Facing the challenge Budapest
Tutti uguali – Tutti differenti Sferracavallo • Palermo
I like you! – și tu? Păltiniş • Cluj • Bucharest
A rainbow is not an institution ... Hamburg
EuropaJugendBüro.de
e.p.a. • european play work association
Annual Report
2017
 
e.p.a. • european play work association Erzbergerstr. 3 22765 Hamburg Germany epa@go-epa.org go-epa.org +49.40.433 190
“A rainbow is not an institution. Appearing only for a few minutes, it’s a light shining in many different colours pleasuring and enlightening us …” Oreste Zanolari, 2014
This report shares some highlights of the work of the european playwork association over the past year: 2017. 2017 took us from Hamburg to Hungary, Greece, Romania, Sicily, UK, Belgium, Portugal, Berlin, Bonn and beautiful Blankenese … It involved over 450 young people and youth workers from 37 countries on three continents. During our Youth exchange in Sicilia only, our participants spoke 19 different mother tongues! Throughout the year, we covered issues and themes around Human Rights (education): How we can develop intercultural understanding, as opposed to being played off against each other; we learned how to embrace Human Rights in the spirit of “All equal- all different”; How “play works” - also with young people with heavy rucksacks on their back full of experiences and traumata, and - looking at each other: "I like you – si tu?” - discovered how to acclaim diversity and claim Human Rights. Facing the current international challenges and when considering the pressure the Council of Europe/European Youth Foundation - and in different ways the European Union as well, are politically undergoing, e.p.a. developed an even stronger bond to the European values. We are well aware that we can not take it for granted anymore to have multilateral working institutions, which actually defend and promote Human Rights and invite European youth organisations to support them in this work! e.p.a. says thanks to everybody, who added a colour to one of our activities in 2017 by creating, participating, planning, debating, p(l)aying, sharing, organising, celebrating, multiplying, managing, evaluating, documenting and working together! We especially thank the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, the Commission of the European Union and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg for the continued support for our European and International network and our International Training Seminars and Youth exchange activities. e.p.a. team Hamburg, May 2018 The e.p.a. network was substantially supported and funded by
Europa JUGEND Büro All year through e.p.a. provided a youth drop-in centre “Europa JUGEND Büro” in Hamburg, with open access to opportunities for European youth mobility and intercultural youth cooperation, creating local visibility for the current European themes, supported youth initiatives, voluntary service, encouraged committed youth workers and organisations to become involved in international youth work informing them about European funding, training and intercultural methodology. Young people came to see us in our office and we went to places, where young people are: we visited many schools, events and fairs all over Hamburg. ➣ EuropaJugendBuero.de
Eurodesk Networking e.p.a. runs the Hamburg Europa JUGEND Büro as an Active Eurodesk relay centre and is a longterm partner within the European Eurodesk network. In April e.p.a. took part in the Annual Meeting of Eurodesk network in Bonn, where new strategies for the year were discussed and developed. ➣ eurodesk.eu
European Week The European Week in Hamburg (05.05. - 14.05.) provided once again good opportunities for European Networking and for Awareness building related to European themes. e.p.a. greeted young people in several events, each of them with a different focus, presenting various European perspectives. We invited people on the Hamburg pedestrian zone to discuss about European perspectives and the proposed free Interail ticket for young Europeans; a school event with workshops on European values; an open mobility information afternoon with playful methods; an online webinar to European mobility information and a network cinema event with European movies and a debate on social security with representatives of the youth organisations of political parties. ➣ hamburg.de/europa
European Volunteers Meetings e.p.a. hosted meetings of Young European Volunteers, who are or have been young participants in the EVS European Voluntary Service, to agree activities for 2017, which would emphasize and publicize the idea of young people engaging in EVS and promote European mobility and citizenship. Some of the activities were implemented and presented during the European Week. The updates and debates of the new EU-opportunity “European Solidarity Corps” kept us – as all youth organisations in Europe – busy as there were still many dubieties in the programme drafts.
Action Day International This National German campaign day to strengthen visibility of International Youth Work and to convince politicians to support International Youth Work projects took place 8th of June 2107. In preparatory meetings we discussed our demands and proposals to create better conditions for International Youth Work with young people who benefited from international e.p.a. projects and other Hamburg colleagues who add International to their youth work. During the Action Day we had two sessions and met two members of parliament to pass on our message. ➣ buendnis-anerkennung.de
Structured Dialogue e.p.a. co-organised an interregional large-scale Youth conference “Take Five –Europe under construction” in Hannover, Germany with 100 young people, representatives of local authorities and politicians from Northern Germany (Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania). The aim was to experiment and practice a “structured dialogue” and youth participation. This year we concentrated on the questions
of European future, putting the focus on values, perspectives and equality of chances of young people. With playful method workshops and youth-led policy dialogues young people with and without refugee background had the chance to get to know each other and learn more about local and European policies. ➣ de-de.facebook.com/takefiveforeurope
Young Training for SDGs Two different Training Workshops (13.-14.05. and 18.-19.11.) supported young people with interest in global learning and development cooperation policies. Using a mix of playful, non-formal learning and political education methods, the participants learned to create their own educational youth project using the Sustainable Development Goals as a frame and tool for communication. The trainings were organised together with Engagement Global and Kipaji Educational Development.
Training day „Play works!” e.p.a. contributed locally to the European-wide commitment for refugees by organising a training day for volunteers, who work with children and young people in refugee camps and homes. Intercultural play methods used in international youth work built the basis for the interactive training concept. Participants experienced and enjoyed how “play works”! ➣ go-epa.org/de/spieleseminar
Youth Exchange "Tutti Uguali - Tutti Differenti: Young Europeans come together to learn how to embrace human rights” e.p.a. and the self-organised youth group from Palermo "Tutti Uguali - Tutti Differenti“ invited the “South-North” International Youth Exchange to come to Palermo, Sicily, Italy for two weeks from 25th of June – 9th of July with 60 young people from 7 countries in Europe: Palermo (Italy), Lisboa – Madeira (Portugal), Málaga (Spain), Hamburg (Germany), Liverpool (UK), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Maribor/Ljubljana (Slovenia). An advanced planning visit (APV) was organised in April in Sicily: Together with young representatives from all partner groups, we looked at programme, accommodation, visits, workshops, logistics, agreed on rules and transport … and enhanced the feeling of “looking forward…”!
tutti uguali tutti differenti “Young Europeans come together to learn how to embrace human rights”
Incontro internazionale di giovani
Sicilia 2017
The objectives of our International Youth Exchange in Sicilia were to work with young people to develop awareness for equal rights - and respecting diversity; to encourage the participants to become pro-active, create a welcoming climate, increase their social and intercultural skills, key competences in non-formal education and citizenship, enhancing integration and becoming active participants in their communities.
My favorite human right is the right to play because with playing you can grow and get experience which help us in our life. And you also get to know people. SERGEJ, Marilove (Maribor + Ljubljana)
We learned to understand the so called refugee “crisis”, as an opportunity for solidarity and we were happy for the invitation to Sicily - We got to know another Sicily with civil society initiatives, defending Human Rights and developing Palermo as a multicultural city. The participants came from politically, socially and economically disadvantaged communities. Despite these difficult realities in their communities, they all showed and shared the willingness to use their full potential and be active citizens! All 7 groups and every single one of the young people, brought a range of abilities and creativity, which was more than an “added value” to the programme of this International Youth Exchange. Programme and methodology followed the principles of non-formal learning approaches, with interactive and playful activities. The young participants gained knowledge on the overall project theme migration, intercultural awareness, MEHRAN, Hamburg theory of prejudices and discrimination and European values. Participants enjoyed both, their personal growing as well as new social competences – stepping out of the comfort zone. They returned to their countries with more experience, knowledge, tools and enthusiasm, which they can use, share and multiply with their friends, youth groups and European communities. ➣ go-epa.org/en/uguali_differenti
I learned, that everyone is equal. For example, is it not true that men are better than women. We should have respect for everyone, for example children or all the people. The country they come from or their religion just doesn’t matter.
As a follow-up-activity of the youth exchange e.p.a. published an interview about the integration of young people with refugee background into the international youth work, receiving a good feedback and many requests in Germany. ➣ jugendfuereuropa.de As a next step e.p.a. initiated a leaflet with useful tips for other organisations how to successfully invite young participants with refugee background to take part in international projects. ➣ internationale-jugendarbeit.de
I learned how to approach with people who are completely different from me but equal at the same time. I learned not to hide my feelings when I feel sad. I learned a lot of amazing things that I will keep with me during my whole life, but that I will also share with others. SORAIA, Lisboa
Youth Exchange "I like you – şi tu? This International youth exchange took place from 6th - 19th August 2017 in the Carpathian mountains in Păltiniş, the city of Cluj and Bucharest in Romania. Our partner "Chance for Life" invited young people from East and West to come together, learn from each other and play together. Under the theme "I like you – şi tu?- young people discover how to acclaim their diversity and claim Human Rights" - 60 young people between 15 27 years, discussed and experienced similarities and differences in a respectful and tolerant atmosphere. Our host “Chance for Life” works in deprived communities, with young people in an orphanage, suffering from social exclusion. Their main aims are to support the empowerment of children and young people and to encourage an active citizenship. As the preparation is always an important part of a successful activity, an Advanced Planning Visit in Romania was carried out in June, looking at venues, cultural activities, transport, Visas, risk assessment and finalising the programme.
"I like you - si tu ,
International Youth Exchange o Bucurest , i • Paltinis, • Clu j 6th - 19th August 2017
The best thing in the exchange was to feel equal and one with all the people around you, the ones you met and new feelings. Here you can be yourself and you will not be judged because of that VIKTORIIA, Kiev
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This International youth exchange consisted of various activities like: thematic presentations, workshops prepared by young participants, plenary meetings, inter-cultural evening, energisers, games, enhancing reflection and self-confidence, meetings with representatives of the Cluj City Council, a visit to the Cluj Paint Brush Factory community art project and inter-active session with a Human Rights lawyer and activist. The methodology followed the principles and pleasures of nonformal and participative learning and offered spaces for playful interaction. The activities put the focus on participants' own contributions: the preparation of an interactive workshop on the theme "Diversity/ Human Rights" as well as a presentation of their own community, organisation and their group on a poster and video. An Inter-cultural Evening invited the groups to cook and share their favourite dishes and perform dances, songs and sketches. ➣ go-epa.org/en/i_like_you I discovered about this exchange that we all might be coming from different cultures or backgrounds but inside we are all the same. We all share one dream, to be happy in life. INES, Hamburg
I learned to embrace diversity and that people should give up on stereotypes and first impressions. I also learned that we have a lot of rights and that claiming them is something we should all do. ANA-MARIA, Bucharest
Training Seminar "Facing the challenge: When we are played off against each other, we play together, still and again!" This e.p.a. International Training Seminar took place in the European Youth Center of the Council of Europe, Budapest, Hungary from 24th - 30th May 2017.
The nicest experience was to witness and to be part in an a c t i o n o f p e o p le c o m i n g together as a group. The most i m p o r t a nt w a s to h av e a possibility to ask questions, hear t ho ug hts, putting t he foundation for new ideas. IOANA, Bucharest
The training seminar focused on the phenomena of “Playoff” - how in our societies different groups of people are „played off“ against each other and how excluding and dividing effects challenge our communities. The fact that many new refugees have arrived in Europe in the last years has lead to a situation, where the political and public debate is dominated by angst, fear and “distribution conflicts”. Instead of playing with each other, people are played off against each other!
The preparatory meeting took place in February in Budapest. We discovered the venues, the working conditions of our host group and the local infrastructure. The final programme and responsibilities were discussed and agreed. The term “Play-off” sounded strange from the first moment, participants from 16 different countries confirmed. With increasing understanding of the term, its importance for the current European development and its impacts on the life of young people, becomes clearer. I learned that there are many of Play-offs present in my surrounding, and I didn’t notice that before. SANIN, Sarajevo
e.p.a. promotes “Play” as a powerful intercultural non-formal learning method in its daily youth work. “Play-off”, as an opposite concept was chosen, in order to describe a negative phenomena linked with conflicts, discrimination and segregation between different groups in our society. As “Play-off” cannot be translated directly into all languages, participants with 18 mother tongues choose other definitions to describe the phenomena: “Kijátszani egymás ellen” in Hungarian, “birbirine düşurmek” in Turkish.
I am encouraged now to put more priorities on Human Rights and inclusion. Also put more informal activities in our workshops.
The week was full of interactive and playful workshops, some of them participant-led and always participant-orientated. A project visit day, a play action and a day of methods sharing completed the intensive week.
I created a real idea and learned a lot, how to face the challenge and continue to play again and again, even when we are played off. ARDIT, Tirana
The Follow-up-meeting brought the project to Thessaloniki, Greece, where the team went through the evaluation and feedback materials and developed visibility actions. A small local training session for youth workers and activists working in refugee context highlighted the project. ➣ go-epa.org/en/facing-challenge
Networking (Silver-) Seminar Under the motto “A rainbow is not an institution …” the inter-generational networking seminar took place in Hamburg in October 2017. The e.p.a. Silver Seminar is a bi-annual opportunity to bring together colleagues from the e.p.a. network: Some who have newly joined e.p.a., some colleagues with “silver” hair and lots of wisdom, who have been part of the International council and able to share many years of experience. Yet again it was a fine example of inter generational learning. It ensured the amazing wealth of knowledge of the older participants is shared and the up to date reality of issues facing young people by the younger colleagues are listened to.
ZANA, Pristina
The seminar offered a great frame to reflect the network development and the achievements and the impacts of the past years – and decades! This time it was special, as we were celebrating, remembering and learning from the life and work and wisdom of Oreste Zanolari, one of the founder members of e.p.a., who left us the quote: “Ein Regenbogen ist keine Institution, er scheint meist nur wenige Minuten. Dennoch – sein Vielfarbenlicht vermag uns zu erfreuen und erhellen.” “A rainbow is not an institution. Appearing only for a few minutes, it’s a light shining in many different colours pleasuring and enlightening us.”
e.p.a. in brief e.p.a. is an international network of youth and community initiatives and associations with partner in over 40 countries: in Europe (including Middle-, Eastern-, and South Eastern Europe), in South America and Africa. e.p.a. is an International Non Governmental Youth organisation (INGYO), recognised by the Council of Europe, European Youth Foundation, Strasbourg since 1977 and the EU, Brussels since 1986, registered and based as a “Freier Träger der Jugendhilfe” and charity (e.V.) in Hamburg – Germany. e.p.a. aims to highlight, confront and challenge the problems of young people living in some of the most disadvantaged cities, areas and regions of Europe. e.p.a. endeavours to provide an opportunity for these young people to discover their potential, experience international friendship and fight against apathy, poverty and neglect. As an international network, the task of e.p.a. is to organise and co-ordinate activities which meet the needs and wishes of network member organisations. These are International Youth Exchanges, Study Visits, Intercultural workshops, Training seminars, activities related to Voluntary Service, International Meetings and advocacy activities directed at local, regional and national governments of Europe and European Organisations.
The e.p.a. network was substantially supported and funded by
© 2018