Call for Participants Youth Conference We move tomorrow s world 19 21 April 2017, Schwerin, Germany
Invitation to the Youth Conference At the youth conference, you can expect an interesting programme, fascinating reports and participants from all over the world. In common discussions, we would like to tackle the following questions: What are your ideas of an ideal stay abroad? What effects can international encounters bring about and what can be their consequences? How can international exchanges contribute to openness and tolerance? What effects do the current developments in European policy have on your chances to go abroad? Together with the other participants, you can develop demands and requests to politicians and discuss those personally with Federal Minister Manuela Schwesig. We will also be happy to read your proposals of topics you want to talk about at the youth conference. Fachinformationen 2
Description of the workshops Workshop 1: Time to go abroad! - But how? New ways of giving advice (about going abroad) (Working language in this workshop will be German.) You have already been abroad and now, as returnee, you would like to inspire others to also do so? Maybe, you are already actively engaged in the field of advice for young people and already support them on their way to foreign countries? In this workshop, we want to discuss about creative and innovative methods of sharing one s own experiences abroad with other young people and how to successfully motivate them to accept one of the diverse offers to go abroad. What special support do you need to convince other young people to take advantage of the many mobility offers? We also want to reconsider on how to adapt advice via innovative online consulting formats to changing lifestyles in a digitalised world (WhatsApp, Youtube, etc.). Contribute your previous experience to this workshop. Workshop 2: Staying abroad At what price? (This workshop will be interpreted simultaneously into German and English.) By staying abroad for some time, you can improve your foreign language skills, acquire knowledge about another country, get to know new people, increase your chances on the labour market, gather unforgettable experiences, and become more open-minded to the wider world The list of positive effects of a stay abroad is long and could be infinitely continued. In this workshop, we would like to know more about your ideas: How do you imagine an ideal stay abroad? What do you need for it? And what do you expect from it? It would also be of great interest to reflect on the impacts that your mobility and your action may have. For example, imagine that your enriching experiences abroad were to the detriment of the local population. It is important that we also find answers to these critical questions. Workshop 3: Learn to understand the world by international exchange (This workshop will be interpreted simultaneously into German and English.) Surely, most of you have already discovered that after having returned from a visit abroad, you see your own world at home with different eyes. Have you felt abroad like being somehow an ambassador of your own country? The view beyond the horizon sharpens our senses and awareness: You learn to question prejudices, to understand other social models, cultures and religions, and to develop a critical understanding of Fachinformationen 3
your own situation and roots. In this workshop, we want to talk about your personal experiences and discuss the following questions: How does it feel to be new in a strange place? What is the role of intercultural learning and diversity in international exchanges? In how far can international exchanges contribute to openness and tolerance? What does policy have to provide for the field of international exchange, so that the bridges of exchange will not be broken off? How can international exchange contribute to better mutual understanding in our world? Workshop 4: Mobility across Europe - Let s go! (Working language in this workshop will be English.) The abolition of border controls, agreed upon in Schengen/Luxembourg in 1985 and standing for freedom to travel and a Europe without barriers, is endangered. Nationalist movements grow stronger and threaten cohesion within the EU. Close-to- Grexit, Brexit and anti-european right-wing populist parties change Europe. We want to talk about how the current developments influence mobility of young people in Europe. What is your opinion about it? In this situation, do you still feel like discovering the continent and being part of a border-free EU? And what role will international youth exchanges play in the future, in particular with regard to the question of how we will move (in) the EU. Fachinformationen 4
Programme Youth Conference Wednesday, 19 April 2017 until 17:00 Arrival at Schwerin/Muess 18:00-19:00 Welcome, introduction to the conference, getting to know each other, introduction of the four workshops 19:00-20:00 Dinner from 20:15 Joint evening programme: nightly walk along the Lake of Schwerin, visit to the castle of Reppin, following a jointly campfire Thursday, 20 April 2017 9:00 9:10 Official welcome by Minister of Social Affairs, Integration and Equality of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania Stefanie Drese 09:10-09:30 Warming-up phase, thematic introduction 09:30-10:30 International youth exchange - Opportunities, possibilities and programmes, taking into account concrete experiences abroad made by selected participants 10:30-11:00 Break 11:00-12:30 Workshop phase Workshop 1: Time to go abroad! - But how? New ways of giving advice (about going abroad) Workshop 2: Workshop 3: Workshop 4: Staying abroad - At what price? Learn to understand the world by international exchange Mobility across Europe - Let s go! 12:30-13:30 Lunch Fachinformationen 5
13:30-15:00 Continuation of the workshop phase 15:00-15:30 Break 15:30-17:30 Presentation of workshop results (plenary session) 17:30-17:45 Pause 17:45 18:45 Continuation of the workshops (Preparation of the presentation to the Federal Youth Minister M. Schwesig) 18:45-19:00 Break 19:00-20:00 Dinner If necessary, continued work in small groups from 20:00 simultaneously, from 20:00 Evening programme: boat tour on the Lake of Schwerin Editorial processing of the recommendations that will be given the next day to Federal Youth Minister Manuela Schwesig Friday, 21 April 2017 from 07:30 Breakfast and check-out 08:30-09:00 Transfer by coach to Schwerin Castle (Landtag/seat of the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) 09:00-09:45 Security check at the entrance of Schwerin Castle (state parliament) 10:00-10:50 Meeting with the Federal Youth Minister Manuela Schwesig at Schwerin Castle Presentation of the results of the Youth Conference 10:50-11:10 Joint photograph at Schwerin Castle 11:10-11:45 Break and visiting the Schwerin Castle s garden 11:45-12:30 Guided tour of Schwerin Castle 12:30-13:20 Evaluation / reflection 13:20-14:30 Lunch at the Schwerin Castle Café 14:30 End of the Youth Conference Departure Fachinformationen 6
Date and venue Beginning of the conference: 19 April 2017, 5 pm End of the conference: 21 April 2017, 3 pm Venue: Haus am See Muesser Bucht 1 19063 Schwerin, Germany http://www.das-hausamsee.de Conditions of participation and deadline You are aged between 18 and 27? You have already gained experiences abroad and / or are interested in international encounters? You easily speak English? Then register until 12 March 2017 at the latest. Costs You won t have to care for any expenses: accommodation, board and travel expenses will be borne. The accommodation will be in double rooms at AWO Feriendorf Muess. Application Register for the Youth conference online by completing the application form through this link: https://www.ijab.de/dieweltvonmorgen/ Places are limited. The application is only valid once you have received our confirmation. Contact If you have any questions, please contact us at jugendkonferenz@ijab.de Funded by Cooperation partners Fachinformationen 7