The official newsflash of Don Bosco Youth-Net ivzw

NF 103 (November 2009)

NEWS FROM THE NETWORK

Newsflash in pdf

From this edition onwards we will attach a .pdf-version of the newsflash as well to the mailing of the newsflash. It is still a testcase to see if it would be practical to make the combination in future. If you prefer the .pdf-version, please send the international secretariat a note, so we can get an idea of the interest amongst our readers for this .pdf-version.  You can find the link for downloading the .pdf as attachment at the bottom of this newsflash.

From experience ... to action !!!

In 2 weeks time we will have our first meeting for ex-volunteers, which had an international voluntary experience. The meeting is taking place at the Salesianum in Munich (Germany). The main idea is of this project is to gather ex-volunteers and see how we can turn their international experience into local action, promoting actions they themselves can undertake to share their experience with peers and young people from their local community.

NEWS FROM THE PARTNERS

You(th) can make a difference! (Jeugddienst Don Bosco, Belgium) From the 15th until the 18th of October, Jeugddienst Don Bosco vzw organised together with Don Bosco Youth-Net Ivzw a European Youth Congress in Brussels, Belgium. The "You(th) For Human Rights" congress was part of a larger youth democracy project which has been funded through the Youth in Action programme of the European Commission.

More info: http://blog.youthforhumanrights.eu/#post3 [2]

SPYS&Friends - Will the true you please step forward? (SPYS, Malta)

October's SPYS & Friends Session had a different feel as the team aimed to bring forward the topic of 'self-discovery'. The session named 'Will the true you please step forward?' consisted of several stages, through which the youth in attendance had the chance to explore more their inner-selfs & come more into contact with what makes them who they are. Each stage gave the attendees a chance for self-reflection using different mediums, mainly: music, colours, pictures & videos. The evening ended on a positive note as the message brought forward was that whoever we are we are precious and have purpose - "When we strive to become better than we are - everything around us becomes better too!"

More info: http://www.spysmalta.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4986 [3]

EUROPEAN YOUTH FORUM

E-opinion 05/2009

This electronic newsletter functions as an outlet for European Youth Forum member organisations to become familiar with the internal workings and practices of the YFJ. Topics discussed in this issue include the announcement of the call for the European Youth Capital 2012, some images of the 999 YFJ Open Doors, the conclusions of the conference on Health, the University of Youth and Development and more.

More info: http://www.youthforum.org/en/node/1443 [4]

4th Dialogue on recogniton of Non-Formal Education.

The yearly Dialogue is the main event of the YFJ regarding education. it is where youth organisations meet institutions, stakeholders, experts etc. to discuss the recognition of Non-Formal Education. This edition will be special as it is co-organised by the University Association Ghent (Belgium, 10-11 December), very fitting as the topic is coooperation between formal Education and Non-Formal Education, between youth organisations and schools. Please apply before 10 November 2009!

More info: contact international secretariat.

CALLS & PUBLIC INFORMATION

Reflections based on Ideas from Intercultural Competence Round Table

Some ideas and SALTO Cultural Diversity long term strategy on development and introduction of Intercultural Competence into youth field in Europe. What is Intercultural Competence? What does it mean for us who work in the youth field? What are the existing concepts and developments in relation to ICC? Some theory and reflections based from ideas of participants from Round Table on Intercultural Competence, which took place in June in Rome, Italy.

More info: http://www.salto-youth.net/publicationsCD/ [5]

Commission's Green Paper on learning mobility for young people

On 8 July 2009 the European Commission published a Green Paper on "Promoting the learning mobility of young people". The aim is to open up a debate on how best to boost the opportunities for young people in Europe to develop their knowledge and skills by spending time abroad. With this Green Paper the Commission has launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to comment on the issues and questions raised: • How can we convince more young people to spend time abroad? • What obstacles to mobility do we have to overcome? • How can all players involved - governments, education and training institutions, NGOs - join forces in a new partnership for learning mobility? • The consultation will be open until 15 December 2009.

More info: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/consult/mobility_en.html [6]

Database for good practise projects with the Neighbouring Partner Countries

The SALTO EECA, SEE and Euromed Resource Centres have opened a new platform for sharing of good practise on cooperation with the Neighbouring Partner Countries within the Youth in Action Programme. In the database can be found examples on good practise projects under the European Voluntary Service, Youth Exchanges and Training and Networking Projects. The projects can be searched according to the regions (EECA, SEE and Euromed), individual countries, as well as themes and types of projects. These categories can also be combined. Beneficiaries wishing to share their good practise are welcome to send their proposals to eeca@salto-youth.net [7]. The regional SALTO Centres manage the database and choose the good practise projects, which are to be published. The project examples should reflect well the objectives and priorities of the Youth in Action Programme, and additionally be inspiring, creative and innovative for projects' target group.

More info: http://www.salto-youth.net/NPC_good_practise_projects/ [8]

Training Courses for European citizenship

The Partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth organises on a regular basis training courses on European citizenship for youth workers and youth leaders. The aim of the training courses is to increase the understanding of the concept of European citizenship, explore the potential of it, and encourage the participants to integrate the dimension of European citizenship in their activities. There are places foreseen for participants from South East Europe also in spring 2010.

More info: 22nd - 28th of March in Czech Republic http://www.salto-youth.net/find-a-training/1511.html [9] ( Call for participants is open until 12th of January 2010) More info: 12th - 18th of April in France http://www.salto-youth.net/find-a-training/1512.html [10] (Call for participants in open until 2nd of February 2010)

Educational report form "Building Bridges" is now published

"Building Bridges" was a training course delivered in 2008 for experienced youth workers, who intervene in the different conflict areas: social, cultural, ethnic, territorial, etc... and aimed at exploring non-formal learning possibilities for youth from unstable, volatile communities. The Training focused on cooperation within Youth in Action Programme between organisations from Programme Countries, Eastern Europe and Caucasus as well as South East Europe neighbouring regions.

More info: http://www.salto-youth.net/BuildingBridges [11] or http://www.salto-youth.net/download/1841 [12]

Multimedia guide on European and International Programmes

The multimedia guide on European and International programmes and initiatives in the fields of youth, culture, education and training; participation and active citizenship; work; and human and civil rights is available online at http://www.right-to-information.eu [13] The guide contains about 3000 pages of information, official guides, application forms, contacts lists, and web lists. The use of the guide is completely free as is subscription to the newsletter "EuroNews", where information and updates on European programmes and opportunities are posted every second week.

More info: http://www.right-to-information.eu [13]

Young people speak out at the United Nations General Assembly, New York

Over twenty UN Member States from all regions included youth delegates in their official delegations to the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly. While in New York, the youth delegates delivered statements to the Third Committee of the General Assembly on behalf of young people from their countries. The youth delegates highlighted climate change and its effects as the greatest concern of young people around the world, in particular its impact on the most vulnerable. The lack of youth participation in decision-making processes, youth unemployment and the importance of education and sport in reaching the MDGs were also discussed. The youth delegates also organized side events during the General Assembly on topics like Climate Justice, Youth in Armed Conflicts, Youth unemployment and Youth participation.

More info: http://www.un.org/youth [14]

PICTURE OF THE MONTH

The picture of the month is taken at the youth congress You(th) for Human Rights!