Contact Making Seminar WHY not 1?

Date and Venue

CMS WHY not 1? took place between 7-12 May, 2005 in Sigulda, Latvia.

Aims

WHY not 1? was a Contact Making Seminar for potential partners of projects within in the framework of International Cooperation between and Eastern Europe and Caucasus Countries.

The CMS WHY not 1? was aimed to enhance the cooperation between organisations from EECA and Programme Countries and in addition wants to stimulate the creation of new project ideas within Action 1.

Objectives

• To bring together people working with young people in order to create new project ideas within the YOUTH Programme
• To get to know organisations from different parts of Europe
• To build new partnerships between Programme Countries and partners from Eastern Europe and Caucasus
• To create atmosphere of common understanding between people representing different cultures, working styles, etc.
• To provide knowledge about possibilities of co-operation with Eastern Europe within the YOUTH Programme
• To promote Eastern Europe and Caucasus region among partners from Programme Countries

Participants

CMS WHY not 1? brought together 22 voluntary and professional youth workers, youth leaders, project coordinators working directly with youngsters, who are interested in setting up international exchange projects:

• 11 participants from Programme Countries and
• 11 participants from Eastern Europe and Caucasus.

 
Applicants from Programme Countries should  fulfilled following criteria:

• Were representative of the youth organisation or organisation working with young people, who are able and authorize on behalf of its organisation to create future projects ideas within Action 1
• Had basic knowledge about YOUTH Programme on decentralised level (experience in projects with Partner countries would be an asset)
• Had experience from minimum 1 multilateral project YOUTH project within Action 1 (other non-formal education experience would be an additional advantage)
• Were prepared to participate in follow-up or evaluation activities organised by SALTO-YOUTH network
• Were prepared to actively attend and contribute during the full duration of the TC
• Had ability to communicate in English

Applicants from Eastern Europe and Caucasus countries  fulfilled following criteria:

• Had basic knowledge about the YOUTH programme
• Had experience of youth work in their country
• Were ready to develop new Youth Exchange projects
• Had non-formal education background
• Were prepared to participate in follow-up or evaluation activities organised by SALTO-YOUTH network
• Were prepared to actively attend and contribute during the full duration of the TC
• Had ability to communicate in English

Team of the Contact Making Seminar

The team was composed of experts from the field of Youth Exchanges, with experience of International Cooperation with Partner Countries and Project Management as well as excellent knowledge of the European Community YOUTH Programme, in particular Action 1.

Team of the CMS Why not 1?:

• Vera Pasynkova - free lance trainer
• Ronald Keersmaekers - free lance trainer
• Tomasz Bratek - SALTO EECA RC Coordinator
• Andrij Pavlovych - SALTO EECA RC
• Evija Samsonova - Latvian NA
• Zita Krastina - Latvian NA

Programme elements

• YOUTH Programme presentation with special focus on cooperation with EECA countries within Action 1 projects
• How to find partners
• How to organize good Youth Exchange project
• Intercultural learning in Youth Exchange project
• Partnership in Action 1 - rights and obligations of partners
• Presentation of participants and organisations - Organisations Fair
• Actions Planning