European Youth Speak

EYS: Eyes on the Future!


European Youth Speak: Unity in Diversity Exchange.

European Youth Speak 2008 Amsterdam, May 4 h - 9th, 2008

IDEA would like to celebrate the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue by proposing a European Youth Speak: Unity in Diversity Exchange.

It is the second gathering of young EU individuals in Amsterdam. This year, the EYS will bring members of youth debate clubs from 6 countries (Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia) together to debate and discuss different aspects of cooperation within the EU (political, social, cultural, economic) as well as to engage one another in the process of intercultural learning and dialogue. This event is organized with the kind support of the Youth in Action Programme.

The main theme of our discussions will be 'European Identity: recognizing commonalities, respecting diversity'. The mode of discussion is going to be Student Parliament, or Legislative debate. This means that students are going to act as if they were parliamentarians, but would be defending their own positions on the given topic.

EYS

will provide the participants with interactive opportunity to discuss and debate the issues and challenges facing the young people in Europe and the world today. By participating in the session of the Model Youth Parliament conference, the young delegates will represent their youth constituency and work with other delegates on preparing resolutions that will be later debated and amended and voted on. During the sessions young people will work in teams and will be involved in resolution drafting, debates and discussions, lobbying, negotiating and voting. In addition to the simulation of the legislative debate, participants of the exchange we will also participate in a number of inter-cultural learning activities that will aim at exploring cultural diversity in participants’ countries and regions as well as show-casing participants’ cultural heritage.

EYS details

When?

May 4-9, 2007
May 4 arrival day
May 5 training day
May 6 training day
May 7 Legislative Debate - EYS Conference
May 8 Legislative Debate - EYS Conference and Grand Finale
May 9 Departure Day

Who?

EYS is for junior university students, senior secondary school students, youth workers, and educators, who come from different social, cultural and political backgrounds and care about discussing the unity in diversity concept of European Identity!

Conference Costs?

Participation at the EYS for participants from our partner countries (Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia) is covered by a grant from the EC!

Location

Stayokay Amsterdam Zeeburg
Timorplein 21, 1094 CC Amsterdam
tel +31 (0)20 551 31 90, fax +31 (0)20 623 49 86l
click here to see the venue.

All the participants need to e-mail the completed registration form to Jurate Motiejunaite. Please download the registration form below.

Do you need more information? Contact Jurate Motiejunaite.