Yes Project Final Meeting - 18 January 2008

On January 18, the “Polo Multimediale La nave di Harlock” will host the concluding conference of the EU project YES-Young European Stage Network.

Taking advantage of the opportunity offered by the conclusion of the works around the YES project, the event will represent a perfect occasion to stimulate reflections and debates concerning youth needs and the policies (national, local and European) which aim at satisfying such needs, but also concerning the role of youngsters in Europe.

The YES project, coordinated by Mondo-Palcogiovani from Brescia, is financed with the support of the European Youth Programme (Action 5) of the European Commission and with the contribution from the Municipality of Brescia. The project involves organizations (both public and no-profit), from six EU countries (Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Germania, Spain e Portugal) which will take part to the event. The YES project aims at favouring dialogue and debate among the actors (institutions, associations etc.) working with and for young people, through the consolidation and promotion of a network aimed at promoting youth projects in the framework of EU opportunities as well as local initiatives.

Youngsters represent in today’s Europe not only a resource but also the future protagonist of the European project. At the same time, for its youngsters, Europe represents a great opportunity for personal and career development. However, as of today, such resource seem to be very little valorized still and Europe (with its institutions, policies and programmes) still too distant from the daily life of many European youngsters. In spite of the several European initiatives (programmes such as Youth in Action, but also Erasmus and Leonardo), as well as the national and local ones (i.e. creation of specific policies and activities for youngsters etc.); discrepancies persists and they should find a solution in a tighter collaboration between different political level and also between institutional actors, youth actors and the youngsters themselves.

In this context, the final conference of the YES project intends to, not only disseminating information concerning the project and the YES network as tools at the service of European youngsters to help them take full advantage of the opportunities available to them, but also favour a larger debate concerning the key role youngsters play in the evolution of the European Project.

New International Project - IIE Training

IEE Intelligent Energy for Europe – Youth Training Project

Summary of the project:
The main aim of the project will be to train and educate youngsters (aged between 15-18 years old) in the participating countries (one class of around 20-25 youngsters for each country) on themes concerning energy savings and renewable energies. This training and education activities will use formal and informal education means to teach youngster about energy problems of the planet and more practically of their country, region and even home. They will also aim at providing youngsters with, and stimulating them to find themselves solutions which they could implement to solve such problems. Moreover, the teaching methodology will fully and actively involve the youngsters directly, since they will become also teachers during the exchanges (i.e. the hosting classes will teach the foreign classes concerning the renewable energy source and technologies used in their local areas). The project will favour a behavioural change in the youngsters involved but also on other youngsters by spreading the teaching methodologies used during the project. Moreover, the project will provide the participating youngsters with specific knowledge and skills which will significantly increase their job opportunities and career prospects.
The activities of the project will include:
-training on a local scale (i.e. youngsters in their home towns and local school managers and policy makers)
-e-learning activities (training youngsters on the utilisation of e-learning tools, putting youngsters from different countries in touch among each other and carrying out common activities by using ICTs –i.e. information technologies such as pcs and internet)
- youth exchanges (with youngsters travelling to the countries involved in the project to meet and implement activities together).

New section, for international projects

It is now possible to find a new section, on Ágora Bracarense's blog, specially dedicated to international projects.

There you can find information concerning the proposals to participate on new projects developed by our partners.

Clock on the left bar, on: www.agorabracarense-internationalprojects.blogspot.com

The information is both in portuguese and english.

To reply the offers and know more about the projects contact us to: agorabracarense@gmail.com

Yes Project - September Newsletter

Yes Project - August Newsletter

This is the August Newsletter from the Yes Project developed by Ágora Bracarense.

To know more about this project click: www.yesproject.eu

Training Course Interfaith Youth Dialogue for a Common Europe

Ágora Bracarense is going to participate in the Training Course Interfaith Youth Dialogue for a Common Europe in Loughborough, from the 4th until the 11th of September.
This is the programme of the event:

1st DAY (5th September)

9:30-11:00 – Official opening, presentation of the programme, name games
11:00-11:30 – tea/coffee break
11:30- 13:00 – Team building
13:00- 14:30 – lunch
14:30- 16:00 – Presentation on Youth in Action Programmes
16:00- 16:30 – tea/coffee break
16:30- 18:00 – Presentation on work of a local organisation Charnwood Arts and a workshop.
Evaluation
Multicultural Evening

2nd DAY (Thursday, September 6th)
9:30- 11:00 – Round table discussion: Is Europe turn in 'Eurabia'?
11:00-11:30 – tea/coffee break
11:30- 12:00 - Importance of Words and Language in IF Dialogue
13:00- 14:30 – lunch
14:30- 16:00 – Learning about Druids
16:00- 16:30 – tea/coffee break
16:30-18:00 – presentation on the work of Loughborough Council of Faith and a workshop
Evaluation
Deputy Mayor Reception at the Town Hall

3rd DAY (Friday, September 7th)
9:30- 11:00 – Presentation
11:00- 11:30 – tea/coffee break
11:30- 13:00 – Meeting Islam
13:00- 14:00 – lunch
14:00-16:00 – Exploring Faith Diversity (workshop)
16:00-16:30 – tea/coffee break
16:30- 18:00 – Project development (part 1)
Evaluation
19:00 – dinner
Sport activities

4th DAY (Saturday, September 8th) on this day we will change the accommodation for one day.
free time at Loughborough Market
Visit to Loughborough University
lunch
Project development
Dinner
Free time

5th DAY (Sunday, September 9th)
9:45 meeting at Leicester Town Hall
10:00- 16:00 Faith Pilgrimage in Leicester (the city near Loughborough)
Dinner, return to Loughborough and our hotel (Ramada, High Street, Loughborough)

6th DAY (Monday, September 10th)
9:30-11:00 – Reflection on Pilgrimage
11:00- 11:30 – tea/coffee break
11:30- 13:00 – Project Showcase
13:00-14:30 – lunch
14:30-16:00 – the Baha’I faith
16:00-16:30 – tea/coffee break
16:30-18:00 – conclusion and final evaluation
19:00 – dinner & farewell party

Departure day is 11th September. You need to check out before 11 a.m.

Partnership Building Programme (21-27 August, Loughborough)

This is the Partnership Building Programme that will take place in Loughborough (United Kingdom) in which Ágora Bracarense will be represented by its president Tiago Mourão.

This will be an excellent opportunity to present some international projects and establish some new partnerships.

More information soon in this blog.

Braga Youth City

Talking about youth issues is always appropriate because it allows to speak of a very interesting and heterogeneous group. During the last few years, when the study of the different youth profiles became necessary, society woke up and realised how important youth social and civic participation phenomena are. This was partially the result of a heritage from problematic periods in the European and world context where youngsters affirmed themselves against a closed and elitist power which marked the big world regimes to the conquer of great contributions to democracy.

Very often, significant mistakes have been made when youngsters have been seen in a very well defined stereotyped context, built on the idea that youngsters are distant from reality and from their own interests. Hence, frequently we assist to what it seems to be the creation of parellel worlds where in which youngsters and the rest of society move in different directions. It is important to try to understand why this does happen and why there is a gap which appears to be continuous in time. Or if it is only an apparent gap resulting from misunderstandings and a lack of communication.

Braga has been for some time referred to as a youth city. This definition seems to be more and more appropriate because Braga people adopted this concept and they tend to turn it into a reality with their daily practices. Such openness has been fundamental to local development. In fact in this city were developed youth plans of which some examples were transferred to other regions and countries.

Several times the question is asked about the important aspects of this youth power that have contributed to Braga’s development and growth. The answer is that youngsters are so well and deeply involved in local society that it is easy to find youth participation at all social levels, everywhere, but it is not so easy to distinguish it from other non-young stakeholders’ participation.

However, despite the excellent youth contribution to society there are still some non-desired difficulties in public participation. Therefore the implementation of policies which aim to increase youngsters’ participation is still very important.

Sharing the sights and Sounds of Europe on YouTube

On 29 June 2007, the European Commission launched EuTube, a new thematic channel on YouTube. This innovative tool aims to inform people on the activities of the European Union through video clips that illustrate the main issues facing citizens from across the 27 Member States.
This project called “Sharing the sights and the sounds of Europe on YouTube” promotes the European Union initiatives, policies and goals related to themes such as immigration, climate changes or energetic policies.
Currently, users can watch approximately 50 video clips on a wide range of topics. Among the most interesting there are some short animated cartoon such as “Everyone can Save the Planet”, “And if Europe didn’t exist” and a Galileo project documentary.
Most of the content is in English, but French and German languages clips are also being added.
Margot Wallström, Vice- President for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, said “It is very important for the Commission to use all the means at its disposal when it comes to communicating with European citizens. We can not ignore the developments which have taken place on the Internet in the past few years, in particular the popularity of video sharing sites such as You Tube”.

For more information, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/EUtube

The European Day of Languages - 26 September 2007

The European Year of Languages (2001) was successful in involving millions of people across 45 countries in activities to celebrate linguistic diversity and the benefits of being able to speak another language.
Many young and old people were encouraged to learn a language, or take special pride in their existing language skills. After this positive feedback, the Council of Europe has declared 26 September as an annual European Day of Languages.
The general objectives of the European Day of Languages are to alert the public to the importance of language learning and diversifying the range of languages learnt with the aim of increasing multilingual and intercultural understanding, to promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe, which must be preserved and fostered, to encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school, whether for study purposes, for professional needs, for purposes of mobility or for pleasure and exchanges.
The European day of Languages will be celebrated in schools, workplaces or in public places with activities involving old and young people. The Council of Europe website offers examples, suggestions and a database to promote the event and the organization of the Day.
For more information, please visit http://www.ecml.at/edl/default.asp

FARE Football Against Racism in Europe Action Week

The FARE (Football against Racism in Europe) network co-ordinates actions against racism in and around football stadiums across Europe. Each year the network organizes an action week where football fans, ethnic minorities and football clubs stand united against discrimination. This year, the event will take place on the week between 17 to 30 October 2007.
FARE provides small-scale funding for local initiatives during the European Action Week for fans clubs, ethnic minorities and migrants organizations, refugees and asylum seekers, amateur football clubs, anti-discrimination groups, schools and youth teams. The FARE network, in partnership with UEFA, calls the entire European football family to get involved in the forthcoming FARE Action Week.
The wide range of activities will include the printing of banners, leaflets and posters, the production of fans’ choreographies etc. Specific anti-discrimination events such as matches, workshops and debates will also be organised. The main priorities of this FARE Action Week will be: the greater participation of ethnic minorities and migrants, the inclusion of women and actions against homophobia in sports.
To facilitate the organization of events and activities, eligible groups can apply for financial assistance through the following website www.farenet.org (the contribution will not exceed €400). The deadline is on September, 10 2007.

Yes Project - July Newsletter

This is the 5th newsletter of the Yes Project and it is responsibility of the german partner from Darmstadt.

The August one will be provided by Ágora Bracarense in four languages (portuguese, english, italian and spanish).

Braga Youngsters with lack of opportunities

Braga is one of the youngest European cities, with development levels and standard of living much higher than the national average, presenting itself as a city full of opportunities for young people.

Nevertheless, there are young people, identified as vulnerable to social exclusion, that cannot reach those opportunities.

They were born and grew up in Public Housing neighbourhoods, i.e. disadvantaged places from an urban and a social point of view, marked by poverty, characterised by scarcity of infrastructure and a profoundly negative symbolic burden.

On one hand, these youngsters are soon called to assume family responsibilities (take care of younger brothers or sisters, household duties, contribute to the family income budget etc.) and are forced to emancipate themselves from their parents too early (this being particularly true for specific ethnic groups).

On the other hand, school failure (69,4% of the youngsters that attend school, have failed at least one year) and early school leaving (77% of the youngsters that have already left the school system, have not completed compulsory education - at least 9 years of school), contribute to reinforce the elements leading to the permanence of these children and youth in poverty and socially disadvantaged situations.

Excluded from school, too young and without sufficient qualifications to get a job, these youngsters just cannot break this chain.

Moreover, the exclusion processes in those areas, favour the occurrence of several social pathologies. Nearly 30% of these children and youngsters live in drugs environments (traffic and use) in their domestic space, 27% suffer alcohol abuse and 31,7% live with relatives whose life stories are marked by delinquency and offences.

Living everyday with misery, scarcity of opportunities and resources, low self-esteem, lack of social, cultural and leisure equipments can push into “fatal destinies” the children and youngsters that live in those disadvantaged territories.

Social Concerns

Portuguese youngsters and their needs/ problems:

According to a recent study, the three main concerns of Portuguese Youth are employment, health and drugs.

The figure illustrates the results of a survey applied to a sample of 1000 Portuguese young people.

Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU

The EU Council Presidency is held successively by each Member-State for a period of six months, in accordance with a rotation system pre-established by the Council itself, currently until June 2020.

Portugal is to carry out this task for the third time after the Presidencies of 1992 and 2000, taking over from Germany on 1 July 2007 and handing over to Slovenia on 31 December 2007.

During this six-month period, the Member-State which holds the Presidency plays an essential role in the following areas:

- The holding of meetings of the Council

- The relationship with other EU institutions

- In internationally representing the Council of the Union

The priorities of the portuguese presidency can be seen in the fellowing link:

http://www.eu2007.pt/NR/rdonlyres/EFA45F2C-33E8-40B3-A6AD-5512E56E9E7C/0/CadernoPrioridades_Ingles_0907_12h00.pdf

These priorities include:

- The future of the Union

- The Lisbon Strategy

- Strengthening the area of freedom, security and justice

- Europe and the world

This presidency slogan is: "A Stronger Union for a Better World"

August Newsletter of the Yes Project, by Ágora Bracarense

The August newsletter of the Yes Project will be constructed by Ágora Bracarense.

This is what you will find in our newsletter:

1st Page:

"Ágora Bracarense" Presentation

Portugal and Europe I - Lisbon Strategy

2nd Page:

Youngsters with less oportunities in Braga

Braga and the Iberian Institute of Nanotechnologies

Presentation of the "Só-Cenas" Association

3rd Page:

"Culture and the City" debate of 20th July

Portugal and Europe II - The Portuguese Presidency of the EU

As in the previous newsletters you can also find in each page some european founding opportunities for youngsters associations.

Construbutions may be sent to our e-mail: agorabracarense@gmail.com

This newsletter will be edited in four languages: portuguese, english, spanish and italian.

Ágora Bracarense Presentation

Ágora Bracarense it’s a Portuguese civic organization. And in its majority it is composed by youngsters. Recently founded, by a group of friends, we represent the huge willpower to do something in our hometown and in our region in what it concerns to civic participation where young people must have a word to say. It was not easy our first steps, but now we have a project and are determined in carrying it out.

We have several goals in our action plan. We are a group of young people, but we have great perspectives and much work in front of us. Our main goal, one of our major intents it’s to try to call to front line young people with ambition and willing to participate, to be active actors, give them opportunities to show their skills and “spread” their ideas.

As in ancient Greece, we intend to be an Agora, the place of public debate. It is very important for youngsters to express their opinions and wants. We desire to discuss youth issues, because we are aware they exist and we believe that any of us has the power to do something. We have dreams, but we also have strengths to shape the world. At Ágora Bracarense we share opinions, but also debate different points of view. From difference comes complementarity. And it brings us profits, added value.

We are a melting pot of various youngsters with different lifestyles, but we share the same ideals. We are students, teachers, unemployed people, and professionals. But we are all young people, and has we are young, we have the world in front of us. And we like to face it. And we all believe that, as a Portuguese poet said once: “when man dreams, the world jumps and goes forward, just like a colorful ball in a kid’s hand”.

Blog Presentation

This new blog appears because of the need of presenting Ágora Bracarense in an international scale. Because our work is not restricted in our region or country and because we participate and intend to participate even more in international programmes, we thought this was the time to open our Ágora to the world.

This blog: http://www.agorabracarense-en.blogspot.com/ will be interely in english.
The original version: http://www.agorabracarense.blogspot.com/ will be in portuguese.

Any sugestions or contributions should be sent to our e-mail: agorabracarense@gmail.com