International Youth Meting "Achieving integrated Multicultural Society through Youth Work"
Îïóáëèêîâàíî 25.04.2008 Among CIS, Azerbaijan is considered one of the multiethnic countries. According to last census more than 10% of population in Azerbaijan are national minorities, including Russian, Ukrainian, Kurdish, Laks, Lezginian, Slavyan, Tat, Tatar, Georgian, Ingiloy, Talish, Avar, Akhiska Turks, Jews, Germans, Greeks and etc. Those ethnic groups have different traditions and cultures and mostly situated in North and South of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan has made particularly commendable efforts in opening up the personal scope of application of the Framework Convention to a wide range of minorities. In Azerbaijan, the importance of the protection and promotion of cultures and traditions of ethnic national minorities is recognized by society. Hence, the long history of cultural diversity of the country is largely valued.
Supporting and safeguarding cultural diversity is reflected in the state policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Those policies have their basis in the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which provides for equality of all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or racial background.
“Bridge to the Future” Youth Union is intended to carry out International youth meeting titled: “Achieving integrated Multicultural Society through Youth Work” and involve active youth NGOs from the different European regions. In this international youth exchange meeting, teams from different regions of Europe will discuss the ways of participation of national minorities especially youth in their home countries, consequently explore the youth participation and review the process of integration into active participation of European youth mainly national minorities in the life of society. After sharing of information and experiences, participants of the international meeting will make visits to villages more oriented on national minorities and have a meeting with ethnic groups to share culture and traditions through concrete actions.
Bridge to the Future Youth Union
“Bridge to the Future” Youth Union (the Union hereinafter) is an Azerbaijan –based local Youth NGO founded in 2000. Its main mission is to serve as a “Bridge” for young people to a society in which human rights, solidarity and cooperation are the leading values. For first five years of functioning as an initiative group Union has carried out number of local and cross bordering projects in collaboration with national and international institutions. Receiving state registration at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan in May 2005 the Union multipliers have been encouraged to increase their efforts and widen their scale of activities!
Aim of the project
Overall Aim of the exchange is to provide comfortable atmosphere among participants where they can explore integration processes; become aware of national minorities & explore tools to deal with their integration positively.
Profile of the participants
Young volunteers and activists active in their organizations are encouraged to apply for participation in the Youth Meeting. There will be 20 participants coming from the 9 different Council of Europe member and non-member countries. Only from Azerbaijan, there will be 4 local participants and 2 from each other countries.
The participants should:
* have an interest and/or prior knowledge of the topic;
* be willing to contribute to the intercultural dialogue
* be between 18 and 30 years old;
* be able to work in English;
* be committed to attend for the full duration of the seminar and
* supported by their organizations
Participating countries (number of participants):
Priorities will be given to following countries: Azerbaijan (4), Estonia (2), Georgia (2), Italy (2), Poland (2), Portugal (2), Serbia (2), Turkey (2) and Kazakhstan (2). However, it is open for all Council of Europe member countries.
Application procedure and technical information
* In order to apply candidates must complete the enclosed application form,
* The completed form should be e-mailed to the office@bf-az.org before the 20th of April 2007
Participants will be selected on the basis of their applications and ensuring a balance in terms of gender, geographical region, organizational participation and cultural background. Candidates will be informed by the 1st of May 2008, as to whether they have been selected or not. Selected candidates will receive the information packs directly.
Travel expenses and visa costs
Only participants who attend more than 80% of the actovity will be reimbursed. All participants will be reimbursed at the end on the event.
Travel costs of participants coming from abroad will be reimbursed at 70% based on the original tickets, invoices and all travel related tickets. The 70% of reimbursement should not exceed:
- 350 Euros for Portugal and Italy;
- 300 Euros for Estonia, Poland and Serbia;
- 280 Euros for Turkey and Kazakhstan;
- 30 Euros for Georgia
If the Selection Committee will select participant from other Council of Europe member coutries other than listed above the negotiation with the amount of maximum travel reimbursment will be negotiated and agreed with invited participant based on the finance.
There is no reimbursement for the local participants coming from different regions of Azerbaijan. Visa costs of foreign participants will be fully reimbursed by the hosted organization based on the original invoices that you get in the border of Baku airport.
Due to a low budget for transport, we encourage participants that come from a range of 1000 km to use bus or train as means of transport.
Before purchasing your tickets, please consult with the organizers upon the travel costs.
The meeting can take place when participants make an effort to contribute financially to their travel costs. Therefore, we kindly ask you to use any alternative possibilities of funding that can cover travel costs. Sometimes your sending organizations or structures would effort to cover the travel costs or you may identify small local grants to contribute for the travel cost. We would appreciate very much your help.
100% of visa costs will be reimbursed. For this you need to check the visa costs in your country if you have Azerbaijan embassy, if not it is possible to get it in Haydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku or in Ganja. Selected participants will get clearly info about the procedures.
Accommodation
Board and lodging will be provided and paid for by the organizers.
Enrolment fee
- Azerbaijan - ?25,
- Estonia - ?35,
- Georgia - ?25,
- Italy - ?55,
- Kazakhstan - ?25
- Poland - ?35,
- Portugal - ?45,
- Romania - ?35,
- Serbia - ?25,
- Turkey - ?35
If the Selection Committee will select participant from other Council of Europe member countries other than listed above the enrolment fee for this country will be decided by the Committee.
Please use the application form. Applications forms must be e-mailed to “Bridge to the Future” Youth Social Union,
E-mail: office@bf-az.org
By 20 April 2008 at the latest
The selected participants will be informed by 1st of May 2008 «« advertisement »» |
