CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS – Roma Youth Advocacy Seminar (Brussels, 16-22 March 2019)

We invite you to join us to Brussels to learn about European policy-making and civil society advocacy, to raise young voices to combat antigypsyism and to advance important issues for Roma communities. The five days of the seminar (16-22 March 2019) are your chance to raise the voices of Roma youth during the EU Roma Week, hosted by the European Parliament, European Commission and civil society around the International Day against Racism (21 March 2019).

Roma Youth Advocacy Training will gather 40 young Roma and non-Roma activists in order to strengthen their capacity as young advocates and leaders to tackle antigypsyism. During the seminar, the group will raise voices against antigypsyism targeting EU level actors, like Members of the European Parliament and European Commission.

The advocacy seminar is part of the “EU Roma Week” around the International Day against Racism (21 March) and ahead of the 8 April – International Roma Day.  This five days lasting seminar is organized by ternYpe International Roma Youth Network, ERGO Network, Phiren Amenca and the Documentation and Cultural Centre & Central Council of German Sinti and Roma.

Mission and vision

The organizers aim to empower young Roma to have a voice to become key agents of change, and to foster solidarity among young people! We have a strong vision to make a change in Europe. As young Roma and non-Roma we believe that we can build a European culture based on respect, dialogue, human rights and equal opportunities. We strongly follow our mission to create space for young people to become active citizens through empowerment, mobilization, self-organization and participation.

The objectives of Roma Youth Advocacy Training

The seminar aims to strengthen the capacity of the participants to understand the structures and working mechanisms of the EU institutions, as well as the current EU policies concerning Roma and against racism, and to develop advocacy strategies and campaigns raising-awareness about antigypsyism on European level.

The activities included in this seminar aim to:

• Get to know the European Union institutions and to understand their working mechanisms, and policies towards Roma, in particular of the European Parliament and European Commission;
• Build a dialogue and bring a Roma youth perspective to DG Justice (responsible for Roma policies in the European Commission), to DG EAC (Education and Culture, includes the youth sector in the European Commission),  as well as to Members of the European Parliament in particular of ARDI (Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup);
• Learn about the work of the EU umbrella organizations and contribute to their work;
• Raise awareness of the participants about antigypsyism, and the current anti-racism policies;
• Raise awareness of the participants about the Brussels-based civil society structures and their strategies against antigypsyism and racism (in particular ERGO Network, ENAR (European Network against Racism) and the European Youth Forum);
• Develop a youth actions against antigypsyism and on Roma youth perspectives during the “EU Roma Week” of the European Parliament;
• Raise awareness of Members of the European Parliament, European Commission staff and Brussels based advocates about the recognition of the Roma Holocaust and of antigypsyism, which was acknowledged in April 2015 by a European Parliament resolution.

The objectives of “EU Roma Week”

Roma Week 2019 (18-21 March) aims to build on the work done during previous Roma Weeks and build on the landmark own-initiative report that the European Parliament adopted in October 2017 on “Fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting anti-Gypsyism” which called upon the European Commission and EU Member States to put the fight against antigypsyism at the forefront of efforts for the social and economic inclusion of Roma. Roma Week aims to do this by raising the voices of people who are affected by antigypsyism.

Profile of participants 

At the event will take part Roma and non-Roma youth leaders, activists, multipliers, and volunteers who are active in Roma communities and experienced in working with Roma communities and/or Roma youth. We aim to create a balanced group of experience participants and participants who have NOT participated in the training previously, and who demonstrate a strong interest in advocacy and political participation.

All participants must also:

• be able and committed to act as young advocates and multipliers in youth work on the themes of anti-discrimination, combating racism and antigypsyism and promotion of human rights with young Roma, for the benefit of Roma communities and Roma youth;
• be motivated to develop their competences in advocacy, anti-discrimination work, human rights education and youth work and to share their experiences with other participants;
• be actively committed and involved in a Roma (youth) initiative, advocacy group or organization;
• be aged between 18 – 30 years;
• be committed to attend for the full duration of the course;
• be able to work in English, or check with the coordination that translation can be provided through other participants or team members;
• be resident in one of the following countries: EU Member States + Macedonia

DATES OF THE ACTIVITY

Arrival: March 16, 2019 (Saturday)
Program days: March 17 to March 21, 2019
Departure: March 22, 2019

LOCATION

The seminar is organised in Brussels.The conference will take place in various venues. More informations are provided with the Info Pack later.

TRAVEL

Participants should organize their travel (arrival and departure) for these dates AFTER the organizers have confirmed their participation.Earlier arrivals and late departures will be exceptions after discussion with the organizers.

COSTS

Reimbursement of travel costs:The organisers of the seminar cover accommodation and food during the activity. The maximum of reimbursementof travel costs is € 200 (for French and German participants € 150); if costs are higher they have to be covered by participants or contact the organizers.The reimbursements of travel expenses (based on economical prices, Apex, student price, special price) will take place on the spot during the week in cash or by bank transfer after the activity. Participants should bring with them original invoices to prove the costs of travel as well the tickets.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION

Selection procedure: If you fit into the participants’ profile, you may submit an application until February 20 at midnight Central European Time. The preparatory team will select up the participants on the basis of the profile outlined above, ensuring also a balance between genders, geographical regions, different types of experiences and organizations. Within few days, we will inform the candidates whether their application has been accepted or rejected.

Complete Info Pack: download pdf  
How to apply? Register in the online application form
Application deadline: February 20, 2019 (end of day)

• More details can be found in the INFO PACK

• The application form can be found HERE