Already at the beginning of the year, the ALDA Member “City of Wroclaw” has been in the first line in providing help to civilians and people in Ukraine: the “emergency campaign” marked a clear example of it. As Wroclaw, ALDA supported a great number of activities, and initiatives to ease and mitigate the effects of this tremendous war.
Thus, since the Russian invasion, democracy and security are at stake in Ukraine and neighbouring countries; and it comes with no surprise that an endless commitment from various stakeholders is required in order to overcome this humanitarian crisis; and end the war.
In Wroclaw to develop a multi-stakeholder approach in support of Ukraine
After the event held in mid-June in Brussels to support Local Democracy Agencies in Mariupol and Dnipro; the choice to hold the conference in Wroclaw carries a similar meaning. Hence, the location is relevant per se, as Poland is at the forefront, representing a critical place to discuss the Ukrainian cause.
Representatives of institutions, civil society organisations and stakeholders will be among the active players at the Conference. The latter will also represent the occasion to stress the role of Local Democracy Agencies as a successful example of decentralised cooperation and key factor in the democracy development process.
In addition, this event will provide the perfect setting to present and together reflect on the “Final Declaration” on the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to democracy support. Based on the proven experience of ALDA, its members and partners, time has come to further concretise the commitment with a specific and formal document.
Overall, as history has taught, it is only by engaging civil society in close dialogue with Local Authorities and institutions that change can take place. There is the need to always support the bottom-up approach, providing long-lasting help and acting in concert with any relevant player.
“Reconciling for the future – European perspective for the Western Balkans” is a new project granted by the European Commission under the Instrument for Stability – Peace building Partnership support programme.
This new regional project for the Western Balkans is addressing the post-conflict reconciliation and EU integration process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. This one year project will be composed of three country-based panel discussions and a regional Round Table that would gather representatives of government bodies, civil society, experts and media to help improve the dialogue at regional level on the need for effective reconciliation as one of the crucial preconditions for furthering the EU integration process.
The country-based thematic panels will take place in Nis (Serbia) scheduled for early December, Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Osijek (Croatia) scheduled for spring 2010, while the final Regional Round Table will be organised in Zagreb in June 2010.
Our partners in this action have already gained substantial experience working both locally and at regional level in support to the post-conflict dialogue and reconciliation with particular emphasis on consolidating inter-ethnic and inter-governmental cooperation:
Centre for regionalism, Novi Sad initiated the Igman initiative – a long-standing cooperation programme connecting people from the war affected zones in former Yugoslavia.
Center for peace and non-violence, Osijek, is known for its extensive research work and organisation of wide public debates on the war crimes.
Local Democracy Agencies in Nis (Serbia), Osijek (Croatia) and Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) are working locally to promote inter-ethnic dialogue and tolerance.
ACTIVITIES
Entire action is designed to help address the post-conflict reconciliation process between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia with particular emphasis on assessing the achieved level and quality of inter-state relations in view of the progress made toward EU integration. Based on participation of a wide range of key actors, activities also aim to address a number of challenges burdening the relations between Croat, Serb and Bosnian Muslim communities at different tiers of government within respective countries, at bilateral/cross-border and multilateral level. Through a comprehensive set of activities, the project intends both to build the capacity of non-state actors operating at local/regional level in facilitating post-conflict reconciliation, and to support their networking and coordination.
Objectives of the panel discussions and regional round table:
How to help consolidate an effective networking of civil society actors for reconciliation and inter-ethnic cooperation at inter-state and regional level
How to help build a shared awareness on causes and consequences of the recent conflict in the Western Balkans
How to enhance cooperation of both state and non-state actors at different tiers of government for effective reconciliation in the region
How to help raise awareness on reconciliation as being one of the main preconditions in the EU integration perspective Experts, researchers, analysts and NGO practitioners from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia will be invited to submit written contributions on the above-mentioned topics and to participate in the local and regional panels.
The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), together with Lev Sapieha Foundation, NGO Belarusian Society of Consumers Protection (BOZP) and NGO Belarusian Organisation for Working Women (BOZTH) and the Municipality of Monfalcone, is leading a project called ReAct (Reinforcing Actions of capacity building for civil society) in Belarus since the beginning of the year 2009. The overall objective of this project is to strengthen the role of None State Actors and Local Authorities in the field of poverty reduction in the context of sustainable development, according, mainly, to the Millennium Development Goals. Noting the difficult situation civil society is facing within the present governmental ruling, and powerlessness of local authorities, it is important to support and provide some capacity building to the local civil society in Belarus, which is very demanding of such projects.
ACTIVITIES
One of the main activities of this project, are the two training sessions, on local self-government and on civil society. The first one took place in Minsk, on 24th October 2009, titled “Local Self-government in Belarus as prerequisite for civil society development: present conditions and perspectives”, and this report shall present the different parts of the day, and summarise the various and strong debates that occurred during the presentations.
By encouraging the development of local self-governance and building the capacity of civil society organisations, ALDA reasserts its commitment to support democracy and its belief that local self-governance and a strong civil society is the key to democracy.
The present proposal – starting at the beginning of 2009 – aims at promoting town-twinning, focusing in particular on the multilateral decentralised cooperation approach, as a vehicle to foster European Integration and to promote, develop and strengthen twinning agreements relations amongst local authorities in the enlarged Europe.
OBJECTIVE
More specifically, the project will aim at: a. promoting the concept of town twinning; b. starting, revitalising, and developing town twinning relationships; c. improving the quality of the activities within existing twinning relationships, especially by means of developing thematic cooperation; d. developing new skills amongst those who are responsible for twinning activities at a local level. The proposal seeks to reach a large number of municipalities (around 110 institutions directly involved in the events) and will therefore have an important multiplier effect. The present action is structured in 7 different steps grouped in 3 main phases and a transversal action, as shown in the following chart:
ACTIVITIES
Training on town twinning in Shkodra, Albania, 8th-11th June 2009 – Capacity building for Local Authorities in the field of twinning, addressed to local authorities to develop their knowledge of the concept and practice of town-twinning. The training is addressed to Local Authorities representatives, especially to those in charge of twinning activities, and to other organisations having a specific knowledge and experience of the topic (i.e. twinning associations). The training seeks to provide new knowledge, skills and capacities, as well as to promote the creation of new and the revitalisation of already existing – town-twinning relationships
On-line advisory service – to support the preparation and the implementation of good quality projects.
International workshop “Building Europe through town-twinning”, Croatia – mainly promoting the different forms and concept of town-twinning amongst local authorities and networking.
The variety of forms of the activities proposed seek to provide municipalities a “full” support, providing them:
new information and knowledge on the concept of town twinning, through all the activities foreseen;
capacity building, through the training addressed to those responsible for twinning activities;
consultancy, through the training and the On-line Advisory Service;
tools facilitating partner search and networking, especially through the international workshop;
the opportunity to exchange best practices and experiences, through the training, the international workshop and especially the final publication.
It’s difficult for EU to take into account the point of view of thousand of municipalities. European citizens feel closer to local authorities. In fact, they participate more in the local level than in another one. Democratic participation is weaker as we move further away: less in the national level and even less in the European level. At the same time, we will like to reinforce the importance of local administrations in Europe following the subsidiary principle. As the partnership of this project is formed by representatives of local authorities, we can assure more than another institution to attract into the project citizens in general.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of BANDIAR project is to raise awareness about participation of woman in political life in the local level. European Union needs also to be built from a bottom-up perspective, involving local authorities. We would like to stress this point as a way to make local civil servants, local politicians and public in general to feel part of the EU. BANDIAR project pretends to put a wide range of ideas, experiences and modalities about gender issues in common to stimulate their active participation in the processes of representative democracy at local, national and even international level. It works in a European perspective, rooted in the diversity of local realities.
ACTIVITIES
That is why BANDIAR project relies in an interactive dialogue through citizens panels in each region involved, a methodology that we will like to consolidate. Target group will be woman, making a balance between urbal and rural areas. Topic debate will be the participation of women in public life. Political woman at local level (the closest politicians for women) will encourage others to participate. For these which continue in silence we will use ICT (through e-participation) to allow them to express themselves. We want to give the floor to women. These citizens panels will converge in a final International seminar in Brussels, which aim is to transition into a European Level. This seminar will count on the participation of several political woman that collaborate in BANDIAR in order to adress directly the conclusions of the citizens panel. The objetive of this metodology is to provide decision-makers and researches with an opinion and a supplementary decision-making tool about gender equallity. We will conclude BANDIAR project with a set of recommendations about gender equality in all levels of administration. Moreover, we will use the dissemination of Good Practices of Equal Opportunities and the conclusions in the International Seminar in Brussels as one of the main activities to produce a Change of Mentality in favour of the values promoted by the European Union. In this way, participants will receive a feed back of their contribution to the construction of the European Union: this material could be one of the best ways to arise-awareness of European citizenship.
The kick-off meeting of the BANDIAR project took place on the 2-3 March 2009 in Vicenza. The partners involved in the project presented their roles and analyzed all the apects of the implementation of the activities. Each partner will organize an event in its country related to the participation of women in political life at the local level using the “Citizen’s panels” methodology. The event has to be realized before the elections for the European Parliament.
The need to build the future Europe with the full contribution of its citizens, by promoting their involvement from the local level, has become one of the main priorities of the European Union.
It is a common belief that Europe should promote the participative democracy as one of its characterising values and should offer its citizens and civil society instruments to exchange ideas on the future of the European Union. The promotion of trans-national projects and trainings can undoubtedly contribute to get Europe closer to its citizens.
ALL.4.EU is a project consisting in the setting-up of citizens’ panels (groups of ordinary citizens, not spontaneously involved in European issues) in 7 different places in Europe. This specific methodology is used to give the opportunity to people to be involved and play an active role in the construction of Europe.
OBJECTIVES
The main overall objectives of the project are:
to encourage the participation of European citizens in the construction of Europe and in the debate about the further integration of Europe;
to enhance the relation between European citizens and EU institutions;
to promote a “two-way process” (information and feedback) between EU Institutions and citizens;
to encourage a bottom up approach to allow citizens to express their views;
to develop innovative methods to enhance participation.
The specific objectives of the project are :
to create and support citizens’ panels to promote active European Citizenship at the local level;
to collect the opinion of citizens on some key European challenges for the future, focusing mainly on active European Citizenship and new institutional developments;
to consolidate and improve, starting from the pilot project developed by ALDA, a method for stimulating active interaction and discussion between citizens on their participation at the European level;
to create mechanisms that enable European citizens to develop civic competences, to formulate their views and opinions on the role of citizens and civil society in Europe in the form of recommendations for policy makers at European level;
to encourage the dialogue between European citizens and the institutions of the EU, empowering citizens as regards EU policies and their impact, and ensuring appropriate follow up of citizens’ opinions by the EU institutions.
TARGET GROUPS
Direct target groups:
Citizens, especially those who would not have spontaneously participated in projects of a European nature, paying attention to involve people of different demographic, social and professional background;
Specific target groups: young people;
Local authorities;
Civil Society
Indirect target groups:
The whole network of ALDA, to promote the creation of “citizens panels” in other countries;
Local communities in Europe belonging to networks or platforms which partners belong to;
Joining the panel on the “Reconstruction of Ukraine”
Localisation and decentralised cooperation represent a key turning point and positive approach within the democratic process in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. Yet, considering the ongoing invasion of Ukraine; the pressure that Moldova is facing also in terms of energy supply, or the war that Armenia had to face – just to mention a few – how would it be possible to overcome these challenges?
Starting a process of reconstruction, based on the resilience of Local Authorities, municipalities and citizens not only is a necessary condition but it also the path to follow when facing a crisis. Therefore, envisaging the role of each player involved in the reconstruction process firstly, and in the democratic one secondly, is essential to understand the current situation in the EaP region.
Right the day after the 11th annual meeting of the CORLEAP, the “Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic” organised an international conference aimed at building bridges and connecting municipalities from the EU with those in the Eastern Partnership countries. As recalled by Petr Gandalovič, Director of Department of Development Aid, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Czech Republic, and moderator of the II Panel on the “Reconstruction of Ukraine”, “the four levels of the reconstruction have been represented: the international one; the national one; the one of the local municipalities and that of citizens”.
Reconstruction will take place locally, requiring a multistakeholder and multilevel approach
From a general perspective, the tremendous war and inhuman conditions that Ukraine is now facing, has to be understood in a broader context: “this is not only a regional war” – explained Jaroslav Kurfürst, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Issues. Hence, what is now happening has a spillover effect, involving different actors, from the Eastern Partnership, to the European Union, and the entire global system.
In addition, as recalled by Georg Ziegler, European Commission DG NEAR, the candidate status, as well as the financial stability have to be taken into account: Ukraine needs support so that to avoid inflation and any threat posed by an unstable financial situation.
If both at international and national levels authorities and governments are making a step forward, the local level has to be equally considered. “Ukraine made its choice” – stated Anatoliy Fedoruk, Bucha City Mayor, who together with Yana Litvinova, mayor of Starobilsk in the Luhansk Region, represented two municipalities of Ukraine. Exactly from the will of people, and the role that they play with municipalities that the reconstruction process has to begin. “I believe in our common, and I stress common, victory” concluded Mr. Fedoruk, emphasising the close involvement and support of the EU in this situation.
Finally, this vision was also shared by Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General, who, recalling Maidan, stressed the importance of citizens as “drivers of the story”. Moreover, based on the successful examples of the Local Democracy Agencies, starting from those established right at the end of the war in the Balkans, Ms. Valmorbida advocated that “reconstruction will take place locally, requiring a multistakeholder and multilevel approach; working together for a common effort”.
*** The Panel took place in Liberec, Czech Republic on 4 November 2022. See the full agenda here
The TACEP project aims at providing capacity building to Croatian civil society organizations in order to promote their role as “active citizens” in the enlargement process and to provide them new information, knowledge and competencies in the field of active citizenship. The main idea is to train “multipliers” to be engaged at the local and regional level in the promotion of new and innovative actions in the field of active citizenship, taking into consideration the forthcoming status of EU Member State of Croatia.
METHODOLOGY
Within the project, at least 57 civil society organisations representatives and citizens, including 15 EU participants, will be trained through a training session lasting 7 days in each LDA (Sisak, Osijek, Verteneglio) between January and March 2009. Then, regional meetings of these “multipliers” will be held to foster their cooperation and invite them to elaborate projects for further action in the field of active citizenship. Finally, on the 9th May 2009, the “Day of Europe”, information points on the programme ‘Europe for citizens’ will be open by each LDAs. The projects results will be gathered in a final publication and a CD-ROM. Due to its large experience both in the Balkans and in the field of active citizenship, ALDA has been naturally willing to support and assist its LDAs in Croatia in applying for the first time to the European Commission programme “Europe for citizens”, Croatia being fully eligible since November 2007. Thanks to this first project within the ‘Europe for citizens’ programme in Croatia, ALDA intends to mobilise its past experience in the field and in the region and to share it with the LDAs and the Croatian citizens, to support them in their way to the EU. ALDA will also invite the Croatian civil society not only to learn from these trainings, but also to actively contribute to the reflection on the European active citizenship and the building of a European identity.
The Council of Europe has financed the ALDA project “Empowering the role of young people in Kosovo”, that aims at empowering young people living in Kosovo in order to foster their capacities to play the role of “active citizens” in their local community The main specific objectives of the project are the following:
To provide capacity building to young people and youth workers through trainings on project development and management and on active citizenship;
To develop and consolidate networks and partnerships, both at the local and at the international level, in order to strengthen cooperation in the field of youth
To create the basis for a long-lasting fruitful engagement of young people in the life of the local community through the “youth ambassadors” groups.
ACTIVITIES
Seminar on the participation of Youth in Local Life in Gjilan/Gnjilane: EN
European Local Democracy Week in Gjilan: EN , SQ, FR
Invitation to the Local Democracy week in Gjilan: EN
Seminar on the participation of Youth in Local Life in Gjilan: EN , FR
Bullettin – Association of Kosovo Municipalities n° 36, January – March 2008
Climate change is a problem which does not stop on national borders and thus requires transnational solutions. The European Union showed itself ready to assume global leadership in tackling climate change, in facing the challenge of secure, sustainable and competitive energy production and in making European economy a model for sustainable development in the XXI century. However, successful tackling of climate change needs an additional bottom up approach, involving young people, civil society organizations and local authorities.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the eCLAU project is, to raise the awareness of young people of the European Union’s action in the field of environment and hence, to bring the EU closer to the youth and improve their role within the democratic system of the EU in strengthening their participation. The inclusion of young people in the process of tackling climate change is of utmost importance for its success, as young people care about sustainable development and environmental protection. Thus, young people give the necessity for action a strong voice. Furthermore the eCLAU project wishes to build upon the youth’s strong capacities in IC technologies and to promote the use of them to broaden and deepen political participation. The added value of the project consists of focusing on both of these potentials of young people and helping them via the provision of necessary information to make use of their potentials to become active citizens in fighting climate change.
METHODOLOGY
Most of the young people are not aware of the policies of the European Union in the field of environment and of the central role it plays to face these challenges. The European Union on the other hand has difficulties to reach young people and ensure their active participation as young people feel closer to their local authorities than to the European Union. The eCLAU project basis on this fact and fosters to reinforce the role of local authorities, civil society organiSations in the field of youth to promote European cooperation in the field of environment. Hence, the project focuses on civil servants of the various local authorities, local decision makers in the field of youth, members of association and nonprofit organizations, youth associations, academics and the general young public. The central tool of the project will be the creation of a website, which provides information about the project, relevant information on climate change and according actions of the EU and serves above all at the promotion of e-participation. Hosting links to youth blogs, a forum for discussion, opinion polls, questionnaires the website will encourage young people to participate in discussions, networking activities and in local action and will thus strengthen their role in fighting climate change and in the political process on local level. To ensure an active use of the website, the eCLAU project organises local workshops in each participating countries, to inform the invited experts of the above mentioned target groups about e-participation and the functioning of the eCLAU website. With the publication of a magazine and diffusion campaigns on local level, the eCLAU projects fosters the dissemination of the results of the project and to inform a larger public about it. These events are followed by an international meeting in Zaragoza which main aim is to analyze and spread the results of the project in the field of climate change and to provide room for reflection and debate among municipalities and participating associations to exchange opinions and flatten out differences. The international seminar will also give voice to the youngsters that have participated in the eCLAU project and elaborate a set of conclusions about the future of youth participation and IC technologies including new proposals in this field.
From April 2010, Municipality of Monfalcone (Italy), in partnership with ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Georgia and Kutaisi Local Self-Government started implementation of the project “Platform for the development cooperation with Georgia”. Project is funded by the Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy). The Municipality of Monfalcone, together with partners proposed an intervention in Imereti Region, to implement local development projects in terms of socio-educational support with the assistance of the LDA Georgia and the Municipality of Kutaisi. The project aims to support the revitalization and economic development of the Imereti Region, through trainings of youth the growth of clusters of enterprises and contacts with business partners in region Friuli Venezia Giulia, accompanied by an approach of democratic participation. In first phase of project implementation, SWOT analyses of SMEs and local business sectors in Imereti Region were developed. Main activities for second phase were trainings. According to research results business education program, for project beneficiaries were developed. 25 trainings were organized in Imereti Region municipalities and about 300 participants attended the event. Training modules mainly includes information about business start up; business planning and management. Next step of project will be to create database of entrepreneurs’ proposals, which will be used during the business relationship with Italian business sectors representatives. Also economic promotion center will be established to support strengthening of business relations between Italian and Georgian SMEs.
The project aims at enhancing the promotion and visibility of the Youth programme in South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Montenegro and Serbia) and theSouthern Caucasus (Georgia).The overall objective is to allow young people to acquire knowledge, skills and competencies, focusing on the training of multipliers and on the development of networks and partnerships. The proposal combines co-operation, training and information aspects, through the implementation of different actions: information seminars, the setting-up of specialised info-points, web-site and newsletters, youth ambassador groups, trainings of peer educators (multipliers), job shadowing, trainings on the European Volunteer Service, itinerant crossing youth fair and the setting-up of 4 different networks of stakeholders (networks of info-points, of youth ambassadors, of EVS organisations and network of peer educators-multipliers) working in the field of youth in SEE and in Georgia.
TARGET GROUPS
Young people, aged 15-25 (involving also people up to 30, according to the new guidelines of the forthcoming “Youth in Action”)
Youth leaders and youth workers
Youth organisations, NGOs
Local and Regional Authorities
The proposal can count on 20 partners, representing ten different countries in Western Europe, South-East Europe and the Southern Caucasus.
ACTIVITIES
Youth Centre in Nis – LDA CSS
Thanks to the programme YOUTH, the Right Direction, sponsored by the European Commission, a new group of news people set up an innovative and challenging Youth programme in Nis, in Central and Southern Serbia. They are fully equipped with skills and goodwill for the future. One of the strategic priorities of LDA CSS in the next period will be work with the youth in Nis and development of numerous youth projects under the Youth Center Program. This program is a build-up of idea of opening Info Points under the Youth the Right Direction project. Aims of this programme are:
youth education and development of various skills, (with acknowledging the principle of peer education, youth for youth learning)
membership networking and development of voluntarism
development and support of youth initiatives and campaigns
development of local cultural potentials and intercultural exchange
working on increasing the knowledge of youth about processes of involvement in EU processes, and encouraging them to take an active role in these processes
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International Youth Crossing Fairin Verteneglio/Brtonigla, Croatia
An international crossing fair organised by ALDA in the framework of its project Youth: the right direction started on Friday the 25th of July in Verteneglio/Brtonigla, Croatia. This fair aims at promoting the European Commission’s “Youth in Action” program and at deepening the mutual knowledge of the different youth contexts whilst promoting cooperation in the field of youth. The activity involves young people, from 7 different countries of the Balkans and European Union. They are travelling all together by bus from Croatia to Albania, passing through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, taking part in different activities such as workshops, cultural events, etc.
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Training in Kutaisi, Georgia, 24 – 28 June 2008
During 4 days, 20 people from Kutaisi (Georgia), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Nis (Serbia), Monfalcone (Italy), Osijek and Verteneglio (Croatia) have been trained in order to promote, employing a peer to peer methodology, the Youth programme at the local level, supporting the work of Youth National Agencies, Contact Points for Youth and SALTO resource centres.
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Training in Shkodra
During four days, 25 young people from South-East-Europe and EU countries including ten Albanian from Shkodra had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the “Youth in action” program and to draft project together. Apart from the training the young people discovered the city of Shkodra and created real links among each other.
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Training on EVS in Montenegro, 10-11 December 2008
This pre-training on European Voluntary Service (EVS) is the first step of a project aiming at developing EVS projects and at setting-up a network of EVS organisations in the field which may grant multiplying effects, high quality projects, exchange of best practices, long-lasting commitment and cooperation.
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EVS training seminar in Kotor, Montenegro, 9-13 February 2009
The aim of the seminar was to complete the trainings for the youth officers about the European Voluntary Service within “Youth in action” programme. During the first day, the participants refreshed the knowledge on EVS from the previous trainings held in 2008 in Budva, Montenegro. A special focus was put on a role of the hosting and sending organisation and the other stakeholders, the tools for promotion of the programme as well as the financial part of on EVS project. Also, all the participants appreciated the nice walk in the old picturesque city of Kotor which surely contributed to the team building.
The second day was reserved for the accreditation of the LDAs for becoming hosting, sending and coordinating organizations for European volunteers. Thanks to the Salto SEE Resource centre, all the LDAs were accredited in the same place and time on the base of the Host expression of interest (HEI) they have previously provided. The LDAs benefited from the presence of the Salto accreditors for SEE to ask some questions and share some ideas of how to develop good EVS projects and to promote this programme among the youth on local level. Finally, the last day was focused on the future cooperation by creation of EVS network that include all the LDAs and other European partners. The creation of this network is a result of the “Youth: the right direction” project that during the past 3 years has informed and trained many young people on the European programme “Youth in action”. These young people are now youth ambassadors among their peers and are willing to continue working in the youth field on local level. By the creation of this network, the LDAs will have the possibility to develop high quality projects by straitening the cooperation with the other European Partners. The final beneficiaries will surely be the youth from the Region who will have a possibility to live and work as a volunteer in EU for 6 months as well as the youngsters from all around Europe that will come to discover the Balkans by working in one of the LDAs.
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New activity on the “Youth: the right direction” programme: Job shadowing
In the framework of the tree-year project “YOUTH: the right direction”, ALDA is preparing the final activity: the job shadowing. Job shadowing is practical learning experience that consists of short stay in one partner organization in another country.
As time goes by, the catastrophes of the European history sink into oblivion for large numbers of European citizens. Sixty-five years after the end of World War II, witnesses who have lived that era of totalitarianism and violence are getting rare, memorial sites are largely left unattended and schools skip some of the main messages of the past to young generations. Yet, it is crucial to remember what Europe has gone through before becoming what it is now. Having in mind the past enables us to fully appreciate our current peaceful and democratic systems and be watchful of any threat to democracy and human rights. That is what we mean by Active Remembrance as a tool for Active Citizenship. The project E-FoR – Education for Remembrance targets these issues on European level.
OBJECTIVES
E-FoR aims at:
improving remembrance education: Today’s youth must be aware of the past. E-FoR unites professionals from different countries to think about how education can effectively foster this awareness.
increasing awareness on smaller historical sites: When citizens have a local notion of what happened (or not) in their backyards, they can put this into the broader perspective of happenings at a larger level (national, continental) in the past.
creating a sustainable network of memorials and organisations involved in remembrance education to foster the exchange of good practices and increase the partners’ capacities to convey messages and educate young and not so young interested individuals.
ACTIVITIES
In order to reach these goals, several activities are implemented:
An educational booklet created jointly by the project partners and disseminated among teaching professionals.
An international meeting at Jasenovac Memorial at the beginning of the project united professionals of remembrance education who shared their expertise with the partners.
Local events organised by several partners in their home towns involved a large number of citizens, increasing awareness on these sites and improving the partners’ organisational capacities at the same time. Read reports on these local events.
This three-year co-operation project (EACEA Culture Unit/ Multi-annual Co-operation Projects) promotes culture as an effective and sustainable response in relation to social and economic crisis in contemporary Europe. Current economic crisis has its social and cultural dimension apparently capable of marginalising European wide local communities thus leaving them in the situation of lacking both the confidence and viable solutions to economic crisis.
OBJECTIVES
The project builds on the centuries’ long heritage of Community theatre, as a form of social-cultural intervention representing not only a possible alternative to the social standstill, but also a proof of the renewal that the crisis can encourage. In line with the Green Paper: Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries (COM(2010) 183 final), it has become important to support the contribution of cultural activities both in the economic development and social cohesion at the local but also regional EU level. Community theatre has been proven as one of the most effective and efficient ways to integrate, developand enhance the relations among the members of a community. In many ways, it is a unique theatric form seeing the whole community as the stage and protagonists in which the public are no longer mere audience/observers but a proactive part contributing to the realization of the performance. The community theatre is designed and developed by an interdisciplinary team with various competencies in the theatre and social-cultural fields whose work is characterized by specific modality of communication, complex relations and symbolic reconstruction of reality.
ACTIVITIES
Activities include four community theatre interventions in four selected locations (cities Torino, A Coruna, Holstebro, Sofia), Caravan theatre productions in at least 40 local communities in 11 countries on the tour connecting the cities mentioned with at least 50 performances. Creating of the 4 itinerary includes research process based on history of theatre, social – anthropological research, exploring the local social and territorial characteristics, contemporary research based on local priority themes, field research based on communication with local stakeholders. In line with the European Agenda for Culture in a Globalizing World (COM 2007, 242 final), the Caravan project envisages international co-operation programmes in cultural area at European level through the methodology of community theatre, pursuing the mission of boosting the cultural and social empowerment of local communities in some symbolic places of crises and renascence. Its specific objectives include also:
To create experimental and innovative theatre and art activities originating from close contact with local communities and developed on wide involvement and participation
To circulate the artistic products in several European countries promoting dialogue and exchange between diverse cultural traditions and contexts
To create a network across Europe among cultural professionals and organizations to help improve reciprocal information and communication so as to facilitate transnational mobility of theatres, dance and music companies, artists and other cultural operators
To provide an opportunity for different regions and local communities to interact and contribute to the promotion of the European Union cultural values, richness and diversity.
PEACE is a common initiative of memorial sites, NGOs and of one local authorities’ association under the overall coordination of a European umbrella organisation, active at large scale in the promotion of European citizenship and local democracy.
OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of PEACE is the creation of a network of structures working on Peace Education, Citizenship and Human rights in the intent to use 20th Century European History as a tool for Active Remembrance. These partners engage in peer-to-peer experience exchanges and reflections of how to improve teaching and work methodologies for achieving among the general population: the ownership of the European Union’s values, the understanding in dept of those reasons that made possible the creation of the Council of Europe and European Union, mutual understanding of cultural differences and sufferance thus assuring the preservation of un unbiased memory and the construction of a tighter-knit Europe.
ACTIVITIES
Six local events organised in: Jasenovac, Sisak (HR), Vichy (FR), Skopje (FYR of Macedonia), Londonderry (UK) and Gorizia (IT) in which partners will involve different groups of the local population and professionals on the subjects of teaching peace, review history with participants and understand how partners’ theoretical methods can improve through these field experiences
International conference in France, hosted by the Memorial Museum of Caen, with 3 sections on Schools, NGOs and Informal Education. Title of the conference: “Dealing with a past left unsaid – Challenges and opportunities for institutions and civil society actors”
Creation of a publication and a website
The partnership was built trusting that all of these actors have an input on the topic of remembrance, but most of all on the experience of the past common project Education for Remembrance (E-FoR) in which they expressed their desire to further work together in order to:
create a European forum for memory, debate and reflections
cooperate in creating an effective method of work at large scale but also local scale
Six countries – be they Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – gathered together in 2009 to lay the foundation of the Eastern Partnership (EaP). The latter is thus aimed at strengthening the relations, both in terms of politics and socio-economic fields, with the European Union (EU).
Yet, how to unfold these thematic, and increase the bond among them? Strategies may be thousands, but surely enough, as also stress in the latest CORLEAP Report by rapporteur C. Cojocar; decentralisation or better explained “the decentralisation of power, from central governments to the people, including decentralisation from centralised governments to parliament and judiciary institutions” may represent a key turning point in the democratic process.
Within this framework the role of ALDA, especially the one carried out both by the ALDA office in Chișinău (Moldova) and by the Local Democracy Agencies (LDA) in Cimislia, Kutaisi, Gyumri Mariupol and Dnipro, acquires a unique and strategic value. Hence, the LDAs are a successful example of decentralised cooperation and a powerful tool to further contribute to the capacity of a society to commit themselves to democracy. Similarly, by engaging also with Local Authorities, the Agencies may stimulate a process of reforms and policy adjustment at institutional level.
LDAs are a successful example of decentralised cooperation in the Eastern Partnership
Moreover, the recents crises and wars, that the world population faces, underline – to some extent – the even more important role of Local Authorities and actors to ease, if not solve, people’s challenges. “EU4Accountability” represents one of the more recent initiatives launched in Moldova, among the EaP countries, by ALDA, in partnership with EPD and People in Need.
In addition, considering the profound bond that the Association has with Ukraine, the Secretary General of ALDA – Antonella Valmorbida – will attend as keynote speaker, on 4 November 2022, within the CORLEAP 11th Annual Meeting, the panel entitled “Reconstruction of Ukraine” together with Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv; Jaroslav Kurfürst, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Issues; and Anatoliy Fedoruk, Mayor of Bucha. (Here the detailed agenda)
This series of initiatives and endless commitment clearly show the position of ALDA as a stakeholder in the Eastern Partnership region, and within CORLEAP.
Immigration and immigrants’ participation represent vivid issues at the EU level and affect citizen’s daily life throughout the continent.
The partners of the project are civil society organizations, local and regional authorities and associations of local authorities coming from 6 different countries – old and new EU Member States and pre-accession countries – where immigration represents one of the most vivid issues on the agenda.
OBJECTIVES
The project GOAL – Granting Opportunities for Active Learning, aims at promoting citizen participation in the construction of a tighter-knit, democratic, world-oriented and united Europe, tackling the challenge of immigration and emigration as opportunities to develop active citizenship and sense of ownership of the EU, whilst enhancing tolerance, solidarity and mutual understanding. The project presents a set of activities that grants citizens the chance to interact – both at the local and at the European level – and offers them the occasion to “work” together towards a common aim.
ACTIVITIES
GOAL specific aim is to further improve the methodology of “citizens’ panels” adding the component of immigration. These panels are groups of ordinary citizens who would not have spontaneously participated in projects of a European nature and paying attention to involve people of different demographic, social and professional background. These groups meet regularly throughout the project to discuss matters of migration and, eventually submit recommendations on this issue to relevant political actors at local and European level.
GOAL foresees 9 steps of activity, having an impact both at the local and at the European level:
Training for citizens’ panels activators
Set-up of local citizens’ panels
Local panels and workshops
International meeting of citizens’ panels (mid-term): Kastoria (Greece), June 17-19 2011
Open days at the local level
Production phase
International final workshop: Bucharest (Romania), November 2011
STAND.UP aims at strengthening Civil Society Organisations’ (CSOs) involvement in the overall framework of EU twinning in order of creating a better organised cooperation system between LA & CSOs and a more present Public-Private Partnership in the fight against economic and social crisis, in the promotion of mobility for democracy and the ownership of European identity. Its focuses are Economic innovative initiatives, Local Development and Volunteering using 3 international workshops and 17 local preparatory meetings in which LA, economic stakeholders and CSOs but also citizens’ groups in a more dynamic evaluation of what cooperation can bring in the building of a developed Europe. Topics were decided given the European thematic priorities (2010 Fighting poverty, 2011 Volunteering) and ALDA’s needs (that with the 12 LDAs and 300 partners is working now for years with EfC) in reassessing its network’s capacities in inducing real change in local development and active citizenship. The focus area is Eastern Europe (from Northern countries to SEE and EuroMed) recognised as a weaker area in terms of citizens participation. STAND.UP will involve more than 500 persons directly and many others through the website and the partners’ networks. The project is intended to use networking agreements between LA as an inclusive agora in which citizens’ voice is heared and as basis for creating a reactive partnership in front on economic difficulties and development goals. Several recommendations will be presented during the events and follow-up activities will be proposed in the partners’ areas of interest. STAND.UP wishes to re-evaluate agreements between LA and cross-fertilised cooperation using as departure the results and needs identified during past/present projects. Partnership is including 18 structures from 11 countries (EU, SEE) but also participants from the Maghreb.
OBJECTIVES
The project will foster citizens’ participation and interaction with local and EU institutions through debates on vivid EU related topics in the field of twinning. It will raise awareness on EU common values such as democracy and participation, promoting thus Active European citizenship and European identity. By gathering together EU and pre accession countries, we will promote a shared identity in the wider Europe. Making ordinary citizens aware of their responsibility and of the power that they can detain, we try to give them a greater sense of ownership of the EU. Our proposal implies an intercultural dialogue, given the diversity of the participants. During the 3 thematic workshops, particular attention will be paid to multilinguism and cultural diversity.
ACTIVITIES
Management/coordination activities(2 steering committees)planned with delegates of the partners for defining in details the action and budgetary plan, inducing partners’ co-decision and co-responsibility
International workshop in Latvia on Fighting poverty and Promoting innovative Socio-economic activities involving a Private-Public Partnership with 39 international and 20 local participants
International workshop in Venice on Mobility and Volunteering in Town Twinning and how to create a human resources’ exchange methodology for LA&CSO (60 international participants &20 local ones will be present in Latvia representing EU and SEE countries)
International workshop in Malta on Social integration of vulnerable groups and Promoting Gender equality through a Good local governmental system involving exchanges in the EuroMed area with both European participants& participants from North African countries. 50 international participants (38 from eligible structures and at least 12 from the Maghreb) &20 local ones will be present at the 2days conference combined with an international brainstorming workshop
Local preparatory meetings and events (17) at which local stakeholders (including LA’s delegates) will be extracting from the local strategies the priorities in terms if citizen and civic participation. Each meeting will host 20 participants representing LA, associations of LA and CSO creating a recommendation paper of 5 pages on what should be done at local & international scale with the resources/experience of each partner for achieving this project’s objectives and improving citizens participation in twinning activities.
