Call for participants – Kick Off 2023
The Youth of European Nationalities (YEN) is looking for participants for the Kick-Off “traditionally yours“.
The event will take place at Kruševo in North Macedonia from 13th until the 19th of February and will be hosted by the youth organisation “Vlach Youth Council of Macedonia” (VYCM).
About the Seminar
Our year 2023 starts with a Kick off Seminar where we will visit the Vlach Community in North Macedonia. About 30 young people from national, ethnic and linguistic minorities from around Europe will spend a week together, participate in a workshop based on methods of non-formal education, learn about the Vlach Community in North Macedonia, get to know each other and enjoy leisure activities such as an excursion day, a diverse evening program and the Cultural Exchange Market, where every participant is invited to present their own community.
Workshop
For many national, ethnic and linguistic minorities traditions play a key role in community life. They are tools for creating a sense of belonging, fighting assimilation or representation. Naturally, they have a great impact on the members of these communities. Therefore, we believe it is valuable that young people from minorities better understand the power and opportunities that lie in traditions and specifically reflect on how their own communities’ traditions are impacting their identity as young minority members who might not agree or have great influence on certain (elements) of tradition.
Addressing the impact of traditions on the individual is a crucial starting point for our Workplan as it connects the topic of the year to each participant but also to each member of the YEN network.
More specifically, you will:
- Learn about and discuss different definitions of “tradition”, how traditions are shaped, which forms they can take and what impact they can have;
- Start a process of self-reflection on the traditions and cultural expressions of your own community and personal relation to it. You and the other participants will be encouraged to rethink your own identity as a young minority member and which elements make you feel like belonging to your community.
- Have opportunities to exchange with other youth from minorities in Europe about different traditions, expression of culture and your own perception of them.
- The workshops are based on non-formal education methods and you will spend most of the week in your workshops. Non-formal education is very different from education as you know it from schools or university. It is based on exchange between the participants, on shared experiences and reflection of your own situation.
If you are interested to explore these topics and meet with 30 other young minority members from all over Europe this seminar is right for you! The Orga-Team is made up members of the youth organisation of the Vlach minority North Macedonia “Vlach Youth Council of Macedonia” (VYCM) and representatives of YEN .
