CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS MEETING OF THE EXTREMOPHILES1
Intersectionality and Alliance in Voluntary Service
ABOUT PHIREN AMENCA
Phiren Amenca is a network of Roma and non-Roma volunteers and voluntary service organizations creating opportunities for non-formal education, dialogue and engagement, in order to challenge stereotypes and racism. More information under: www.phirenamenca.eu
BACKGROUND OF THE ACTIVITY
In 2014 Phiren Amenca organized its spring seminar “Beyond Roma and Diversity” on gender,multiple discrimination and intersectionality (More information about that seminar you can find here: https://phirenamenca.eu/beyond-roma-and-diversity/). The up-coming seminar wants to continue the reflection on intersectionality, critical race and alliance building in the context of voluntary service.This seven-days lasting seminar organized by Phirena Amenca and financed by Erasmus+ will gather 25 former and current volunteers, youth leaders and multipliers of the Phiren Amenca network to give space to discover intersectionality and alliance in a Roma and non-Roma voluntary service. We want to look at our own lives to understand the different meanings of identity, personal narratives and experiences of discrimination. We will discuss how different forms of discrimination based on class, gender identity, sexual orientation, racism and ableism are connected and influence our lives. On the one hand we want to empower ourselves through shared experiences of current realities and how to deal with them. On the other hand we want to reflect on privileged positions. The seminar wants to prepare the participants to understand how intersectionality works on individual, structural, symbolical and institutional in voluntary service. We want to discuss the need for alliances to reach social change. The methods and approaches aim to cover the different needs, background and previous knowledge of the participants. We will use non-formal educational tools like a field excursions to NGOs, the analysis of racism in media representation or a world-café with experts on different kind of intersecting discrimination. The newly developed ideas will built the base to organize together events, trainings or using social media in the future.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The seminar aims to strengthen the capacity of the participants to challenge stereotypes and discriminations from an intersectional point of view in the context of their work as young Roma and non-Roma multipliers and activists to fight discrimination and promote inclusion.
1 An eXtremophile is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth (wikipedia).
The objectives of the activity are to:
– Share and map the participants’ experiences in different forms of discrimination
– Analyse and understand the multiple facets of identity, and how different forms of discrimination intersect and (re)produce specific patterns of exclusion;
– Develop understanding of Human Rights as framework for fighting discrimination;
– Explore practices of different organizations and initiatives combating intersectional discrimination, including transphobia or homophobia and racism;
– Familiarize participants with the resources, tools and methodologies of the Phiren Amenca Network;
-Develop follow-up projects on local level or working on guidelines for volunteers how to work on the topics of gender identity, intersectionality and multiple discrimination;
– Encourage participants to build alliances with other organisations fighting discrimination;
– Suggest follow-up process on fighting discrimination by Phiren Amenca.
PROFILE OF THE PARTICIPANTS
Present will be Roma and non-Roma volunteers, former volunteers, volunteer candidates and youth leaders who are active in Roma communities and experienced in working with Roma communities and/or Roma youth.
Participants must also:
– be able and committed to act as multipliers in youth work on the themes of antidiscrimination and promotion of human rights with Roma young people, for the benefit of Roma communities and Roma youth
– be motivated to develop their competences in anti-discrimination work, human rights education and youth work and to share their experiences with other participants
– be aged 18 – 30 (exceptions are possible)
– be committed to attend for the full duration of the course
– be able to work in English, or check with the coordination that translation can be provided through other participants or team members
-be resident in one of the following countries: Belgium, Austria, France, Hungary, Italy,
Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Germany.
DATES OF THE ACTIVITY
Arrival: 29th of November (Sunday evening)
Departure: 07th of December (Monday morning)
Participants should organize their travel (arrival and departure) for these dates. Earlier arrivals and late departures will be exceptions after discussion with the organizers.
LOCATION
The seminar program will take place in Berlin, Germany in the Haus am Wansee. You can check it out
here: http://www.haus-am-wannsee.de/. The house is partly accessible for people with disabilities.
The house is located close to a lake in a forest, but also close to the city and main station. The
address is: Badeweg 7, 14129 Berlin, Germany.
PARTICIPATION FEE
Board and accommodation for the activity is provided in the Haus am Wannsee in Berlin and is
covered by the organisers of the seminar.
Reimbursement of travel costs:
The maximum of reimbursement of travel costs is 250€ (for participants from Germany it is not more
than 50€). Additional travel costs have to be covered by the participant. The reimbursements of
travel expenses (based on economical prices, Apex, student price, special price) will take on the spot
during the week in Euro or by bank transfer after the activity. Participants should bring with them
original invoices to prove the costs of travel as well the tickets.
APPLICATION
Application form
For the application please use the form in the following link until the 31st of October:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1W1U1gQe5l3YUXfff5ccGYGGwQM9xCUw_hyE3pDob_3A/viewform?c=0&w=1
Deadline
Applications must be submitted by Saturday, 31st October 2015, at midnight Central European Time.
Selection procedure
The preparatory team will select up to 25 participants on the basis of the profile outlined above, ensuring also a balance between genders, geographical regions, different types of experiences and organizations. Candidates will be informed whether their application has been accepted or rejected, and if they have been put on the waiting list, by the beginning of November.
PROFILES OF THE TEAM
My name is Atanas, I am originally from BG, but local to Brussels and Budapest. I hold a BA in Pedagogy and French and an MA in Critical Gender Studies from the Central European University. My work mainly focuses on political analysis, Roma inclusion, gender and non-formal education. I speak fluently Bulgarian, English, French and Romanes. I have good sense of humour and I love dancing.
My name is Francis. I am a genderqueer/non-binary trans*, white, temporarily able bodied academic and activist from Berlin. I love boxing, writing and performing, spoken word, reading and meditating. I am part of the advisory board of ABQueer, lgbtq-organisation.
Hi, my name is Georgiana, from Romania. I am a student at the department of Letters and Science from the University „Petrol and Gases” from Ploiesti. Since 2013 I started to work at E-Romnja (Association for promoting the rights of Roma women) as a community facilitator. I’m a Roma, feminist and activist woman. My motto is: „Be the change that you want to see in the world!”
José, 27 years old from Spain, currently doing EVS in Amaro Drom, Berlin. My educational background is related to history and education. I am an activist and volunteer in different fields like Roma, Anti-Racism and Anti-Fascism.
Hi, my name is Tina. I am a queer-feminist, cis, white activist from Berlin. I am doing an MA in sociocultural studies. Since one year I am working for Phiren Amenca and working on the topics of intersectionality and alliance building.
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
Contact Tina Heise (Logistics)
e-mail: [email protected]
mobile: 0049 157 75743978
The team is happy to meet you soon!
Tina Heise, Jose Fernández Ortega, Georgiana Lincan, Francis Seeck & Atanas Ivanov Zahariev
Phiren Amenca
Erzsébet krt. 17. V./19. 1073
Budapest, Hungary
