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If European Union’s efforts to civilize Ukrainian government fail because of the strongest inertia of the soviet minded individuals in power why not then try to involve youth and through involving projects comprising trainings, seminars and study sessions educate a generation of public leaders committed to democracy? A competent generation is willing and able to direct the Nation towards positive change. And if it is true that a major success starts with determination - then it is the right time to give tribute to growing determination among so many of Ukrainian youth to profit from democracy, equality in rights and opportunities, equality before Law - and not in either misery or crime, cynically and unfortunately successfully obtruded upon the nation in what is known as Ukraine. I stick to the opinion, not an original one that lasting reform is not possible without the Rule of Law in a society.
And it is very likely that so many of those who consider Ukraine to be a European country and believe that it should be part of the vibrant economic, political and cultural life of Europe also willingly adhere to this creed.
The European societies are increasingly becoming multicultural societies. If only we could say the same about youth organisations! Unfortunately the exclusion, discrimination and lack of participation of minorities somehow seem to be reflected in many youth organisations striving to prevent this very same tendency.
In order to both develop consistent strategy in the field and to raise the awareness of youth leaders, facilitators and trainers of the possible enrichment that people from different social positions and cultures can bring to youth work the International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) with the support of the Council of Europe organized a study Session on the Subject of Inclusion of Minorities in and through Youth work. Youth leaders representing nearly every European state from Ukraine and Finland to Portugal and Spain were taught methods of communication, diversity management and conflict management to foster fruitful team work, to empower ethnic minorities and increase their participation in youth organizations and through this in society in this area.
From 29th of February to 7th of March in the European Youth Center in Strasbourg, France more than 30 national youth organizations’ representatives gathered to:
• Achieve a common definition of the concept of ethnicity, culture, and how it is related to social positions and power.
• Explore multicultural group dynamics that give a true voice to both the majorities and minorities.
• Receive training in management of diversity and development of tools that can prevent and transform conflicts in culturally sensitive ways.
• Discuss volunteer management in light of above-mentioned issues.
• Apply and adapt the outcomes of the discussions and trained tools to the specific contexts of the individual participants.
The above mentioned was shaped by the organizers into worthy PowerPoint Presentations, which preceded work in Reflection groups, round tables, improvisational forum theatres and etc. As a result of the tools for inclusive team-work, diversity management, flexible and innovative methodology was developed.
It was very inspiring to see how gladly the initiative of Ukrainian and Romanian delegates to launch an informal network of youth organisation following the Study Session and thus provide a means of thought exchange, debate, discussion and likewise to dress member-organisation for international work and to guarantee international publicity to their initiatives, was unanimously accepted and is now gradually fulfilled. It is even more so to witness it resulting in concrete actions now, as new initiatives and projects embracing more and more people in Europe and Ukraine are being proposed planed and put into practice.
It is symbolical that ICYE applied for Strasbourg to conduct this seminar as there is also a European Youth Center in Budapest, Hungary.
Strasbourg shares with Geneva and New York the privilege of being the seat of international institutions without being a national capital. At the heart of the European continent, Strasbourg maintains an international university tradition.
Strasbourg houses numerous international institutions, for example the seat of the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the Court of Human Rights.
In 2001/2002 Strasbourg’s three Universities had more than 7 000 foreign students, nearly 19 % of the total number of students, from more than a hundred countries. Strasbourg is the most international French University City after Paris.
The event is seen as at one hand part of the European Commission’s efforts together with National youth agencies to implement a Strategy for the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities into the Youth programme where the term “young people with fewer opportunities” refers to the obstacles to participation and is not intended to stigmatise this group. These obstacles can be of socio-economic, cultural and geographical nature as well as the result of physical or mental disability. The inclusion strategy aims at areas such as information, motivation and training; creating networks; co-operation between national youth-agencies in the field of inclusion; transfer of best practices and experiences; and quality monitoring.
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Olexi
Ukrainian student, journalist and a planetary citizen. I invite you to take a look at Central's Europe largest state- Ukraine through Olexi-tinted spectacles. Somewhat approaching unbiased subjectivity :)
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