“Support for Regional and National Participation of Roma Youth with a Focus on Youth Policy” (National Training Seminar for Youth from Ukraine)

Invitation to Participate

Basic Information about the National Training Seminar

The Department of Youth Affairs of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and non-governmental Roma partners is organizing a national training seminar for young Roma and non-Roma individuals who have the potential to act as multipliers in their communities and/or regions. The training seminar aims to support the involvement and engagement of young multipliers in countering “anti-Gypsyism” and in supporting collaborative efforts of Roma youth at the local level, as well as in youth policy processes. The training seminar will take place in Odessa, Ukraine, from November 3 to 7, 2016. It will involve the participation of 30 participants from Ukraine.

In 2015, the first seminar involving Roma youth was organized in Kyiv. This meeting laid the foundation for the process of engaging young Roma individuals and provided the opportunity for improving awareness on specific issues related to Roma youth within the context of youth policy.

The seminar will contribute to the engagement of Roma youth and youth organizations in Ukraine in actively participating in Romani involvement in Ukrainian youth policy at both the national and local levels.

Objective of the Training Seminar:

• Strengthening and expanding the movement initiated in 2015 to address Roma youth issues within the process of shaping Ukrainian youth policy.
• Deepening the involvement of Roma youth and cooperation between Roma and non-Roma youth organizations in Ukraine.
• Recognizing and incorporating Roma youth as an integral part of existing national and local structures and processes.
• Encouraging the participation of young Romani women in the process of shaping youth policy.
• Developing personal and social competence of participants and enhancing their self-organization.
• Identifying opportunities and means that are important for Roma youth at the national and local levels.
• Developing ideas and designing measures that intend to ensure the participation of Ukrainian Roma youth in national and local-level processes and programs, with the support of the Council of Europe’s action plan for Roma and Romani youth.

Participant Profile

Participants of the training seminar should be young individuals from organizations or youth community groups in Ukraine, such as Roma youth organizations or organizations working with young Roma individuals, who have the potential to act as multipliers.

All candidates should also:

• Be young multipliers from organizations or informal youth groups, or youth community activists, such as from Romani youth organizations or youth organizations working with young Roma individuals, or individual active members of the Roma community.
• Be aged between 18 and 35 years old (exceptions may be possible).
• Be permanent residents of Ukraine.
• Be motivated to work towards organizing collaborative efforts among young Roma in their communities and countering “anti-Gypsyism”.
• Be capable of disseminating what they learn during the preparatory courses within their organizations or institutions, such as by implementing initiatives together with young Roma.
• Have strong connections with the local Roma community.
• Have strong connections with the local Roma community or be interested in involving Roma youth.
• Be able to arrive at the training location on November 3rd at 14:00 and depart on the morning of November 8th.

Application Process

Interested candidates should complete the attached application form. They should also accompany their application with a letter of endorsement from their organization (if representing an organization), clearly indicating their role and ability to disseminate acquired knowledge within their organization or institution.

Conditions

The training courses will be conducted in the Ukrainian language. The Romani language may be used during the seminar as a working language for working groups.

National travel expenses, accommodation, and meals will be covered by the organizers. Participants should arrive at the training location on November 3rd at 14:00 and depart on the morning of November 8th.

Application Form

Applicant Information:

Name and Surname: Gender: Age: Nationality: Connection with the Roma community: Working language: Ukrainian/Romani/other, please specify.

Contact Details – Please note that all correspondence will be sent to this address – ensure that the fields are completed

Postal Address (street, house number, city, postal code, country): Phone and Mobile Phone: Email: Do you have specific access needs or requirements (e.g., dietary, disability-related, etc.)?

Information about the organization/institution/group supporting your participation

Name of the organization/institution/group supporting your participation in the courses: Postal Address: Website: Briefly describe the purpose, target group, and activities of the organization/institution, as well as its relationship to the collaborative work of Roma youth: What role do you play in your organization/institution/group?

Experience

Please describe your experience most relevant to issues concerning collaborative work of Roma youth:

Motivation and Future Activities

Why do you want to participate in this event? What do you hope to learn from this event? What would you like to do after participating in this event to contribute to collaborative work among young Roma and their participation in policy development? By this, I declare that if my application is accepted, I will participate in the off-site seminar (from November 3rd at 14:00 to morning of November 8th):

Application Submission Procedure

Interested candidates should send the attached application form via email to Denis DURMISHU, denis.durmis@coe.int, by noon on October 10th according to Central European Time.