TEACHERS’ WELCOME BOOKLET 7th Regional Selection Conference of EYP Czech Republic Tábor 2019
REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
WORDS OF WELCOME SESSION PRESIDENT Dear teachers, It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to Tábor 2019 as one of the Team Leaders of the conference taking place at the end of this month. My name is Alina, I come from Luxembourg and I have the honour of leading the Chairs’ Team alongside my 3 board members, Alex from Sweden, Tim from Germany and Kuba from the Czech Republic. It is truly a pleasure to be welcoming you to the event, as teachers are the backbone of our organisation. It is through your support and trust in us that we continue to do what we love. By allowing your students to broaden their horizons and getting access to students from all across Europe, we create a uniting environment during these divisive times. In Tábor we will aim to create an empowering atmosphere. An atmosphere where we as individuals feel empowered to rise up for the issues that we care about the most. It is not just about inspiring active citizenship but also about empowering you from the inside. After all, this is what EYP does, it impacts your inner self so that you can achieve things in your outer world. Until we meet in Tábor, I send you my kindest regards. Alina Khan
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
PRESIDENT OF EYP CZECH REPUBLIC Dear teachers, It is my pleasant duty and a great honour to welcome you to Tábor 2019 on behalf of the European Youth Parliament Czech Republic. Our organisation was established 20 years ago and has since sought to provide the participants with events combining a very high organisational level, a strong academic quality and a safe and open space where young people grow through discussing current matters, voicing their own opinions and exposing themselves to an international and diverse environment. Since our sessions are focused mainly on high school pupils, you as their educators act as a crucial support of our organisation. For this reason, I cannot stress enough how proud of and thankful to you I am for allowing these young people to move forward in their lives through exploring beyond their comfort zones. I and my fellow Board Members, along with David, Adam, Alina, Marek and Jan—the amazing Team Leaders who work very hard to make Tábor 2019 happen—are doing our best to ensure that this conference is no exception from our standard and that all people involved benefit from what is coming. You, dear teachers, are a requisite part of the process—for that, I thank you very much. I wish you all an inspiring weekend and I look forward to meeting you very soon. Yours faithfully, Viktor Karlíček
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
HEAD OF JURY Dear teachers, after meeting you at several previous sessions from the position of a Board Member, it is my pleasure to address you with these words from a different angle, i.e. as the Head of Jury of the upcoming Regional Selection Conferences of EYP CZ 2019. Let me start by repeating how much we are grateful for the time, energy and support you spent on EYP and your students. After 7 years in the organisation, my time and activity in EYP will be decreasing. The same goes for other members of my generation, thus many opportunities for younger participants will now be open. Looking back, I now realize how much different those 7 years would be for me as a student coming from quite a small Bohemian town if there were no teacher at my school who would keep the connection with EYP and offer this kind of participation. I am sure that thanks for your contribution to some of your students’ several years-long participation in EYP might begin here. I understand that cooperation with a student volunteer organisation might not always be the easiest thing and we are extremely happy that you chose to try out / stay loyal to EYP even during the boom of other extracurricular activities. This time my task is mainly bearing the responsibility for the selection process of those who will participate in the upcoming 22nd National Selection Conference of EYP CZ, which will take place in March 2020. If you plan to discuss your students’ participation with them, I would like to ask you to motivate your students but please do not stress and remind them too much about the selection aspect of the event. After all, extracurricular activity should always be about the development of the individual student no matter what the final result would be. As long as they actively participate, take the opportunity to overcome challenges, develop themselves and obtain new knowledge and/or experience, they fulfil the purpose and mission of EYP. I look forward to seeing you again and meeting some newcomers as well! Yours faithfully, Marek Haisl
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
EDITOR Dear teachers. I have the privilege of welcoming you to the Regional Conference of EYP Czech Republic in Tábor. In about a month, dozens of young people from all across Europe will gather in the beautiful city to discuss topics dear to their hearts and crucial to the future of Europe. They will learn, grow, give something back to their newly met friends, and leave our event with sharpened minds, enriched by new perspectives. We, the Officials’ Team, will be tasked with guiding these bright minds on their journey. Our responsibility is to care for them, and gently nudge them in the direction of personal growth. We take this responsibility very seriously. European Youth Parliament prides itself as an organisation that’s open to differing worldviews and doesn’t exclude any person, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation or faith. We have strong stances and policies against bullying and harassment. I can promise you that your students will be taken care of without prejudice. I can also assure you that we will provide them with a safe environment for the duration of the session and, to the best of our abilities, after its conclusion. I hope you entrust us with your pupils. We guarantee that the experience we provide for them will reward this trust. Jan Franciszek Adamski
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
HEAD ORGANISERS Dear teachers, We are currently greeting you from a position of the Head Organisers— people who manage and lead a team that organises a 4-day conference for 150 people. However, it has not been that long ago since we first set off for our first ever EYP conference. There was a teacher that took their precious time to foster our development. Thanks to them, EYP formed us into the people we are right now—and that is why we owe you a thank you. It is our utmost pleasure to have the chance to host you in Tábor for 3 days. There may be a lot of people running EYP Czech Republic but the truth is that without you, we would not have any work to do. You are the backbone helping us to develop more students that will fulfil the future leadership roles. We hope for Tábor to become a melting pot for people of various levels of EYP experience, nationalities, cultures and mainly opinions and worldviews. Regional Selection Conferences are a place to try, experience, and discover new things. That is why we are aiming towards a session where everyone takes home something to build upon in the future. With that being said, we hope that Tábor will be a place to see your students grow and develop. Until we meet in Tábor, we are sending you our kindest regards, David and Adam
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
The goal of EYP is generally, as its motto suggests, to “empower young Europeans”. In other words, to contribute to the development of skills and knowledge of young people in the Czech Republic by creating a platform to enable students to freely share their opinions. Through our activities, we involve students in the discussion on European and global issues while giving them the opportunity to develop their soft skills such as teamwork, communication, work ethic, problem solving and adaptability. EYP Czech Republic was founded in 1998 and is one of 40 sister organisations in the European Youth Parliament (EYP) network under the auspices of Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa. The EYP network connects over 30,000 young Europeans across the continent each year. EYP Czech Republic was awarded the National Charlemagne Prize for Young Europeans last year, awarded by the European Parliament. The overarching theme of the conference is globalisation and its challenges in the context of preserving national identities. During the event, there will also be a rich accompanying program, such as panel discussion that allows students to communicate with experts and politicians.
ABOUT TÁBOR The city of Tábor is an important centre of transport, economics and culture in its region. It is also the second largest city in South Bohemia. The romantic landscape of the Lužnice river is one of the most popular places among tourists in the Czech Republic, thanks to a large number of historical monuments and its natural beauty. The town is situated about 84 km from Prague and 60 km from the town of České Budějovice. The first mention of the settlement is estimated at 6th or 5th century BC, the late Stone Age. In 1420, members of the well-known Hussite uprising settled in this area and gave the city a biblical name—Tábor. At the end of the 15th century, it experienced an unprecedented development, which gave the city features that we can still see today.
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
SESSION MOTTO “Emphasising individuality in a globalised world.” The session will be focused on the contrast of globalisation and significance of individuals. The aim is to discuss ways how people can retain their uniqueness and their own ideas, while still maximising the benefits of globalisation and integrating themselves in today’s society. This is why this motto suits Tábor so well. Because its residents have managed to maintain their way of life despite several major historical events.
COMMITTEE TOPICS Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
Meating the needs: With animal agriculture being the largest contributor of human-caused greenhouse gases, accounting for 12-17% of the EU’s annual emissions, what actions should the EU take in order to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture?
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Safety I (ENVI I)
Cry me a river: As water reservoirs are drying up across the world and water consumption rates have pushed nearly two-thirds of global freshwater supplies beyond their sustainability tipping points, what role should the EU play in tackling the freshwater crisis?
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Safety II (ENVI II)
To the ends of the Earth: With the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s warning that the world has 12 years to limit climate change consequences, how can the EU ensure the efficient implementation of the Paris Agreement and show strong leadership in the global fight against climate change?
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TĂ BOR
Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)
An Economy that works for All: With movements like Economy for the Common Good promoting a new economic model, how should the EU approach calls for a more ethical European market?
Committee on Fisheries (PECH)
Nemo not found: With 87% of Mediterranean fish stocks being fished unsustainably and the 2020 goals for overfishing being practically unachievable, what stance should the EU take to finally avoid the overexploitation of stocks?
Committee on Human Rights (DROI)
Sticks and stones: With debates on the internet shifting towards more offensive statements, mostly targeting minorities or disadvantaged groups of people, and in some cases even resulting in acts of violence, how can the EU prevent the escalation of hatred and discrimination within the society while safeguarding the freedom of expression of its citizens?
Committee on Development (DEVE)
In cooperation, there's strength: While 413 million people are still living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, the European Development Fund’s investment structure in the region has received criticism of having limited impact on the poor. How should the EU redirect its development investments in sub-Saharan Africa in order to make sure the goals of poverty reduction are reached in line with the Agenda 2030?
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
Invisible women: With little to no data on female homelessness in Member States and no mention of reproductive rights in any of the few national strategies on homelessness, how can the EU safeguard the aforementioned rights and provide suitable healthcare to homeless women?
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
PROGRAMME THURSDAY FRIDAY
Until 11:00 until 12:00
CJOs Arrivals
Delegates’ Arrival
12:00–13:00 CJOs General TB 13:00–13:45 General Teambuilding 14:00–15:00 Official Welcome for Teachers 13:00–19:00 CJOs Training 15:00–17:00 Walk around the City
19:30–21:00
CJOs Dinner
19:00–20:00 Opening Ceremony
21:00–23:00 Officials’ Evening 20:00–22:00 Eurovillage
FRIDAY SATURDAY
until 12:00
Delegates’ Arrival
10:00–13:00 Teachers' Programme
13:00–14:00 General TB 13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–15:30 Committee Visits 14:00–18:00 Committee TB 18:00–19:30 Panel Debate 19:00–20:30 Opening Ceremony 19:45–21:00 Dinner
SATURDAY SUNDAY 9:00–12:00 Committee Work
08:20–11:45 General Assembly
12:00–13:00
11:45-12:45 Lunch
Lunch
13:00–17:50 Committee Work 12:45-17:00 General Assembly 17:00-18:00 Closing Ceremony 18:00–19:30 Panel Debate from 18:00
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Departures
19:45–20:15
Dinner
21:00–23:59
Farewell Party
20:30–22:00
Eurovillage
REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TĂ BOR
SESSION EVENTS EXPLAINED TEAMBUILDING
The introductory part of the program, which aims to create a positive atmosphere and release tension. On this occasion, your students will meet with their committees and chairs. First round of acquainting activities will be taking place here. Dress code: casual
OPENING CEREMONY
Each conference must begin with an Opening Ceremony, which will present the session’s important people and officially welcome its participants. Dress code: formal
COMMITTEE WORK
The main part of the session, where your students will share their ideas, point out problems and find new solutions. The results of their work are resolutions, which shall be presented at the General Assembly. Dress code: smart casual
PANEL DEBATE
During the panel debate, you will have the opportunity to meet interesting guests who will talk about various European topics. Then you can ask them some questions. Dress code: smart casual
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Held during the last day of the conference. Your students will present and defend their committee's resolution, discuss the other ones and then vote on the (dis)approval of the resolutions. Dress code: formal
CLOSING CEREMONY
Held immediately after the GA, the Closing Ceremony officially closes the session with speeches and farewell traditions. Dress code: formal
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TĂ BOR
DRESS CODES EXPLAINED CASUAL
Teambuilding clothes. Arrive in anything that offers the most comfort, makes you feel good and you can move around and maybe run in a bit! Something you would wear on a regular day, so jeans or dark trousers and a shirt or T-shirt.
SMART CASUAL
The perfect choice for Committee Work – smart casual clothing should make you look sharp yet still be comfortable enough so that you feel comfortable wearing it for extended periods of time. Trousers and a shirt or sweater are recommended for men, trousers/skirt and a blouse are recommended for women. Please avoid too casual clothes like sneakers or baggy jeans.
FORMAL
Clothes that make you feel professional and elegant. Adequate for ceremonies and the GA. Men are advised to wear a suit with a (bow)tie while women are advised to wear suits, dresses or skirts (appropriate in length).
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
HOSTING SCHOOL Střední průmyslová škola strojní a stavební Tábor is a well-known high school in its region, founded in 1952. This venue will be hosting the session. Address: Komenského 1670, 390 41 Tábor
EYP VOCABULARY CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS: President: the leader of the whole session, leads the Chairpersons and chairs the GA; Chairpersons: take care of the overall functioning of their committee; generally, they’re the ones who help you to formulate your ideas and be involved in the discussion; Media Team Members: their main task is to document all events throughout the conference by articles, photos/videos, or other projects; this team is led by Editors; Organisers: they are responsible for the organisational aspect of the conference; led by two Head Organisers (HOs); Jury Members: evaluate the skills of Delegates.
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TĂ BOR
TEACHERS' ROLE AT THE SESSION HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR STUDENTS? Teachers have a crucial role at each session. Not only do they support their students, but they also help shape the overall atmosphere of the whole session. Motivation Talk to your students about the true purpose of the session: getting to know new people, learning new skills and practising English. Preparation for Committee Work Delegates will learn the topic of their committees from the academic preparation kit, which they will receive after being allocated in the committees. Feel free to encourage them to read through their topic overview and discuss any questions. Communication during the session Your students will certainly want to share their freshly gained experience and knowledge. Appreciation of their work Recognition or praise remains one of the best rewards. Mentioning their activity in the classroom or in front of the teachers will surely please them. Helping them with the dress code Some newcomers sometimes underestimate the rules of dressing at various parts of the session, which can cause discomfort. A discussion on this topic can prevent a similar situation.
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
TRAVEL INFO Whether travelling by train or bus, we kindly ask you to arrive in Tábor on Thursday, 31 October by 11:00 CET.
ARRIVING IN TÁBOR BY BUS
At the Florenc Central Bus Station, we recommend you to use FlixBus to travel to Tábor. They are the most frequent and the cheapest, pricing from 79 CZK. The journey takes approx. 1 hour 30 minutes. Visit https://www.flixbus.cz/ for all the connections, their prices and their online purchase. It is necessary and recommended to buy a bus ticket to Tábor in advance.
ARRIVING IN TÁBOR BY TRAIN
Trains to Tábor usually depart twice every hour, most often from the train company Czech railways (ČD). It takes approx. 1 hour 30 minutes from Prague to Tábor. The one-way train ticket prices range from 120 to 155 CZK. Please visit these websites for more necessary and specific information about train departures, where you can also buy all of the train tickets online: https://www.cd.cz/en/eshop/, https://idos.idnes.cz/en/ (both available in English as well). Tickets are also sold at the station’s cash desk. We highly recommend you to buy all of the transportation tickets beforehand.
TRAVELLING TO TÁBOR FROM OTHER LOCATIONS
If you are not travelling from Prague, but from a different European/Czech city, the best option for you is to travel with FlixBus. Go to https://www.flixbus.cz/ to check all of the ticket prices, times of departure and arrival. There are direct connections from Vienna, Krakow, Berlin, Warsaw and other European cities.
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REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP CZ 2019 TÁBOR
ANY QUESTIONS? If you stumble upon any problems or questions while planning your journey to Tábor, please do not hesitate to contact the Travel Support – Quynh Anh (Vanessa) Nguyen or Teachers’ Support – Denis Borek, they will gladly help you.
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CONTACTS Adam Palivec Head Organiser +420 737 843 874 palivec@eyp.cz
Denis Borek Teachers' Support +420 725 738 210 denis.10@email.cz
David Čapek Head Organiser +420 775 952 809 capek@eyp.cz
Vanessa Nguyen Travel Support +420 776 070 786 nguyenv@eyp.cz
Matěj Volf Delegates' Support +420 778 259 280 mat.volfik@gmail.com