Through colors

It is obvious that rural areas are being excluded from economical, cultural and social development in the world because of the ongoing urbanization processes. Specifically in Armenia, Italy, Portugal, Georgia, Ukraine and also Denmark youngsters or do not want to live in rural areas and fleeing to big cities or they stay in the villages and usually are lacking opportunities for self realization, education and participation. From the other hand the lack of information and mobility frames the possibilities of youngsters to strive and develop their creativity and motivation.

The idea of the project "Though colors" has been developed during informal talks of youngsters during the activity "Media Change" in Dilijan Armenia, which took place in November 2019. It has been almost 3 years, while the volunteers of ArmActive youth center are eager to work in a rural environment using different creative tools, which would create a specific atmosphere in the village, will engage the international community as well the youngsters of the local community.

During the youth exchange partners from Armenia, Germany, Poland agreed on main elements of the project: Street Art, Rural Development, Engagement of Youth in Economical and Social growth of the community, Cultural Exchange and Creativity.

Specific objectives

Here are the main Objectives of the Youth exchange:

• To reinforce youngsters creativity and social initiative senses
• To develop participants skills on street art
• To develop participants knowledge on rural and community development
• To foster participants social entrepreneurship skills
• To support youngsters engagement in community life
• To support international cooperation and exchange of competences and experience.
• To support local communities with creativity and youth power

Profile of Participants

• Young people, activists and youth workers who want to learn more about visual arts, how to use creative techniques on raising awareness on community development and rural development.
• Age 18-25
• Willing to share experiences and stories from their local environment, family, friends and school (university) circles
• Willing or have experience on work with creative visuals (photography, design, arts, etc.)
• Who do not have major experience in mobility programs
• Able to understand and express themselves in English
• Are committed to attend for the full duration of the event
• Are committed to assist or take the lead role in planning and implementing local initiatives in order to disseminate the learning outcomes.

We are expecting to host 4 participants + 1 leader from each partner country.

Dates: 6-15 September 2021

Applicant: Democracy Lab (Denmark)

Host organisation: ArmActive Youth Center (Armenia)

Participating countries: Armenia, Denmark, Georgia, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine

The project is funded by the Erasmus + Program of the European Union.

Application: Please fill in the online application form in order to apply this programme.

Human change not climate change

“Human change not climate change” is a mobility of youth workers, KA1 Training Course, under Erasmus+ and will be implemented by Copernicus Berlin and Copernicus Yerevan. The training course will take place in Yerevan, Armenia and it will involve 32 youth workers from 8 different countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia).

The main aim of the project is to provide youth workers with new knowledge and competences on climate change. In this regard, some of the specific objectives of the project for youth workers are: to better understand the threat of climate change for present and future generations; to explore cause & effect of climate change and understanding the influence of human activities; to learn what Intergenerational Justice and Accountability is and how young people of today will still be alive to bear the climate impacts of tomorrow caused by the older generation.

The project will use non formal learning methodology including methods such as: ice breakers, energizers, name games, reflection groups, working into intercultural subgroups, facilitated discussion, creative presentations, simulation, case study and debates.

The project will involve 32 participants, 4 for each of the Partner Countries, over 18 years. The project is implemented by 8 organizations and financed by the European Commission through Erasmus+ programme.

Participants' profile

Dates: 15-23 September 2021

Applicant: Copernicus Berlin e.V. (Germany)

Host organisation: Copernicus Yerevan (Armenia) and Asociación PROJUVEN (Spain)

Participating countries: Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ukraine

The project is funded by the Erasmus + Program of the European Union and JUGEND für Europa Nationale Agentur.

Application: Please fill in the online application form in order to apply this programme.

NEET to work

“NEET to work” is a mobility of youth workers, KA1 Training Course, under Erasmus+ and will be implemented by Copernicus Berlin and Copernicus Yerevan. The training course will take place in Yerevan, Armenia and it will involve 32 youth workers from 8 different countries (Germany, Poland, Spain, Denmark, Russian Federation, Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia).

The main aim of “NEET to work” project is to equip youth workers with the necessary skills and educational tools in order to be capable to offer voluntary activities which will help NEET to make the first step, either for employment or education/training. In this regard, some of the specific objectives of the project for youth workers are: to understand the impact of having young people in a NEET situation and explore local realities, to learn about interventions and forms of support to early school leavers and so prevent future NEET situations, to understand how Erasmus + and other EU programmes can be used to include young people in NEET situation.

The project will use non formal learning methodology including methods such as: ice breakers, energizers, name games, reflection groups, working into intercultural subgroups, facilitated discussion, creative presentations, simulation, case study and debates.

The project will involve 32 participants, 4 for each of the Partner Countries, over 18 years. The project is implemented by 8 organizations and financed by the European Commission through Erasmus+ programme.

Participants' profile

Dates: 9-17 September 2021

Applicant: Copernicus Berlin e.V. (Germany)

Host organisation: Copernicus Yerevan (Armenia) and Asociación PROJUVEN (Spain)

Participating countries: Armenia, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Poland, Russian Federation, Spain, Ukraine

The project is funded by the Erasmus + Program of the European Union and JUGEND für Europa Nationale Agentur.

Application: Please fill in the online application form in order to apply this programme.

Eco not ego

The main topic of “Eco not ego” youth exchange is an ecological mindful lifestyle. The concept of ecological lifestyle revolves around how to make a commitment to environmental protection compatible with democracy and implement it into everyday life.

We plan to reflect on the current ecological situation in our cities and countries, discuss experiences on improving it, and develop tools and methods for everyday life. Through working on ecological issues we aim to increase understanding of democracy and active citizenship and the relation between them.

The project aims to provide an environment and working space to reflect, discuss and form a point of view on the active ecological lifestyle and in a wider perspective – related values of democracy, solidarity, tolerance, and active social engagement.

Participants' profile

Dates: advance planning visit: 17-18 July 2021; youth exchange: 1-8 September 2021

Applicant: WINetzwerk e.V. (Germany)

Host organisation: NGO Unit (Ukraine)

Participating countries: Germany, Ukraine, Georgia, Spain, Turkey, Portugal

Women in business

“Women in business” is a mobility of youth workers, KA1 Training Course, under Erasmus+ and will be implemented by Copernicus Berlin and Copernicus Yerevan. The training course will take place in Yerevan, Armenia and it will involve 32 youth workers from 8 different countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Russian Federation, Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia).

The main aim of “Women in business” is to prepare youth workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to support women entrepreneurship. In this regard, the specific objectives of the project for youth workers are: to discuss the linkages between entrepreneurship core competencies and gender; to identify gender issues affecting women in business; to understand the potential barriers and other main obstacles to women entrepreneurship; to explore different part of a business plan and so help youth workers to acquire important skills and knowledge on how to create and grow a successful business, etc.

The project is based on fostering quality improvements in youth work and empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, which aims to contribute to greater gender equality, as well as to more job creation and economic development. The project will use non formal learning methodology including methods such as: ice breakers, energizers, name games, reflection groups, working into intercultural subgroups, facilitated discussion, creative presentations, simulation, case study and debates.

The project will involve 32 participants, 4 for each of the Partner Countries, over 18 years. The project is implemented by 8 organizations and financed by the European Commission through Erasmus+ programme.

Target group

For the participants’ selection the following criteria will be taken into consideration:
- Mix of existing and experienced youth workers but also youth workers who are new or newish to women entrepreneurship and gender equality.
- Demonstration of social sensibilities (socially active youth workers/volunteers with a role in local communities and interested in promoting women entrepreneurship in their local contexts).
- Ready to share personal intercultural stereotypes and experiences and analyze them from different perspectives.
- The participants will have the following tasks: To complete the Participant’s mobility report sent by EU, make at least one publication or article, presentation or other online follow up activity (on organization website,

Facebook or other social network). In addition, everything else that you could do or organize as a dissemination of the project will be warmly welcomed and appreciated from us.
- We encourage participants of all eligible ages to take part in our project.
- Regarding gender balance, we shall take care that the proportion of females and males participating is close to 50%/50%.
- Moreover, equality of chances is one of the values shared by Copernicus and its partners; we will not tolerate any kind of discrimination throughout this project, especially regarding the selection of the participants.
- On National Agency request, the partner organisations have to be able to justify the integration of their representatives in the target group. Only the participants belonging to the target group could be funded in the frame of this project.
- The Youthpass will be released at the end of the training to all participants.

HerPower

The project ,,HerPower" consists of two mobility activities undertaken by the participants between the mobility. We invite activists and youth leaders, teachers and other people who work with young people on a daily basis, including young people experiencing discrimination or threatened with experience of violence. Both trainings are for the same group of people - 18 women. The use of potential of discriminated persons who are not able to show their full skills, because a large part of the energy devoted is protecting against attack, can have a huge impact on society. We lose many connections through discrimination and violence, which could otherwise create a good one. We do not mean here only discrimination based on sex, but also other submitted, e.g. age, disability level, etc. Facilities that are strengthened and available are equipped with features that are available able to exploit high potential at a level covering and regional by organizing workshops, social business bets or living the so-called role model for other people experiencing discrimination. The training also raises legal issues related to issues such as discrimination or recognition of social businesses, comparing crises in different groups of partners and thinking about what can be done by regulators applied appropriate regulations.

Participating countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Germany, Kosovo, Moldova, Poland

Face 2 Faith

“Face 2 Faith” is a mobility of youth workers, KA1 Training Course, under Erasmus+ and will be implemented by Copernicus Berlin e.V. (Germany). The training course will take place in Yerevan, Armenia and it will involve 28 youth workers from 7 different countries (Germany, Belgium, Spain, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia).
The main aim of “Face 2 Faith” is to provide youth workers with educational support and open space for sharing and exchanging knowledge on interreligious dialogue. Some of the specific objectives of the projects for youth workers are: to promote interreligious dialogue and acceptance among youth workers and equipping them with tools and methods to further promote those among young people; to provide participants with new knowledge that will help them to challenge stereotypes, prejudices and foster mutual understanding; to raise competences of youth workers to empower youngsters in our communities and raise their competences and motivation for critical review towards media and media reporting, when it comes to religious backgrounds.
The project will use non formal learning methodology including methods such as: ice breakers, energizers, name games, reflection groups, working into intercultural subgroups, facilitated discussion, creative presentations, simulation, case study and debates.
The project will involve 28 participants, 4 for each of the Partner Countries, over 18 years. The project is implemented by 7 organisations and financed by the European Commission through Erasmus+ programme.

• Target group:
- Mix of existing and experienced youth workers but also youth workers who are new or newish to interfaith and interreligious dialogue and intercultural topics.
- Ready to actively promote interreligious dialogue and fight against stereotypical thinking and acting about different religions.
- Demonstration of social sensibilities (socially active youth workers/volunteers with a role in local communities and interested in promoting interreligious dialogues in their local contexts).
- Ready to share personal intercultural stereotypes and experiences and analyse them from different perspectives.

The participants will have the following tasks: To complete the Participant’s mobility report sent by EU, make at least one publication or article, presentation or other/online (on organization website, Facebook or other social network). In addition, everything else that you could do or organize as a dissemination of the project will be warmly welcomed and appreciated from us.

- We encourage participants of all eligible ages to take part in our project.
- Regarding gender balance, we shall take care that the proportion of females and males participating is close to 50%/50%.
- The Youthpass will be released at the end of training to all participants;

• Venue of the training: During the project duration (24-31 October 2019), the participants will be offered (free of charge) accommodation in triple or quadruple rooms for 7 nights, 3 meals and 2 coffee breaks a day, materials etc. The participants will be accommodated at Capital Hotel in Yerevan (53B Aygedzor St, Yerevan 0019), Armenia, located in the centre of the city. Breakfast will be served as buffet, lunch and dinner will be served with a great variety of food. Participants can get inside the hotel and make their check-in starting from 12.00 am on 24th of October 2019.

• Travel expenses: participants from Georgian can get maximum 180 euro travel reimbursement.

• Application: If you are eligible and interested in participating in the programme, please send your application until 15 August 2019 to association@crgeorgia.com with a cc to mariam.kavtaradze.8@gmail.com. Successful candidates will be contacted by our colleagues and will be invited to our orientation programme.

• Participating countries: Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Ukraine, Spain

Under migrants' perspective

We are living the greatest human mobility era in history. Today the world has more than 240 million migrants and this number keeps increasing. Migration is recognized as a key feature of our contemporary world as it provides many opportunities to societies and to migrants themselves. However, it is still one of the least understood phenomenon, leading to an increase of critical political and policy challenges in matters such as safe migration, border management, displacement and integration.

The World Migration Report of 2018 stated an effective number of 244 million migrants in 2015 with an average growth of 0,5% every 5 years. That means it is expected 30 to 50 million more migrants in 2020 if no new and different actions are taken, starting with the raise of awareness which is the core foundation to make a change. The New European Crisis on Migration emerged through the rising number of refugees and migrants coming to the European Union, across the Mediterranean Sea or Southeast Europe, and applying for asylum. They come from areas such as the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Western Balkans and
the reasons behind these flows come from many different push and pull factors. However, these massive flows have been raising many concerns in Europe as they tend to be connected with violent extremism without proof and evidence. The result is a bad public image that leads to fear, prejudice, xenophobia and discrimination towards migrants, all of which are against the values of EU and have a great impact in peace and prosperity of Europe

For these reasons, we decided to develop this project idea to involve youngsters on this topic. This activity will be a Youth Exchange that will have 42 participants from Hungary, Portugal, Finland, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia (6 participants per country) from the 2nd of October till the 9th of October in Rustavi, Georgia.

The main problems the project responds to are: low awareness on the migration crisis happening in Europe as well as the prejudice and discrimination towards migrants and refugees linking them to violent extremists and therefore develops more fear and xenophobia, a vicious circle we must break in Europe.

• The main aim of this project is:
– To raise young people’s awareness/understanding on migration crisis in Europe, offering the opportunity to create strong networks and develop a sense of European citizenship and values, thereby promoting non-formal learning and cooperation in the field of youth.

• The objectives of the project are:
– To foster positive interaction, active participation, self-reflection and personal growth of young people from different social backgrounds of EU by involving them in Youth Exchange that develop their key competences and address issues relevant for them, conducting joint vicarious activities, with holistic experiences and reflections.
– To develop positive attitudes towards arts and its expressions, encouraging experimentation and involvement, stimulating creativity and imagination.
– To raise awareness on migration panorama and its difficulties within participants’ societies and within EU using artistic products on the youth exchange: Theatre play, an exhibition and a video on migration.
– To promote diversity, intercultural dialogue and intercultural learning, developing the sense of unity through diversity within EU, thereby promoting social inclusion
– To promote the Erasmus+ programme, EU values and participation in future activities through the use of non-formal education while promoting its recognition through the YouthPass certificate.

• Eligible participants: Participants shall be residents of Georgia between 18-25 years old, while in case of the group leader, there is no upper age limit. Knowledge of English is a requirement for participating in the programme.

• Preparation: the participants of the youth exchange shall be prepared for an intercultural encounter and being in a multicultural learning environment. They will get to know a bit of each culture they will find prior to the exchange and learn a bit of their customs. The programme includes an Intercultural Evening with the aim to celebrate and educate about the different cultures and nationalities present. During this evening, national groups will be given 10 minutes each to present their countries through costumes, songs, dances, pictures and stories.

• What to bring? Participants are requested to bring cultural items representing their countries and can be displayed/shared during the Intercultural Evening.

• Programme: the exchange programme will include (but not limited to) the following activities: introduction of the topic and participants; Visual Map of Migration, simulation games, role plays, drama-telling, presentations, discussions, study visit, film night, quiz night and planning of future activities.

• Accommodation and catering: The Youth Exchange will happen in Rustavi between the 2nd and the 9th of October (including the travel days) in the Rustavi Scout Center (https://iscr.ge). The participants will lodge at quadriple rooms in mixed nationalities divided by gender. The centre will provide 3 meals a day and 2 coffee breaks.

• Expenses: the participation is free for the selected 5 participants and group leader from Georgia. Participants from outside Rustavi can get travel reimbursement. All programmes, food, accommodation and transportation throughout the stay will be covered by the host organisation. Individual programmes and extra days has to be covered by the participants.

• Application: If you are eligible and interested in participating in the programme, please send your application until 1 September 2019 to association@crgeorgia.com with a cc to mariam.kavtaradze.8@gmail.com. Successful candidates will be contacted by our colleagues and will be invited to our orientation programme.

• Participating countries: Armenia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Ukraine

International Childrens' Festival in Izmir

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM RUSTAVI | One of the most important national events of Turkey is the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day which is celebrated on the 23rd of April. Many children from all around the world are invited to Turkey to celebrate this day with their traditional performances based on dance, music, art, sports and theatre.

In 2019 Mavi Ege Schools will host students and teachers from many countries in Izmir, Western Turkey between 19 and 26 April and the Georgian Association for Cultural Relations - with the support of the Municipality of Rustavi - is partnering the event as a sending organisation.

Throughout the 7 days’ children festival 10 students and 2 teachers will be hosted and have the opportunity to share experiences and ideas for future projects in an international atmosphere, discover the beautiful surroundings of Izmir and remember the importance of both being independent and living in peace, as well as brotherhood and friendship.

• Eligible participants: students attending in the schools of Rustavi, aged between 10-17. Knowledge of English is not a requirement for participating in the programme.

• Preparation: the event will include traditional dances in folk costumes during indoor and outdoor performances, choir performance and theatre plays. Each country group has to prepare with their own dances, choir songs and theatre play that will be performed at different venues during the programme.
In addition to traditional dance performances, the students are required to perform either a play or a choir. The length of the play performance must be maximum 30 minutes and the number of songs performed by the choir must be maximum 4.

• What to bring? Guest students are requested to perform their national dance with their traditional costumes in one of the big shopping centres and school celebration in Aydin. Students are requested to bring:

1. A ’’Culture box’’ including the cultural items representing their countries,
2. Portrait pictures of the students and their family members,
3. Postcards of their countries.

• Programme: before arrival, host students will start to get in touch with Georgian students for initiating friendship. The detailed final programme will be shared with participants in March. The event will include the following programmes:

• school and class visits;
• school activities (lessons, entertainment, open-air competitions and activities);
• rehearsals and Celebrations on 23 April
• city tour and visits to historical places of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and Dydima;
• a performance day (theatre and choir);
• visit to Izmir;
• performances in shopping centres in Aydin, Izmir and Kusadasi;
• a yacht tour in Kusadasi (depending on the weather conditions).

• Accommodation: guest students will be housed at Turkish families. They will stay with Mavi Ege Schools’ students and families and they will get the chance to experience this special event with their peers. The students attending the

• Expenses: the participation fee is 570 GEL which includes the travel costs and orientation programme in Rustavi (the participation fee may be subject to minor changes to flight ticket price difference). Food, accommodation, transportation throughout the stay, sightseeing and the tours will be covered by the host organisation. Individual programmes and extra days has to be covered by the participants.

• Application: If you are eligible and interested in participating in the programme, please fill in the application form below, until 15 February 2019. Successful candidates will be contacted by our colleagues and will be invited to our orientation programme.

• Partners: Mavi Ege Schools, Municipality of Rustavi, Georgian Association for Cultural Relations