Mjesec: travanj2015

On the 8 and 9 May 2015 the Balkan Regional Platform for Youth Participation and Dialogue is organising their most important event in Podgorica on the topic of youth participation and EU integration. There, the Regional Youth Working Group will have the unique opportunity to meet and discuss on these important issues, but also to visit the National Parliament of Montenegro and attend the ALDA General Assembly.

The event will start with the coordination meeting of the Regional Youth Working Group, which consists of the Local Democracy Agencies coordinators, the youth engagement workers and the local project teams. Participants will also visit the National Parliament of Montenegro, where an interactive debate on the role of national parliaments in EU accession will be hosted. After the debate, the OG Regional Project Team will meet and the Youth group will have the chance to engage with the representatives of ADP ZID – voluntary service of Montenegro. During the second day, the youth group will attend the GA and Capitalisation conference and participate in ALDA STAND in the Open street event in the main square Podgorica: Marking the Day of Europe that is one of the events for celebrating Europe Day.

The event is part of the IPA Operational Grant, Balkan Regional Platform for Youth Participation and Dialogue Project, coordinated by ALDA, together with eight Balkans Partners: ALDA Skopje, LDA Mostar, LDA Knjazevac, LDA Subotica, LDA Prijedor, LDA Zavidovici, LDA Peja, LDA Niksic. The project is funded by the EU, through the programme Civil Society Facility – Operating Grants to IPA CSO Associations (Support to regional thematic associations).

Mr Aldo Xhani, coordinator of the Citizenship programme, represented ALDA at the plenary meeting of Civil Society Europe (CSE), held on 27th April in Brussels. The event gathered together European networks of associations and NGOs that share a common vision for Europe, and will work towards regenerating the European project around the shared values of equality, solidarity, inclusiveness and democracy.

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As many as 34 European networks confirmed their participation in the newly established platform. The Brussels event was, in particular, an opportunity to further build the organizational structure of CSE and elect its Steering Committee’s representatives. Two main proposals of action were put forward for debates: the creation of a working group on civic space and fundamental rights and a joint initiative between CSE and the European Year for Development Alliance (EYD2015).

As one of the main stakeholders in the European Year of Citizens Alliance 2013, ALDA confirmed its strong support and commitment to the development of the platform by bringing in its 15 year expertise in the field of active citizenship and good governance at local level. ALDA being a member of the European Year for Development Alliance, it will also contribute to facilitate joint actions between the two initiatives.

The Earth Day organised within the project DECIDE by the Municipality of Ujbuda in partnership with the National University of Public Services, Hungary, took place on 22th April 2015. The traditional annual event promotes active participation and reunites more than 1000 people from all the local community. Students of the University worked together with the Municipality with the aim to foster communication and togetherness between generations.

The event took place in two different locations and was led together by children from kindergartens, elementary schools and the elderly from the district. The children, university students, adults including sportsmen of the Hungarian water-polo team and the elderly have exercised and painted the sky together with balloons at the Lake Feneketlen after the welcome speech of mayor Hoffman Tamás. Numerous activities awaited members of all generations in the morning at Bikás Park including the billboard exhibition of students of the University aiming to popularize the 60+ Active Aging Programme of the municipality. The innovative cooperation between the university and the local government provides an excellent opportunity for future public servants to gain experience and practice in the field.

In an effort to support the development of local communities, local democracy and citizen participation in Ukraine and the Dnipropetrovsk Region in particular, ALDA –  in cooperation with the regions of Lower Silesia (Poland), Alsace (France), and the region of Dnipropetrovsk – is opening a Local Democracy Agency (LDA) in Dnipropetrovsk on 18 May in line with the local Europe Day celebrations.

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The Marshall of Lower Silesia, Mr Cezary Przybylski, and the Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Mr Evgeniy Udod, will inaugurate the opening.

As other LDAs, the LDA Dnipropetrovsk will follow a multi-stakeholder approach with priorities and projects to be defined, implemented and monitored in collaboration between the LDA, its partners, as well as local authorities and civil society/citizens.

The LDA has been endorsed by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, by the UNDP ART initiative and CORLEAP (The Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership) of the Committee of the Regions (CoR).

The conference took place on 18 April in Minsk. It presented the experiences and shared the outcomes of the small sub-granted projects implemented locally by citizens in cooperation with local authorities across Belarus.

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Both the Secretary General, Antonella Valmorbida, and Project Manager and Eastern Partnership Coordinator, Ela Horoszko, attended the conference and had a chance to exchange with the participants and learn more about their initiatives.

The TANDEM 2 project run for two years, 2013-2015, and aimed at empowering the civil society in Belarus by supporting the development of local communities and strengthening their cooperation with local authorities in order to encourage active citizenship.

The project supported several training seminars on project management and local self-government, study visits to the EU and three conferences in total. The handbook on “Citizen Participation in Local Decision-Making” with case studies was published in the framework of the project for the presentation at the European Local Democracy Week in October 2014.

For further information, please find the agenda of the event (.pdf)

Please find below the presentations delivered during the event:

• Zditovo-Minsk_18-04-2015 (pdf)
• Вилейка-ВЕЛОМАРШРУТЫ (pdf)
• Зел9еная карта_CES (pdf)
• Ошмяны-КУТ_конференция (pdf)
• Презентация-2_проекта-Бобруйск (pdf)
• Презентация-Браслав (pdf)
• Презентация-Житковичской_ПО-ОО-Бел-АПДИиМИ (pdf)
• Презентация-Прилуки_17-03-2015 (pdf)
• Презентация-Речица-2 (pdf)
• Презентация-Сморгонь (pdf)
• Пуховичская-РОЗПП (pdf)
• Славгород-Сделаем_фестиваль_вместе (pdf)

On 23rd of April 2015 the 5th annual meeting of the Conference of the Regional and Local authorities for the Eastern Partnership – CORLEAP took place in Brussels, Belgium. Our Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida and Project Manager and Eastern Partnership Coordinator Elzbieta Horoszko took part in the annual plenary meeting representing ALDA and its values.

Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida stressed the importance of the work on local governance in the framework of the EAP as a milestone for development and democracy. Most of the participants were aware of ALDA’s work in the EaP as a major stakeholder in local governance. All participants consider decentralization as a cross cutting element throughout the region representing a key of success for development and democracy.

The programme of the Conference focused on preparing the EaP Riga summit and raising the voice of the Local government in this perspective. Also, the European Commission programme “Municipal lagship initiative for local development” has been further presented and will be operational soon.

The project “Volunteers for European remembrance” consists of hosting 2 EVS volunteers for period of 12 months in ALDA-Skopje.

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Following the commemoration of the anniversaries of important historical events in 2014 (such as the hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the First World War), the project lays its basis in the need to contribute to the promotion of peace and European citizenship. Bringing peace is the most valuable effect of EU and this should be maintained by encouraging tolerance, intercultural understanding and objective remembrance through mobility and empowerment of youth.

This project consists of work on this topic of remembrance and EU citizenship through:

• Leading youth projects and workshops on the topic of remembrance and peace with the help of new technologies and communication tools (video, photo and interview)
• Promoting EU citizenship and exchanges among youngsters, civil society organizations and local authorities in Macedonia
• Promoting intercultural understanding through presentations of other cultures and languages to Macedonian youngsters.

The two volunteers will work with Macedonian youngsters and other partners on these topics. Results of this project will be different tools for dissemination and promotion: videos, photos, articles and interviews on the topic of remembrance and EU citizenship as well as promotional materials used for Eramus + programme.

Responsibilities of the volunteers

1. Intercultural understanding & European Citizenship

The main aim of ALDA-Skopje is to promote European Citizenship and intercultural understanding. The goal of this project is to promote intercultural dialogue through exchanges and mobility. Therefore, the role of the EVS will be to encourage youth mobility among our partners (NGOs, schools and local authorities), while presenting the opportunities offered by the European educational programmes. His/her activities will consist in:

• Promotion of the programme “Erasmus +” among the partners (Local authorities, schools and NGOs) through meetings, presentations and workshops,
• Organization of workshops for high-school students and other young people from our partner towns promoting volunteering and youth mobility,
• Development of ideas for youth exchanges, trainings and mobility programs with the partners

2. Youth development & Francophonie

While coordinating a project for cooperation with a French Region (Lower Normandy), ALDA-Skopje has developed cooperation with French-speaking bilingual class in 4 high-schools in Macedonia, the Faculty of Philology (French language) as well as the French Institute from Skopje & French alliances in Bitola and Tetovo. One part of the volunteers work will consist in working with youngsters from the above mentioned institutions in terms of development of their personal capacities, intercultural comprehension and linguistic knowledge.

• Organisation of workshops in French for young people on certain topics (ex. Conversational clubs or/and debate clubs, cinema nights, cultural events etc.),
• Development of extra-curricular activities with these youngsters in order to work on specific youth project and develop linguistic competences and/or intercultural dimension,
• Promotion of the French language and “francophone” culture through presentations, seminars or other courses towards the youngsters in the above mentioned institutions.

3. European remembrance & Peace and reconciliation

One important topic ALDA-Skopje currently is working on, is European remembrance, history interpretation in order to promote peace and reconciliation. We are preparing a youth international event for promotion of peace and its values through photo and video documentation. This peace education project has specific methodology of working with young people who tackle historical events through interviews and research in order to promote tolerance and comprehension. The volunteers will be fully involved in this project by:

• Work with Macedonian youngsters on topics such as history, peace and remembrance (research, conducting interviews with elderly people, making videos)
• Research on the topic and providing content on the topic (promoted on website).
• Assistance for the realisation of the international event: contact with partners, content preparation etc.

Conditions

Mjesto

The volunteers will be based in Skopje, Macedonia. They will have 35 hours working week.

Duration

The volunteers are expected to be in Macedonia for 12 months: from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

Costs

The hosting organization, according to the ERASMUS+ rules, is covering expenses for the volunteers such as:

• International travel costs
• Accommodation,
• Food
• Visa
• Local transport
• Pocket money
• Health insurance
• Macedonian language classes

Visa

The volunteers need visa for stay in Macedonia. The visa needs to be issued before arrival in Macedonia. and will be supporting and dealing with the administrative issues.

Mentorship

They will be appointed mentor from the hosting organisation.

Recruitment

Skills and qualifications necessary:

• Fluent in French
• Motivated Person
• Ready to work in international and multicultural environment
• Ready to study other cultures and customs
• Interest in the topics related to the project
• 17-30 years old The volunteers need to have current residence in France.

Expected benefits for the volunteers:

• Professional development: project management, linguistic competences (Macedonian language lessons are provided), team work, digital skills, ability to work in multicultural environment etc.
• Personal development: social integration, intercultural comprehension, communication skills, active participation

Selection process:

Interested candidates should send CV and motivation letter on the following address: aldaskopje@aldaintranet.org no later than 3rd May 2015.

Preselected candidates will be conducted for an interview. Within the selection process, ALDA will try to ensure the gender balance.