? Highlighting some of the strategies and tools they have used, what difference have their efforts made?

2. New media and social networking are increasingly becoming popular tools for community organizing. In what ways have you and/or your organization been using new media for democracy promotion? How effective has it been and what challenges have you faced in using these tools?

3. What practices, do you think exemplify human rights activist protection or violation in your country that is not openly recognized? What do you think are the justifications for this and how can it be either replicated, in the case of a good example or stopped, in the case of a bad example?

4. What new factors can youth activists bring to longstanding human rights issues in your country? How have these issues been addressed in the past?

Submissions

Please submit your essay by World Youth Day for Democracy, 18 October 2010, via email attachment as a Word document. The format must have 1’’ margins, double spaced, Times New Roman font, and size 12 font. Please make sure to clearly designate, in the body of your email, your full name, age, gender, physical address, and phone number, to the relevant regional email address listed below. Do not enter your name or other details on your actual essay. Essays can be submitted in Arabic, English, French, Russian, or Spanish, and the essay must be no more than 2,000 words. Authors must be no younger than 18 and no older than 30 years old before October 18).

Timeline

* August 12, 2010 – Launch of the Essay Contest

* October 18, 2010 – Deadline for the essay submission

* December 10, 2010 – Announcement of 15 Semi-finalists

* January 2011 – Semi-finalist essays posted on WYMD Web site

* February 2011 – Announcement of 2 Global Winners

* July 2011 – Global winners attend Community of Democracy Ministerial Meeting

Review Process

The submitted essays will be reviewed by regional committees each of which will determine three regional semi-finalists. The semi-finalists will be announced on Human Rights Day (December 10). If needed the each of the regional committees will also translate 3 semi-finalist essays into English to post on the World Youth Movement for Democracy Website. Essays will be evaluated based on: Composition; Clarity; Creativity; and Practicality.

* Essays must be based on your own personal experiences and must be your own original work. Please do not use outside sources without citing properly.

Prizes

The Two Global winners will be announced and provided with a sponsorship to cover travel and othere expenses related to their participation in the Community of Democracies Ministerial Meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2011. (www.community-democracies.org)

The 15 Semi-Finalists (3 from each region) will be announced and their essays will be posted on the World Youth Movement for Democracy Web site.

Contact Information:

Cecilia Andersen

Fax: +1.202.378.9889

Email: ceciliah@ned.org

Website: WYMD

Red Cross Young Reporters on Humanitarian Action Competition

Through its Young Reporters on Humanitarian Action Competition, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is inviting young journalists to discover for themselves what is happening in the field, and in particular, how young people are dealing on a daily basis with the reality of armed conflict or other situations of violence.

Entrants must be aged between 18 and 25 and have proof of a previous or an especially-tailored humanitarian communication project. The four best entries will win a one-week mission to ICRC delegations in Georgia, Lebanon, Liberia and the Philippines where they will have the chance to interview young people affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence. With the guidance and coaching of an ICRC communication specialist, selected candidates will produce a news report on their mission - n print or film - to be published and/or shown in a variety of media outlets. The finished products will be presented during a ceremony held in Geneva, Switzerland, around 8 May, 2011.

Entries should be sent no later than 1 October, 2010 and winners should be available for a one week mission to an ICRC delegation (January or February 2011), as well as a trip to Geneva to present the finished product (May 2011).

Website: ICRC Young Reporter Competition

Call for Entries to Young Reporters Against Poverty (YRAP) Competition

The European Journalism Centre, with the support of the European Commission's EuropeAid Co-operation Office, is calling on young journalists to enter the recently launched 'Young Reporters Against Poverty (YRAP)' competition, the first Europe-wide competition for journalism students passionate about development issues.

Submit a written article or short radio broadcast in your native language on 'EU development assistance' between 20 September and 29 October 2010, for the chance to win one of 33 live reporting spots at this year's European Development Days in Brussels.

Watch the professionals at the hands-on training workshops, and your live report from the EDD could bag you a place on the winners' press trip to Africa! 

Eligible applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 and studying journalism in one of the EU’s 27 member states during the academic year 2010-2011.

Website: Young Reporters Against Poverty

Training Course "Transnational Youth Initiatives"

Training course "Transnational Youth Initiatives" aims to improve international co-operation and consequently increase the quality of Transnational Youth Initiatives. The training course will be held on 23 – 28 November 2010 in Arnhem, Netherlands. This training course is aimed at enabling the participants to develop and realise an Action 1.2 Transnational Youth Initiatives from Youth in Action Programme.

The specific objectives of the course are:
1) To acquire project management and communication competences for international activities;
2) To develop an understanding of the principles of networking;
3) To learn about the YOUTH in Action Programme and the “Quality criteria of Action 1.2”;
4) To share and transfer experiences of activities undertaken in the local community;
5) To create a space for contact making and finding potential partners for Transnational Youth Initiatives;
6) To develop an action plan for creating a Transnational Youth Initiative project.

Eligibility

Young people, Youth leaders, Youth workers who:
* are resident in one of the YOUTH in Action countries (27 EU countries + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey);
* have experience in local projects, ideally ex-beneficiaries of local youth initiatives;
* have an idea to develop into a Transnational Youth Initiative project;
* are motivated and have the possibility within their organization to set up a Transnational Youth Initiative project after the training course;

Cost
Sending costs (travel costs, insurance) can be covered by the National Agencies sending participants to the training course (please check with your NA). Hosting costs (accommodation, food, program activities, and local transport) will be covered by the hosting National Agency.

Application procedure
To apply the applicants need to create an online account and register directly through the SALTO-YOUTH online system.

The application deadline is 4th October 2010.

Training course co-organised by the Dutch National Agency and SALTO Participation.

Click for more detailed info

Workshop for Young Journalists: “The Journalist: an Endangered Species?”

Why has the number of journalists in Brussels dropped from 1,300 to 752 in the past five years? How can we ensure that there is adequate media presence monitoring the work of politicians across the EU? And just how are the financial crisis and increasingly advanced technology affecting European journalists?

If these are questions that interest you then we invite you to apply to become one of the 50 young journalists, reporting from inside the European Parliament in Brussels on 12 - 14 October 2010.

Participants will experience three days of creativity and innovation through political discussions, hands-on media workshops and invaluable insights into the European Parliament, European media and the so-called ‘Brussels bubble’ itself! They will interact with high-level European politicians, professional journalists and experts and engage in intercultural exchange through practical work and evening cultural activities.

Over the course of the three-day workshop, each journalist will each produce a report on the topic of the seminar through their medium of choice - audio, video, print, online or photography.

To apply, send your CV and motivation letter to a.ogrady@youthpress.org by 20 August 2010.

Then prepare yourself to report from Brussels on the most important question facing young journalists – are we an endangered species?

The call is open to young journalists that are citizens or legal residents of an EU country, aged between 18 and 30. Travel will be reimbursed by the European Parliament. Please note that in order to receive a lump sum covering your accommodation and meals you need to provide a copy of your press card or a letter from the editor stating that you work as a journalist. Journalism students and interns need to provide a letter from their university or from the organisation they are interning at.

The workshop for young journalists is organised by the European Parliament with the support of the European Youth Press.

Reporters for the European Year of Volunteering 2011

Volunteer! Make a difference… and become one of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 reporters!

The European Union has designated 2011 as the European Year of Volunteering in order to show its appreciation for the millions of volunteers who come forward to make a difference everyday life. As part of the campaign, the EU will select one reporter in each Member State to volunteer and report from the field on the extraordinary stories of volunteers. The 27 volunteers selected will join in a relay that will successively tour the 27 Member States. The relay will be officially launched in Brussels on 6 December 2010.

Each volunteer will receive filming equipment and have his/her trip to another Member State fully organised. The content that the young media maker creates will be broadcast throughout Europe during the campaign. If you have volunteering experience and a video and journalistic background, you can apply to be one of the 27 campaign reporters.

You must send the following elements by 9 August, 2010 to enter the selection process:

- a fully completed participation form

- a full CV indicating studies, professional experiences and languages spoken.

- a motivation letter, written in English, explaining why you are interested in participating voluntarily in the reporting mission.

- a YouTube link to your best video production to date (5 minutes maximum)

- a brief description in English of this production indicating your role.

- details of previous experience travelling alone in a foreign country

- any other references that you feel may be useful.

To request your participation form and for any question, please contact: relay@paueducation.com

 

Website: European Year of Volunteering