SALTO-Youth Participation - EuroMed Youth Programme IV

GOOD PRACTICE 1.3
direct their own short four-minute video
outlining their ideas, views and vision
for Europe. The teams were competing
for a trip for their class to take part in
the Euroscola programme in Strasbourg,
offering them an insight into the workings
of the European Parliament and to
give them a sense of what it means to
be a European citizen. This prize was
awarded to both the winning team from
the Republic of Ireland and the winning
team from Northern Ireland.
In an intensive day of judging in February,
judges representing every partner
organisation had the unenviable task
of selecting the top videos from every
European Parliament constituency to go
forward to the final event in Dublin.
On the 19 March, 88 students from
all over the island of Ireland descended
upon the Irish Film Institute in Dublin
for the My Vision for Europe final
event. At the finals, each team was challenged
to introduce their short video
with a presentation outlining for their
peers the creative process that they had
undergone in My Vision for Europe.
The teams used storyboards, pictures
and even music to tell us about their
experiences ! The students then had the
opportunity to see their video shown on
the big screen of the Irish Film Institute
– a very exciting experience for all. The
judging panel was comprised of Francis
Jacobs, Head of the European Parliament
Office in Ireland, Alicia McGivern,
Head of Education in the IFI, and special
guest judge, Director, Kirsten Sheridan.
Our ultimate goal with My Vision
for Europe has always been to develop
a schools project unlike any other, by
venturing into the area of online media
and promoting non-formal learning
techniques. In this respect, My Vision
for Europe was completely unique in
Ireland as it presented what is traditionally
viewed as a boring subject
matter in a fresh and exciting way.
What is perhaps the most important
element of My Vision for Europe
has always been the commitment to
non-formal learning as the medium
for unlocking creativity. We worked
hard to incorporate non-formal learning
techniques and to facilitate creative
learning opportunities in every
phase of the project. Each school
received two guidance packs, a ‘Student
Pack’ and a ‘Teacher Pack.’ These
were packed full of ideas, tips and
techniques for the teams to use in the
project so as to maximise creativity
and empower the young people to actively
drive their own video projects.
As a follow-up element of the competition,
the My Vision for Europe Regional
Roadshow was offered to every
participating school. A team from My
Vision for Europe went on the road,
visiting schools with a creative and
unique workshop. This workshop is a
unique approach to exploring the idea
of choice and responsibility in the decision
making of the European Union.
Implicit in the workshop is the concept
of active citizenship, as the students
were challenged to take on the role of
various institutions and reach agreement
on a piece of energy legislation. We
have found this to be a highly rewarding
experience with excellent learning
opportunities for all participants.
On behalf of all of our partners in My Vision for
Europe, European Movement Ireland would like to
say a huge thank you to Léargas, and in particular
to our Project Officer Conor Darcy, who has always
shown such enthusiasm for the project.
Links
For more information on My Vision for Europe, and
to see the creative videos of the students, visit
www.myvisionforeurope.com
You can see the reports of the Youth Media for
Europe journalists at :
www.youthmediaforeurope.com
The Youth Media for Europe report :
www.europeanmovement.ie/fileadmin/files_emireland/Youth_Media_report_2010.pdf
Contact
billie@europeanmovement.ie
18
think
about
the future
Forget the past
Beneficiary
Student parliament of Kosice
Partnership
CVC-Regional Youth Center Kosice Slovakia
Student council of Miskolc Hungary
Pedagogic institute of Miskolc Hungary
Budget
20 000 euros
Contact
danieljasan@gmail.com
xenophobia
Fight against
Slovakia
Hungary
01.07.2009 — 01.09.2010
19
Brief description
The main point of the project is to
improve relationships between Slovakian
and Hungarian people. We want to
change the current situation, to change
how young people see one another -with
a racist, extremist or negative view. All
of these things have been serious problems
from history to the present time.
How did your idea come up
We were at one training course where
there were also people from south east
Slovakia. Time after time they said that
in their schools they had problems with
racism, and nationalism, but we also
saw the social situation in Slovakia.
Objectives
Opening discussions in high schools
about racism and xenophobia. Realization
of regular meetings between
youngsters and experts on human
rights and xenophobia. Realization
of training course about democracy,
active participation and european
citizienship. Series of workshops the
aim of which will be “Fight against
xenophobia” in high schools. Mutual
meeting of our parliaments using
the European Parliament model.
Giving an example of how cooporation
between youngsters could be.
Strong points
First common meeting of all partners,
bilateral youth exchanges,
public lecture about nationalism,
extremism and xenophobia.
Pitfalls / difficulties
No difficulties