Date: April 18-24, 2016.
Place: Valaska/Banska Bystrica, Slovakia (community house of Association of Young Roma)
Hosting/Coordinating organisation: Association of Young Roma (SK)
Partner organizations: Phiren Amenca (BE), Romano Centro (AT), Nevo Parudimos (RO), RGDTS Nonprofit Kft. (HU), FAGIC (ES)
Number of participants: 40, age between 18-30
BACKGROUND OF THE ACTIVITY
Each spring and fall Phiren Amenca hosts in cooperation with member organizations, this time specifically with Association of Young Roma, a one week seminar for young Roma and non Roma youth leaders, youth workers, activists and multipliers from around Europe focusing on the exchange of experience and on Roma history, antigypsyism, discrimination, stigmatization, xenophobia, identity and culture; globalization and migration; as well as youth engagement and Roma initiatives in Europe. This seminar will be a key event in the network’s goals of creating opportunities for non-formal education, dialogue and engagement to challenge stereotypes, racism and antigypsyism. The seminar will also further enhance co-operation and learning among member organizations and external partners. Also the seminar will serve to further strengthen the network’s platform of volunteers and former volunteers, serving to strengthen their role as multipliers and promoters of voluntary service and engagement.
Based on various experiences and projects in the last years, antigypsyism appeared as increasingly relevant topic in the youth work of Phiren Amenca, especially regarding educational approaches and youth activism.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The seminar aims to raise the awareness and activism to challenge antigypsyism, by creating local, national and European campaigns around it, especially in the placements of our volunteers.
40 Roma and non Roma volunteers, volunteer candidates, youth leaders and multipliers will come together to challenge stereotypes and antigypsyism, to develop tools for creative campaigns and to engage in a public campaign for Roma rights during the seminar in Banska Bsytrica.
Main objectives of the seminar are:
- To explore the concept of antigypsyism, its manifestations today and identify and develop responses through education and creative campaigns (for instance media, blog, art, music, street actions etc.);
- Strengthening the development of critical thinking of the participants regarding antigypsyism and the situation of Roma in Europe, specifically in Slovakia by visiting local Roma communities there;
- Sharing, developing, and training of innovative and creative methods and approaches of campaigning;
- Engage in a public campaign for Roma rights and to challenge stereotypes, racism and antigypsyism;
- Furthermore, by mobilization develop a critical thinking and activism against populist, racist and extremist movements in Europe;
- Encourage the development of joint local follow-up activities.
ABOUT ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG ROMA
Association of Young Roma in Slovakia is a civil association with a nationwide reach and years of experience in social work, social counseling and prevention, humanitarian, charitable and educational activities, established in 1999. Since then, the organization is gaining new experience in managing and coordinating projects aimed at mitigating the effects of social problems (poverty, unemployment, social exclusion) and improving the living situation of people directly affected by these issues.
AYR‘s mission states: The principal goal of Association of Young Roma is to unify intellectual potential of Roma young generation and directly help with social and work inclusion in society. The philosophy is based on systematic and long-term influence on Roma population through various projects and programs.
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.
All participants must also:
- be able and committed to act as multipliers in youth work on the themes of anti-discrimination 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 office that translation can be provided through other participants or team members
- be resident in one of the partner countries: Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Austria, Belgium, Spain
PROGRAM
| 18th April (Monday) | 19th April (Tuesday) | 20th April (Wednesday) | 21st April (Thursday) | 22nd April (Friday) | 23rd April (Saturday) | 24th April (Sunday) |
| Arrivals | 09:30-11:00
Getting to know each other, the program and AYR |
09:30-11:00 Grassroots activism |
09:30-11:00 Create strategies to challenge antigypsyism
|
09:30-11:00 Open stage / workshops by participants |
09:15-12:00
Plenary / visiting a Museum in Banska
12:30 Lunch in the city |
Departures |
| 11.00-11.30 Coffee Break Coffee Break | ||||||
| 11:30-13:00
Team Building
|
11:30-13:00
Invited guest: “Not in our town” |
11:00-13:20 Discuss the strategies | 11:00-13:00
Open stage / WS by participants |
|||
| 13:00-15:00 Lunch 13:30-15:00 Lunch | ||||||
| 15:00-17:00
Situation of Roma in Slovakia
|
15:00-16:30
Antigypsyism in Banska Bystrica
|
Free time in Banska Bystrica |
15:00- 16:30
Holocaust in Slovakia
|
15:00 – 16:30
Commemoration
16:30-17:00 Travel back to Valaska |
||
| Coffee Break |
Coffee Break |
|||||
| 17:30-18:30
Examples from Slovakia, the story of Valaska
|
17:00-18:30
Antigypsyism in our own realities/countries |
17:00-18:30
Preparation for a commemoration |
17:00-17:30 Reflection groups
17:30-18:30 Evaluation / Closing |
|||
| 18:30-18:45
Reflection groups
|
18:30-18:45
Reflection groups |
18:30-18:45
Reflection groups |
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|
19:00 Dinner |
Dinner in town |
19:00 Dinner |
||||
| Welcome evening – introduction |
21:00 Welcome party |
21:00
Movie Night |
Evening Out |
21:00
Las Valas |
Good bye Party | |
WORKING LANGUAGE
English
DATES OF THE ACTIVITY
Arrival: 18th April 2016 (Monday)
Departure: 24th April 2016 (Sunday)
Participants should organize their travel (arrival and departure) for these dates. The organisers will pick up groups from Budapest or from Bratislava with buses and take them to Valaska. So you can organise your flight/train to these cities, from where we will travel together.
Place
The seminar program will take place in the Valaska Community Centre.
PARTICIPATION FEE
For this activity there is NO participation fee.
Reimbursement of travel costs:
The accommodation and food is covered by the organisers of the seminar. 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.
To be reimbursed participants should take part at least 80% in the activity.
Maximum amount for travel costs / country / person:
| Austria: 80€ |
| Belgium: 170€ |
| Hungary: 80€ |
| Romania: 80€ |
| Spain: 170€ |
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
Write to us at [email protected] or directly contact:
Juraj Vozar (Association of Young Roma) at: [email protected] or
Marietta Herfort (Phiren Amenca) at: [email protected]