International Forum on Equal Opportunities A practice-oriented symposium on international youth work and migration

Migration and mobility Short term and long term youth exchanges as well as international exchange programmes for youth workers can be a valuable tool to integrate young migrants and promote cultural and social diversity. International experiences facilitate active participation and intercul-tural learning in authentic surroundings. The methods used in international youth work focus on young peo-ples’ competencies instead of on deficits and devel-opment needs. Based upon this principle, IJAB and Youth for Europe have together developed the JiVE project. JiVE (Jugendarbeit international – Vielfalt erleben) is the German acronym for “Youth Work International – Ex-periencing Diversity”. JiVE aims to integrate youth with a migration background in and through international projects and to promote the opening towards cultural and social diversity in youth work. The International Forum on Equal Opportunities is the first of three international, cross-sectoral events in the JiVE project. It launches the practice-oriented debate on mobility, integration and intercultural competence. We extend a cordial invitation to you to come and join international colleagues in a creative explora-tion of the relationship between international youth work and migration. The International Forum on Equal Oppor-tunities addresses • Those of you engaged in international activities for young people, in activities involving youth with a migration background and in migrants’ grassroots organisations – whether you are from Germany or another coun-try. • Those of you who are working for or with youth with a migration background - whether you are a volunteer or an employee of an organisation or structure. The International Forum on Equal Oppor-tunities offers • Practice-oriented debate on the contributions of international experiences to improving equal op-portunities for youth with a migration background. • Networking between international youth work and migrants’ grassroots organisations in order to en-hance their intercultural opening. • A chance to share experience gained in interna-tional youth activities and projects that support the integration of young people with a migration back-ground. • An opportunity to develop concepts for inclusion and diversity via international activities. • A marketplace for presenting specific international projects (youth exchanges, experts' exchanges and voluntary services). • The possibility of planning concrete projects. Selection of participants We aim to have equal numbers of participants from Germany and abroad. Participants should have knowledge and experience in international youth work or in working with youth with a migra-tion background. Participants presenting a spe-cific project are particularly welcome. The number of places at the event is limited. The selection of participants will be made after the application deadline.