CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The Youth Peace Camps were initiated by the Council of Europe in 2003, in cooperation with Europa Park in Rust, Germany, to bring together young people from conflict regions and to support them in initiating dialogue and cooperation. In the past years the peace camp project brought together young people from the Middle East, Southeast and Eastern Europe. During the camp the participants followed an experiential learning process and acquired competences in the fields of intercultural learning, dialogue and conflict transformation, within a human rights framework. Since 2010, the Youth Peace Camp is held at the European Youth Centres in Budapest and Strasbourg. In 2017 the camp will take place in Strasbourg and is part of the programme of the Cyprus Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The camp is nowadways one of the main activities of the programme Youth for Democracy promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.
Aim The Youth Peace Camp engages young people and youth organisations from conflict affected regions in dialogue and conflict transformation activities based on human rights education and intercultural learning during and after the camp.
Objectives:
The main objectives (personal, organisational and institutional) of the Youth Peace Camp are:
- To develop awareness and basic competences (knowledge, skills and attitude) of participants in human rights education, conflict transformation, intercultural learning and dialogue, including a critical understanding of personal and collective identities and their role in conflicts.
- To enable participants to share personal experiences of conflict and violence and coping strategies in a positive and safe atmosphere of living and learning together.
- To introduce and share existing youth work practices and experiences of young people working on dialogue and conflict transformation in their home communities.
- To motivate and support participants in their role as multipliers and peer leaders in peace building activities with young people encouraging them to implement follow-up initiatives.
- To associate the participants and their organisations with the mission and activities of the Council of Europe, in particular its youth sector, regarding youth work in the field of conflict transformation and intercultural dialogue.
Working language
The working language of the programme will be English. Participants must have sufficient understanding of English in order to comprehend and complete the application form without assistance from another person. Educational team The educational team consists of a group of facilitators and trainers, including an educational advisor of the European Youth Centre. Altogether, trainers and facilitators are experienced in running similar activities, have direct experience of the regions from where participants come and will be able to communicate with participants in their mother tongue.
Participants' Profile
In 2017, the camp will bring together groups of young people from the following countries and communities: Cyprus (Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots), Kosovo*, Serbia, South Caucasus region and Ukraine (in particular the Luhansk and Donetsk regions) during its eight day programme. Each group should include an average of 6 participants. All participants must:
- be aged between 18 and 25 years;
- be able to work in English; 5
- be available and fully committed to take part in the Youth Peace Camp;
- be curious, open-minded, appreciate diversity and learn about each other’s realities.
- be motivated to learn and to apply the values and approaches of the Youth Peace Camp, notably human rights, democracy and intercultural dialogue;
- be involved in youth or community projects in their community and be motivated to implement youth initiatives for peace-building following the camp;
- possess a sense of responsibility for one’s own actions, a commitment to personal and community development and continue the engagement with other participants;
- preferably be involved in an organisation or network, institution, formal and/or informal group that is ready to support them throughout the project duration and afterwards when implementing youth initiatives for peace building. A specific priority will be given to applicants who are or have been displaced as a result of armed conflict (refugees, internally displaced people, migrants, asylum-seekers…). The group of participants should be balanced in relation to sex and reflect the diversity of their communities. The total number of participants and facilitators expected will be 70.
Application procedure and selection of participants
Applications must be submitted by 8 February 2017. A letter of support from their sending organisation or institution can be uploaded on the platform or sent separately by e-mail, fax or post, to express support offered throughout the project to the participant and his/her initiatives. Participants who are member of an informal network or youth group can supply a letter of support from their fellow members in the informal network or group expressing their support for the participants’ application.
Travel expenses
Travel expenses will be reimbursed upon presentation of the relevant receipts, according to the rules of the Council of Europe. Only the participants who attend the entire Youth Peace Camp may be reimbursed. The payment will be made by bank transfer after the meeting, or at the end of the meeting in cash (in Euros) in duly justified cases. Visa expenses The Council of Europe will issue invitation letter for the purpose of obtaining visas to all participants. Costs related to the application for visas will be reimbursed by the Council of Europe, upon presentation of the relevant receipt and after being previously approved.
Accommodation
Full board and lodging at the seminar will be provided and paid for by the Council of Europe at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. Specific conditions for participants from Cyprus “Travel costs and board and lodging of participants from Cyprus (Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots) will be covered in cooperation with the Cyprus Chairmanship the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe under specific conditions and via a specific process. 6 Deadline for applications The application form must be submitted on-line, with the (optional) support letters by Wednesday 8 February 2017, at noon CET.
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://youthapplications.coe.int/Application-forms/APPLICATION-FORM-Youth-Peace-Camp-2017