RECOV presented at the Student Station 7.0

“RECOV: REthinking Collaborative Values for public services” project was presented during the “Student Station 7.0” fair, held in Skopje on the 23 of April 2019. This one-day event, organised by the Youth Educational Forum (YEF), broth together may stakeholders from the academic sector, associations, researchers and students.
During the event the RECOV project prompted the attention of participants that visited the exhibition area. The topic of Collaborative public services was presented to youth associations, students and youngster. The presentation had a positive effect on the audience, and a great part showed interest by making questions especially on the usage of ICT-tools in public services.
This event was a great opportunity for promotion of the project “RECOV: REthinking Collaborative Values for public services”. The project is supported by the European programme “Europe for citizens” and the lead partner of the project is the Municipality of Centar, Skopje, Macedonia.

“RECOV: REthinking Collaborative Values for public services” project was presented during the “Student Station 7.0” fair, held in Skopje on the 23 of April 2019. This one-day event, organised by the Youth Educational Forum (YEF), broth together may stakeholders from the academic sector, associations, researchers and students.
During the event the RECOV project prompted the attention of participants that visited the exhibition area. The topic of Collaborative public services was presented to youth associations, students and youngster. The presentation had a positive effect on the audience, and a great part showed interest by making questions especially on the usage of ICT-tools in public services.
This event was a great opportunity for promotion of the project “RECOV: REthinking Collaborative Values for public services”. The project is supported by the European programme “Europe for citizens” and the lead partner of the project is the Municipality of Centar, Skopje, Macedonia.
ALDA al BUK Festival di Modena per dialogare sull’Europa

La dodicesima edizione di Modena BUK Festival, evento dedicato alla piccola e media editoria, diretto da Francesco Zarzana, presidente dell’associazione culturale Progettarte, con Emma D’Aquino, ha colorato le giornate modenesi del 13 e 14 aprile.
Il BUK Festival si è svolto in una cornice mozzafiato, come l’Abbazia dei Monaci Benedettini di San Pietro e la Chiesa di San Carlo, dove sabato sera, partire dalle ore 21, ha avuto luogo l’evento GALA BUK Festival.
La serata ha concentrato splendidi incontri intellettuali, che hanno lasciato riflettere il pubblico su questioni fondamentali del sapere – quali l’intervista allo scrittore e storico Paolo Mieli, Premio Speciale BUK 2019, incentrata soprattutto sulla cura e l’educazione del pensiero critico, insieme alla preziosità della conoscenza storica per leggere e interpretare criticamente la diversità tra ieri e oggi.
In questa cornice culturalmente d’avanguardia, uno spazio speciale è stato dedicato all’Unione Europea e alle sfide che si prepara ad affrontare.
Ne ha parlato la nostra Segretario Generale, Antonella Valmorbida, intervistata dalla giornalista di “La Stampa” Francesca Schianchi, ospite fissa del programma “Propaganda Live” di La7. Il dialogo si è incentrato principalmente sulle forme di cooperazione decentrata e sull’impatto concreto che questa ha nelle comunità, di democrazia locale, di cittadinanza attiva e di Europa allargata: temi e valori cardine di ALDA.
Temi riguardanti le prossime elezione europee di maggio sono sorti, soprattutto nell’ambito della partecipazione al voto dei cittadini europei. In questo momento difficile, ombreggiato dal crescente populismo nei vari paesi, l’importanza della partecipazione attiva e locale è essenziale. In particolar modo tra i giovani, invitandoli quindi a riflettere sulla responsabilità politica e ideando e stimolando azioni che risolvano efficacemente il loro disinteresse al voto a livello europeo.
Il Modena BUK Festival ha rappresentato una finestra sul mondo, promuovendo, come facciamo noi ad ALDA, un modello di cittadinanza attiva, informata e consapevole.

La dodicesima edizione di Modena BUK Festival, evento dedicato alla piccola e media editoria, diretto da Francesco Zarzana, presidente dell’associazione culturale Progettarte, con Emma D’Aquino, ha colorato le giornate modenesi del 13 e 14 aprile.
Il BUK Festival si è svolto in una cornice mozzafiato, come l’Abbazia dei Monaci Benedettini di San Pietro e la Chiesa di San Carlo, dove sabato sera, partire dalle ore 21, ha avuto luogo l’evento GALA BUK Festival.
La serata ha concentrato splendidi incontri intellettuali, che hanno lasciato riflettere il pubblico su questioni fondamentali del sapere – quali l’intervista allo scrittore e storico Paolo Mieli, Premio Speciale BUK 2019, incentrata soprattutto sulla cura e l’educazione del pensiero critico, insieme alla preziosità della conoscenza storica per leggere e interpretare criticamente la diversità tra ieri e oggi.
In questa cornice culturalmente d’avanguardia, uno spazio speciale è stato dedicato all’Unione Europea e alle sfide che si prepara ad affrontare.
Ne ha parlato la nostra Segretario Generale, Antonella Valmorbida, intervistata dalla giornalista di “La Stampa” Francesca Schianchi, ospite fissa del programma “Propaganda Live” di La7. Il dialogo si è incentrato principalmente sulle forme di cooperazione decentrata e sull’impatto concreto che questa ha nelle comunità, di democrazia locale, di cittadinanza attiva e di Europa allargata: temi e valori cardine di ALDA.
Temi riguardanti le prossime elezione europee di maggio sono sorti, soprattutto nell’ambito della partecipazione al voto dei cittadini europei. In questo momento difficile, ombreggiato dal crescente populismo nei vari paesi, l’importanza della partecipazione attiva e locale è essenziale. In particolar modo tra i giovani, invitandoli quindi a riflettere sulla responsabilità politica e ideando e stimolando azioni che risolvano efficacemente il loro disinteresse al voto a livello europeo.
Il Modena BUK Festival ha rappresentato una finestra sul mondo, promuovendo, come facciamo noi ad ALDA, un modello di cittadinanza attiva, informata e consapevole.
CROSS OVER project to promote European values in Slovakia

The third international event of the CROSS OVER project took place in the beautiful town of Zvolen, Slovakia on the 11th-12th of April 2019. Participants from more than ten countries took part in various activities.
On Thursday 11th of April, the partners of the CROSS OVER project visited the venue of the Community Civic Center OKO. There, Maroš Chmelík, executive director of CKO (Center for Community Organising), hosting partner of the international event, introduced the local path activities implemented by CKO during the Citizen Participation Week (information in Slovak) organized from the 1st to the 8th of April.
“Future of Europe” was the title of a non-formal activity which engaged dynamically all the participants. The will of an inclusive and even more united European Union and the wish to take an active role defying Euroscepticism emerged from the different perspectives of project partners, be they local authorities, NGOs, or youth workers.
That productive day was concluded in the best possible way: the Zvolen Castle hosted the award ceremony for the exhibition “Future of Europe by kids”. The colourful drawings rendered the perception the kids had of the European Union. The last surprise consisted in performances and songs from great local artists.
During the public conference on the 12th of April titled “How far is Brussels?”, guests of great worth took the floor. Mr Ján Beljak, deputy of the Banská Bystrica self-governing region, Ms. Ivana Bursíková, director of Agora CE, and Mr Maroš Chmelík, executive director of CKO, started by welcoming the participants. Then, Mr Dionýz Hochel, head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Slovakia, Ms Veronika Střelcová, coordinator of the Professional Fellowship Programme at CKO, and Dr Marek Lenč, Political Scientist at the Matej Bel University, talked about what the European Union means for Slovaks. The second session saw interventions from Ms. Sanja Nikolov, coordinator of the Community Civic Center OKO, Ms. Aneta Chlebničanová, program manager at the Foundation for Children of Slovakia, and Ms. Jana Balážová, Policy Officer with the Roma Coordination Unit at the DG for Justice of the European Commission, discussing how the European Union reflects local themes in its policies.
The CROSS OVER project is co-funded by the Europe for Citizens programme. The project aims at encouraging young people to reflect on political accountability through increased participation in the elections for the European Parliament. The basic idea of the project is to devise and stimulate actions that will effectively solve the lack of interest of youth in voting at the European level.

The third international event of the CROSS OVER project took place in the beautiful town of Zvolen, Slovakia on the 11th-12th of April 2019. Participants from more than ten countries took part in various activities.
On Thursday 11th of April, the partners of the CROSS OVER project visited the venue of the Community Civic Center OKO. There, Maroš Chmelík, executive director of CKO (Center for Community Organising), hosting partner of the international event, introduced the local path activities implemented by CKO during the Citizen Participation Week (information in Slovak) organized from the 1st to the 8th of April.
“Future of Europe” was the title of a non-formal activity which engaged dynamically all the participants. The will of an inclusive and even more united European Union and the wish to take an active role defying Euroscepticism emerged from the different perspectives of project partners, be they local authorities, NGOs, or youth workers.
That productive day was concluded in the best possible way: the Zvolen Castle hosted the award ceremony for the exhibition “Future of Europe by kids”. The colourful drawings rendered the perception the kids had of the European Union. The last surprise consisted in performances and songs from great local artists.
During the public conference on the 12th of April titled “How far is Brussels?”, guests of great worth took the floor. Mr Ján Beljak, deputy of the Banská Bystrica self-governing region, Ms. Ivana Bursíková, director of Agora CE, and Mr Maroš Chmelík, executive director of CKO, started by welcoming the participants. Then, Mr Dionýz Hochel, head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Slovakia, Ms Veronika Střelcová, coordinator of the Professional Fellowship Programme at CKO, and Dr Marek Lenč, Political Scientist at the Matej Bel University, talked about what the European Union means for Slovaks. The second session saw interventions from Ms. Sanja Nikolov, coordinator of the Community Civic Center OKO, Ms. Aneta Chlebničanová, program manager at the Foundation for Children of Slovakia, and Ms. Jana Balážová, Policy Officer with the Roma Coordination Unit at the DG for Justice of the European Commission, discussing how the European Union reflects local themes in its policies.
The CROSS OVER project is co-funded by the Europe for Citizens programme. The project aims at encouraging young people to reflect on political accountability through increased participation in the elections for the European Parliament. The basic idea of the project is to devise and stimulate actions that will effectively solve the lack of interest of youth in voting at the European level.
Meet ALDA at Student Station 7.0!


Working to support participative democracy in Eastern Europe

ALDA is very proud to announce the beginning of a new adventure in north-eastern Europe, under the banner of participative democracy, local development, and sustainability.
These values will be supported and fostered all along the implementation of the project ” Empowering local authorities and civil society to deliver solutions with Participative Democracy “, addressing the countries of Ukraine and Moldova, thanks to the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS ) program . For its successful implementation ALDA is working together with the Local Democracy Agencies of the targeted areas: LDA Mariupol , LDA Region of Dnipropetrovsk and LDA Moldova of Cimislia.
The project officially kicked-off on April 15th, with a series of meetings in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. There, Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary-General and Tetiana Lomakina, delegate of the LDA Mariupol, met with the Mayor of Mariupol and were directly involved in assessment-visits with different local authorities and CSOs, aiming at identifying the real needs of the communities.
During this first phase, project partners are going to gather information to fulfill the assessment on good local governance though the 12 Principles of the Good Governance , a methodology elaborated by the Council of Europe.
Local authorities and civil society will then be trained and empowered in order to be able to address local problems through participative approaches and identifying more sustainable, fair and inclusive solutions. The project will therefore promote local development and contribute to the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level.
Altogether, these actions will create long-lasting links between communities and cities in Ukraine and Moldova, paving the way for the achievement of a decentralized cooperation.

ALDA is very proud to announce the beginning of a new adventure in north-eastern Europe, under the banner of participative democracy, local development, and sustainability.
These values will be supported and fostered all along the implementation of the project ” Empowering local authorities and civil society to deliver solutions with Participative Democracy “, addressing the countries of Ukraine and Moldova, thanks to the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS ) program . For its successful implementation ALDA is working together with the Local Democracy Agencies of the targeted areas: LDA Mariupol , LDA Region of Dnipropetrovsk and LDA Moldova of Cimislia.
The project officially kicked-off on April 15th, with a series of meetings in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. There, Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary-General and Tetiana Lomakina, delegate of the LDA Mariupol, met with the Mayor of Mariupol and were directly involved in assessment-visits with different local authorities and CSOs, aiming at identifying the real needs of the communities.
During this first phase, project partners are going to gather information to fulfill the assessment on good local governance though the 12 Principles of the Good Governance , a methodology elaborated by the Council of Europe.
Local authorities and civil society will then be trained and empowered in order to be able to address local problems through participative approaches and identifying more sustainable, fair and inclusive solutions. The project will therefore promote local development and contribute to the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level.
Altogether, these actions will create long-lasting links between communities and cities in Ukraine and Moldova, paving the way for the achievement of a decentralized cooperation.
ALDA Corner at the Job and Career Fair at FON University

ALDA Skopje had the pleasure to be the only civil society organization to join local and international business and institutions at the Job and career fair at FON University on the 17th of April in Skopje.
In the ALDA Skopje corner, the students, professors and local stakeholders, had the opportunity to discover the projects implemented by ALDA on different topics. The students were particularly interested by the youth projects and what role they can have in shaping the community. Representatives of ALDA Skopje shared the ALDA Mission and vision with the participants of the fair and the joint efforts of ALDA network and members in achieving the mission.
The various volunteering and internship programs of ALDA were presented as opportunity for the students to work in a multicultural and experienced environment while improving their skills.
This is the second fair of the FON University that ALDA Skopje attends and it was a great opportunity to promote our organization and to tighten the partnership with the University.

ALDA Skopje had the pleasure to be the only civil society organization to join local and international business and institutions at the Job and career fair at FON University on the 17th of April in Skopje.
In the ALDA Skopje corner, the students, professors and local stakeholders, had the opportunity to discover the projects implemented by ALDA on different topics. The students were particularly interested by the youth projects and what role they can have in shaping the community. Representatives of ALDA Skopje shared the ALDA Mission and vision with the participants of the fair and the joint efforts of ALDA network and members in achieving the mission.
The various volunteering and internship programs of ALDA were presented as opportunity for the students to work in a multicultural and experienced environment while improving their skills.
This is the second fair of the FON University that ALDA Skopje attends and it was a great opportunity to promote our organization and to tighten the partnership with the University.
Topic of ITC in Open Government discussed in Tirana


FroMe2EU working towards a more inclusive Europe. Check-it out!

The first meeting of the project FromMEtoEU – From Migrants Engagement to Europe Upgrade, was held in Brussels from 8 to 10 April 2019. The training was organized by ALDA in collaboration with the lead partner Studio Progetto and the Municipality of Etterbeek.
The training gathered civil society organisations and local authorities committed to work for a stronger and more focused-on-welfare Europe, thus resulting from intercultural dialogue. The main aim of the project is to tackle Euroscepticism by demonstrating that networks of mutual help can support local living, improve our life’s conditions and deal with future economic challenges.
The eight different countries (Albania, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Republic of North Macedonia, Poland, Spain) covered by the consortium were represented at the International Training by a delegation of approximately 7 participants from the LAs and CSOs sectors.
The first day of the International Training was dedicated to ice-breaking activities to get to know each other and to get acquainted with a key issue of the training, namely the EU values. The following day aimed at providing a deeper understanding on the real essence of the EU values are and Marco Boaria – ALDA Head of Resources and Development Unit & CEO ALDA+, highlighted the link between the EU Values and the funding programmes offered by the Union. Then the attention was drawn to innovative methodologies to tell personal stories. An interesting and fascinating storytelling workshop was held by Ms. Elisabetta Uroni – ALDA Head of Communications Department. The workshop made the participants develop original narratives starting from different objects and transforming them into real autobiographies. During the third and final day, the floor was left to three Belgian CSOs: Medex Museum, The International Menuhin & Yehudi Foundation and EAVI – Media Literacy for Citizenship. They held three different workshops to share their peculiar methods to achieve results, namely promoting mutual understanding and bringing the added value of migrants in our societies. FromMEtoEU International Training represented an important milestone for a future profitable cooperation amongst the members of the consortium. It thus paved the way for a coherent implementation of the next local actions and served as occasion to fix the following project’s meeting in Spain, on July 2019. Stay tuned to know more about FromMe2EU and transforming Europe in a more inclusive place!
External Links:
International Training Final Event of the project “Homelands – places of belonging” of the International Yehudi and Menuhin Foundation
FromMetoEU website, Facebook page and video on YouTube

The first meeting of the project FromMEtoEU – From Migrants Engagement to Europe Upgrade, was held in Brussels from 8 to 10 April 2019. The training was organized by ALDA in collaboration with the lead partner Studio Progetto and the Municipality of Etterbeek.
The training gathered civil society organisations and local authorities committed to work for a stronger and more focused-on-welfare Europe, thus resulting from intercultural dialogue. The main aim of the project is to tackle Euroscepticism by demonstrating that networks of mutual help can support local living, improve our life’s conditions and deal with future economic challenges.
The eight different countries (Albania, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Republic of North Macedonia, Poland, Spain) covered by the consortium were represented at the International Training by a delegation of approximately 7 participants from the LAs and CSOs sectors.
The first day of the International Training was dedicated to ice-breaking activities to get to know each other and to get acquainted with a key issue of the training, namely the EU values. The following day aimed at providing a deeper understanding on the real essence of the EU values are and Marco Boaria – ALDA Head of Resources and Development Unit & CEO ALDA+, highlighted the link between the EU Values and the funding programmes offered by the Union. Then the attention was drawn to innovative methodologies to tell personal stories. An interesting and fascinating storytelling workshop was held by Ms. Elisabetta Uroni – ALDA Head of Communications Department. The workshop made the participants develop original narratives starting from different objects and transforming them into real autobiographies. During the third and final day, the floor was left to three Belgian CSOs: Medex Museum, The International Menuhin & Yehudi Foundation and EAVI – Media Literacy for Citizenship. They held three different workshops to share their peculiar methods to achieve results, namely promoting mutual understanding and bringing the added value of migrants in our societies. FromMEtoEU International Training represented an important milestone for a future profitable cooperation amongst the members of the consortium. It thus paved the way for a coherent implementation of the next local actions and served as occasion to fix the following project’s meeting in Spain, on July 2019. Stay tuned to know more about FromMe2EU and transforming Europe in a more inclusive place!
External Links:
International Training Final Event of the project “Homelands – places of belonging” of the International Yehudi and Menuhin Foundation
FromMetoEU website, Facebook page and video on YouTube
Cooperation France-Balkans: three years of fruitful exchanges and initiatives

The final meeting of the programme 2016 – 2018 of the decentralised multilateral cooperation France – Balkans held on 19 March 2019 in Brussels. The aim of this meeting was to assemble the different partners and stake holders of the Network France – Balkans in order to discuss the its results as well as its future cooperation.
The meeting was opened by M. Jean-Claude Mairal, President of the Development Council of Pays Vichy Auvergne, M. Oriano Otocan and Mrs Antonella Valmorbida, respectively President and Secretary General of ALDA, in the presence of representatives of the Diplomatic Missions of Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, the City of Dijon and the commune Choisy-le-Roi – partners in the programme.
The meeting focused on the implementation of past actions, reflexions on the capitalisation of the work so far and mutualisation of the initiatives between France and the Balkans. The programme France – Balkans 2016 – 2018 contributed to develop cooperation and, through these multi-stakeholder partnerships, to strengthen youth participation and international dialogue as well as the promotion of Francophonie. The participants witnessed the results of the activities which contributed towards raising awareness of partner countries’ local population to the concept of sustainable development. The partners highlighted that the exchange of good practices of decentralisation, local governance and citizen participation are at the heart of this programme. As a result, the French partners increased their competences to transfer their expertise on an international level and the the Balkan ones to comprehend them in order to advance the reform processes for their future European integration. The new three-year programme submitted to the call for project proposals of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on the mutualisation and capitalisation on the implemented actions, also presented during the meeting.
The meeting closed by an open discussion among the representatives of the Western Balkans Diplomatic Missions. The discussion inspired rich exchanges on the status of the processes of European accession of the Western Balkans and necessary initiatives to accompany this process.
One of the conclusions of the meeting was that the European Union sees the development of the Balkan countries as a regional process therefore, there is a great need for regionalisation and mutualisation of the action for a European future for the Balkans.
The programme for decentralised multilateral cooperation France – Balkans is implemented by the Association of Pays Vichy-Auvergne, in partnership with ALDA and supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The final meeting of the programme 2016 – 2018 of the decentralised multilateral cooperation France – Balkans held on 19 March 2019 in Brussels. The aim of this meeting was to assemble the different partners and stake holders of the Network France – Balkans in order to discuss the its results as well as its future cooperation.
The meeting was opened by M. Jean-Claude Mairal, President of the Development Council of Pays Vichy Auvergne, M. Oriano Otocan and Mrs Antonella Valmorbida, respectively President and Secretary General of ALDA, in the presence of representatives of the Diplomatic Missions of Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, the City of Dijon and the commune Choisy-le-Roi – partners in the programme.
The meeting focused on the implementation of past actions, reflexions on the capitalisation of the work so far and mutualisation of the initiatives between France and the Balkans. The programme France – Balkans 2016 – 2018 contributed to develop cooperation and, through these multi-stakeholder partnerships, to strengthen youth participation and international dialogue as well as the promotion of Francophonie. The participants witnessed the results of the activities which contributed towards raising awareness of partner countries’ local population to the concept of sustainable development. The partners highlighted that the exchange of good practices of decentralisation, local governance and citizen participation are at the heart of this programme. As a result, the French partners increased their competences to transfer their expertise on an international level and the the Balkan ones to comprehend them in order to advance the reform processes for their future European integration. The new three-year programme submitted to the call for project proposals of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on the mutualisation and capitalisation on the implemented actions, also presented during the meeting.
The meeting closed by an open discussion among the representatives of the Western Balkans Diplomatic Missions. The discussion inspired rich exchanges on the status of the processes of European accession of the Western Balkans and necessary initiatives to accompany this process.
One of the conclusions of the meeting was that the European Union sees the development of the Balkan countries as a regional process therefore, there is a great need for regionalisation and mutualisation of the action for a European future for the Balkans.
The programme for decentralised multilateral cooperation France – Balkans is implemented by the Association of Pays Vichy-Auvergne, in partnership with ALDA and supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.