Play Your Part – Active Participation in Civil Society

A seminar series to strengthen civil participation in Europe

25.-31.03.2012 (Introductory seminar in Weimar)
17.-21.09.2012 (Reflecting seminar in Brussels)

The seminar series offers the opportunity to

• have an intensive exchange and to network with people active in civil society,
• learn more about the implementation of ideas and activities in a regional and an international context,
• share experiences in different thematic fields such as youth empowerment, active citizenship and diversity and tolerance
• find future partners,
• develop activities and ideas for strengthening civic participation,
• identify further potential for personal and institutional involvement,
• learn more about EU-funding programmes and visit European organizations.

You are invited to participate, if you

• are already involved in projects or organizations in the civil society or support these on the municipality level,
• have experience in the field of youth empowerment, active citizenship and diversity work,
• can use English as working language,
• are above the age of 18,
• are from an EU country or from Albania, Croatia or Macedonia.

Seminar series concept

I. Introductory seminar (25.-31.03.2012 in Weimar): Sharing experience in different thematic fields, identifying potentials and developing activity plans.
II. Field work (between both seminars): Implementing your activity plans
independently on a local or international level, involving other actors
(from your or partner organisations). The seminar organizers can’t
provide financial support for the implementation of your activity plans but
offer consulting, if needed.
III. Reflecting seminar (17.-21.09.2012 in Brussels): Reflecting on the outcome of the ideas implemented, identifying potentials for further improvement of your personal and NGO work. Your team members can participate in this seminar on application.

Working groups in the introductory seminar

During the introductory seminar we work in three parallel thematic groups as well in the whole group.

Group A “Youth Empowerment”
This group allows you to exchange experience in how to reach, motivate and support young people to get involved in civil society. Furthermore there will be the opportunity to identify ways to strengthen the long term involvement of youth and to empower them to take the initiative.

Group B “Active citizenship and democracy education”
This group allows you to discuss different possibilities and forms of participation. You can also evaluate the influence of the local, regional and international frameworks on your work. Furthermore, there will be an opportunity to identify tendencies, potentials and needs for actions in the field of active citizenship.

Group C “Diversity and tolerance”
This group allows you to exchange experience in the field of diversity work. While discussing different approaches and understanding of the diversity work, we intend to analyse their level of implementation in different work contexts and to identify which actions in the field of diversity and tolerance need to be taken.

Arrival and departure

The first seminar in Weimar begins on the 25th March 2012 at 2pm and ends on the 31th March 2012 with the lunch. Please note this for your travel planning.

Participation fee (whole seminar series)

• 30 EUR for participants from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania
• 50 EUR for participants from EU-10 (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Cyprus)
• 70 EUR for participants from EU-15 (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Sweden and Spain)
The fee implies the participation in the whole seminar series and has to be paid after receiving the confirmation of participation. If you participate in the first module and miss the second for whatever reason there is no reimbursement of any part of the fee possible.

Travel expenses (for each seminar)

Reimbursement of the participants’ travel expenses is possible only upon presentation of original receipts and tickets.  Cost will be covered up to following maximum amounts:
* 110 EUR: EU to 2004/EU 15
* 150 EUR: EU since 2004/EU 10
* 200 EUR: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania
Participants should be aware of choosing the most economical travel possibilities.

Room and board

Board and lodging during both seminars are provided by the organizers. Participants are accommodated in rooms with two or three beds. Single rooms are available with an additional cost of 8 EUR/night paid by the participant. Before and after the seminar days, participants must take care of accommodations individually.

Cancellation regulations

After February 26th, 2012, the cancellation of participation will result in a charge of 50% of the actual costs. In case of a shortterm cancellation after March 10th, 2012, participants will have to pay 100% of the actual costs of 380 EUR.

Organizers

Antikomplex (CZ), Association MitOst (DE), Barevny deti (CZ), European Youth Education and Meeting Centre Weimar (DE), Genius Loci (PL), International Elias Canetti Society (BG), Südwind Niederösterreich Süd (AT), Zavod O (SI)

The seminar series is part of the project “Werkstätten zur Stärkung bürgerschaftlichen Engagements in Europa”.

With the support of the Europe for citizens programme of the European Union. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.