"DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILISATIONS" - 1st step in November 2007

1st step: 11-18 november 2007 - Greece (Athens area)
2nd & 3rd steps: 2008

WHY IS IT AN ISSUE?

"...The anxiety and confusion caused by the "clash of civilizations" theory regrettably has distorted the terms of the discourse on the real nature of the predicament the world is facing. The history of relations between cultures is not only one of wars and confrontation. It is also based on centuries of constructive exchanges, cross-fertilization, and peaceful co-existence. Moreover, classifying internally fluid and diverse societies along hard-and-fast lines of civilizations interferes with more illuminating ways of understanding questions of identity, motivation and behavior..."
- Extract of the final report presented by the high level group to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a preamble for establishing an Alliance of civilisations within the United Nations. (ALLIANCE OF CIVILISATIONS REPORT)

This issue is now political, challenging and up-to-date. The European Union, through the "Youth in Action" and the "Euromed Youth III"Programmes, is fully part of this reflection process. Naturally, SALTO-Youth Euromed as a resource centre for training and cooperation within the Euromed Youth Programme has an important role to play: after having worked on training courses like "Education and civilisation" or "Common memory, common heritage", SALTO-Youth Euromed RC, the Greek and Cypriot National Agencies have decided to co-organise and to respectively host the two training events of this long term process is surely not a casual choice. The question of civilisations and dialogue can surely gain historical, philosophical and geopolitical consistence at the crossroad between these two countries.
Within Euromed area the question of dialogue as an operational tool, for developing networking and partnership strategy of non formal education between the two sides of the Mediterranean is a crucial and challenging issue. In other words, to make dialogue among civilisations become a reality.

WHAT DO WE PROPOSE?

A long-term Training Course, thematic, but also strongly oriented towards action and strategy of cooperation, through the Action 4.3, sub-action "Networking projects".
3 main phases:

• 1st step: Training-Course "Common roots for a common ground"
• 2nd step: Practical experience of networking projects "Networks for dialogue".
• 3rd step:Training-Course and ongoing evaluation of networking projects "Common ground for a common future"

WHEN AND WHERE?

Step 1: "Common roots for a common ground"
Step 2: "Networks for dialogue" Networking projects according to participants.
Step 3: "Common ground for a common future"

OBJECTIVES

• To explore the concept of cross-fertilized civilisations and define what makes the cultural identity of Euromed area.
• To understand the challenges of dialogue among civilisations within the Euromed Youth Programme and vice-versa.
• To get acquainted with the procedures of the new Youth in Action Programme and the new Euromed structure, especially the actions 4.3 of networking and 3.1 Training and Networking projects
• To offer a special focus on EVS
• To gain competences in managing networks and strategies of cooperation.
• To set up, run and evaluate networking projects reinforcing dialogue among civilisations within the Euromed Youth Programme.

PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS

1. 30 representatives of NGO's from EU and Meda partner countries, experienced in Youth (in Action) Programme and/or Euromed Youth Programme (possibly in several actions),
2. are experienced in the Youth field and familiar with EVS projects
3. able to work in English or French
4. willing to create a long-term strategy of cooperation, within the networking projects, with specific interest in the topic of the TC

APPLICATIONS

Due to the delay to get the visa, the deadline to apply for applicants from MEDA countries is 1st october.

For European applicants the deadline will be extended to 15 october.

Click here to apply !