Training Course "Building Bridges in conflict areas"

Introduction

Europe is being described as the area of stability and prosperity. Europe is often a dream for many migrants. Nevertheless within the Europe there are many different conflicts which rise questions for the future of our continent. Youth work in such areas becomes one of the most difficult as well as urgent issues. How to encourage young people and create safe atmosphere for non-formal learning in suburbs of Paris, in many cities of Balkans (Mitrovica for example) or towns of Transnistria, separatist republic, just between Moldova and Ukraine?

The realities of many European regions may differ one from the other, but what are we aiming in our youth work in volatile communities? What are the basic principles of non-formal learning in such contexts?

Date and Venue

Six full working days - arrival 13th September until evening (Saturday), departure 20th September from morning (Saturday) 2008.

Place: Istanbul, Turkey.

Objectives

• To explore the youth work experiences and developments in conflict areas;
• To rise the skills and abilities in pro-active interventions in youth field of conflict zones;
• To build up the partnerships for future projects within Youth in Action Programme in the area of youth work in unstable, volatile communities;

Organisers

This Training Course was co-organised by Turkish National Agency of the Youth in Action (YiA) Programme, SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus (EECA) and SALTO South East Europe (SEE) Resource Centres with support of other National Agencies of YiA.
Support from SALTO Cultural Diversity, especially for preparation and reporting.

Participants

TC will brought experienced youth workers representing active organisations. 25 in total (13 from Programme countries + 8 from EECA region + 4 from SEE region)

Applicants' Criteria

• active youth worker;
• experienced in the youth field, a strong asset in given to those experienced in the conflict communities work area;
• active participation and contribution during the full duration of the Training Course.

Team of the trainers

The team was composed of 3 trainers coming from different regions, experienced in partner countries cooperation and unstable, volatile community youth work field.

Selected trainers are:

• Evelina Taunyte, from Lithuania
• Oscar Konya, from Serbia
• Giorgi Kakulia, from Georgia

To give additional value to the event itself as well as to make use and disseminate its results, a rapporteur joined the Team. Selected rapporteur was Nino Shushania from Georgia.

Additionally one officer of Turkish National Agency of the YiA Programme, one officer of SALTO EECA Resource Centre, and one officer of SALTO SEE Resource Centre composed the Team.