Project place Kose-Uuemõisa, Estonia
Project dates 5 – 13 October 2016
Application deadline 26 August 2016
About the project
YEU Estonia is looking for participants for a training course called “Europe in crisis: a call for dialogue. What can youth workers contribute?”. The main goal is to equip youth workers with competences to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue in local and international activities, particularly focused on the European Refugee Crisis.
More than a million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015, as a result of the ongoing wars in the Middle East. Most of them were Syrian, followed by Afghans and Iraqis. They arrived and are still arriving in a moment of time where many citizens in European countries feel threatened by foreigners. In about every European country there is a heavy debate ongoing, on how to deal with the situation.
Populist political parties profit from these sentiments, using simple slogans like ‘no more foreigners’. At the same time, it would not be correct to call all people who are critical towards the recent immigration wave ‘bigots’ or ‘racists’. Then we would basically shut down the discussion. Furthermore, we see that the debates of today are very much based on stereotypes and prejudices. With this project we call for a dialogue, to share opinions from all sides to develop better informed opinions. We also believe that knowledge is the key to understanding and compassion.
This training course is organized for representatives of youth organizations from different European countries, to create a common strategy. As the crisis is a cross-border problem, it only makes sense to coordinate our actions in a European framework. After the training, the participating youth workers will be able to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue in local and international activities.
The project aims to equip youth workers with competences to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue in local and international activities, particularly focused on the European Refugee Crisis.
Objectives:
● to exchange knowledge between representatives from different European youth organizations about the European Refugee Crisis: its origins and how way countries deal with it, including the public response;
● to get a thorough understanding of concepts such as stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination;
● to promote intercultural, interreligious dialogue and respect for human rights;
● to develop detailed, realistic plans to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue in local and international projects;
● to promote the Erasmus Plus programme.
Participants profile:
- Aged between 18-30 years old
- Willing and able to work on local level with the subject matter, with youngsters;
- No expertise in the topics is needed (prejudices / social media / photography, but welcomed for input during sessions – enthusiasm is most important;
- Ability to work in English
- Willing to share their experience with people from CID
Financial aspect of the project
Accommodation and food will be covered 100% by the hosting organization. The training will take place in recreation center ‘Oxforell’, close to the city of Kose-Uuemõisa in Estonia.
Travel costs will be covered up to 275 EUR (reimbursement will be done afterwards, after receiving all relevant receipts, including boarding passes;)
Participation fee 20 EUR
Sending fee 500 MKD