summer academy – ERGO Network

Study Session for Roma Youth Ambassadors

Youth Ambassadors of the Decade against Antigypsyism – Study Session

Youth Ambassadors of the Decade against Antigypsyism:
From European Commitment to Local Actions

– Study Session –

8.-15. September 2024 (including travel days)

European Youth Centre Budapest, Hungary

Application deadline EXTENDED –20 July 2024, 23:59 CET

In case you are selected, your participation will be confirmed by the end of July at the latest, and you will need to confirm your participation by purchasing your travel tickets.

We invite young Roma and non-Roma to apply for our six-day youth meeting, a study session, to empower them as ambassadors for the “Decade to Counter Antigypsyism.” We welcome young people who already have some experience and who are able and ready to implement their own small projects to counter antigypsyism after they are back home.

We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial-ethnic or social origin, religious belief, or sexual orientation.

Objectives:

To introduce human rights concepts and the concept of antigypsyism to Roma and non-Roma young people
To support young people in recognising the manifestations and consequences of antigypsyism
To share successful approaches to challenging antigypsyism by making use of the CM Recommendation on Roma Youth Participation and the standards on combating antigypsyism from ECRI and the Committee of Ministers.
To empower participants to implement local educational projects to counter antigypsyism
To give young Roma and their non-Roma allies the opportunity to strengthen their support networks

Profile of the participant:

have some first experience in the area of combating antigypsyism or racism more broadly;
motivated to develop their competencies and to share their experiences with other participants;
aged 18 – 30 (exceptions are possible);
committed to attend for the full duration of the course;
able to work in English;
resident in a member state of the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe.

Location:
The study session will take place in the European Youth Centre in Budapest (Hungary) from 8.-15. September 2024 (travel days are 8th and 15th September). The Youth Centre is run by the Council of Europe and frequently hosts youth programmes. It is uniquely equipped to make our stay as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.

Logistics:
The Council of Europe covers all travel and programme costs via reimbursement of real costs. The participation fee is 50 euros and will be deducted from your travel reimbursement. We will provide all participants with a detailed information sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE EVENT & DECADE AGAINST ANTIGYPSYISM

In the last years, ERGO Network, ternYpe – International Roma Youth Network, and other partners of the “Alliance against Antigypsyism” have achieved great progress in the recognition of antigypsyism on the European political level. The European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network (ERGO) with its member organizations in Central Europe and the Western Balkans and the Alliance want to address the current situation of many Roma in Europe with the large-scale campaign “Decade to Counter Antigypsyism” which started in 2022 targeting the general public, to raise awareness for antigypsyism and contribute to changing attitudes towards Roma in the majority society.

For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
m.horvathova@ergonetwork.org

anka.psenka@gmail.com

Apply now

Please note that by submitting this application, you agree to the Code of Conduct and our detailed safeguarding policy.

By registering for this event, you agree that your photographs might be taken and published by ERGO Network or ternYpe International Roma Youth Network in our online and print publications and social media for the purpose of sharing updates from the event.

Empowering Youth Against Antigypsyism: Insights from the Budapest Summer Academy

In Budapest, Hungary, the “Youth Ambassadors of the Decade against Antigypsyism” Summer Academy took place, uniting youngsters to address the challenges posed by antigypsyism. Organised by ERGO Network, the Council of Europe, and ternYpe – International Roma Youth Network, this event aimed to empower the youth as advocates for change. Through various sessions and activities, participants tackled the complexities of antigypsyism, strengthening their resolve to combat structural racism and promote Roma inclusion.

Inauguration and mission

The event began with an opening session led by Marcos Andrade, Deputy Director of the European Youth Centre Budapest. Andrade highlighted the significance of recent Roma Youth Participation Recommendations by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. These recommendations emphasised the importance of Roma Youth’s inclusion in all societal spheres and decision-making processes while addressing structural racism – issues that formed the core mission of the academy and unified the participants in their commitment.

Deepening understanding

The academy delved into the depths of antigypsyism, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Expert sessions, including activism led by Gwendolyn Albert and personal testimonies like Elena Gorolova’s account of forced sterilization, shed light on the challenges faced by the Roma community.

Furthermore, sessions led by Jamen Gabriela Hrabanova, Director of ERGO Network, and Ida Kreutzman from the Council of Europe introduced advocacy work and relevant resources. This knowledge empowered participants, equipping them with tools for meaningful change.

Taking action and commitment to change

The final part of the academy by devising actionable projects to raise awareness about the Roma community and each participant had a chance to present their idea. Among many great initiatives, some participants envisioned podcasts to share stories and experiences and a city guide tour utilising QR codes, featuring topics related to Roma history and contemporary life. This creative approach promises to engage and educate a broad audience through social media, which is a common means for young people not only to express themselves but also to share their knowledge with others.

A significant takeaway from the academy is the unwavering commitment of the participants. They pledged to serve as Youth Ambassadors, using their resources to raise awareness about Roma issues, culture, history, and their enduring presence.

The “Youth Ambassadors of the Decade against Antigypsyism” Summer Academy in Budapest was not just a gathering of young minds; it has the potential to be a catalyst for change. Armed with knowledge and inspiration, these Youth Ambassadors are prepared to challenge antigypsyism and advocate for a more inclusive society. Their commitment promises a far-reaching impact, as they return to their communities, fostering understanding, empathy, and change in their wake. The fight against antigypsyism has found a passionate and determined new generation of advocates.

Call for Participants: ERGO Summer Academy

Call for Participants: ERGO Summer Academy:

ROMA YOUTH KICKING OFF THE DECADE TO COUNTER ANTIGYPSYISM

24 – 28 August 2022, Bratislava

Project background:

The project “Roma youth kicking off the decade to counter antigypsyism” will empower young Roma from 8 Central and South-Eastern European countries to campaign against antigypsyism – the racism directed against people perceived as “Gypsies” – through their involvement in a new large-scale campaign “Decade to counter antigypsyism”, coordinated by ERGO Network from the EU to the local level. The project will include a “Summer Academy” for young Roma as well as the kick-off of the campaign through a participatory planning process, a high-level event in Brussels and online campaign activities.

The European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network with its member organisations in Central Europe and the Western Balkans want to address this situation by developing a large-scale campaign called “Decade to counter antigypsyism” targeting the general public, which will raise awareness of antigypsyism and contribute to changing attitudes towards Roma in the majority society.

The campaign will provide relevant, truthful and awareness-raising information about Roma through a variety of means, ranging from social media to in-person campaign events, educational activities and working with traditional media. The campaign will have the same time frame as the new EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation up to 2030. Young Roma play a crucial role in combatting antigypsyism – they constitute the biggest age group among Roma, are the most creative, educated and with the widest outreach through the use of social media.

Many young Roma are already active in grassroots civil society organisations to support their communities. They will therefore play a crucial role in the decade to counter antigypsyism by shaping the campaign and reaching out to their non-Roma peers.

To support them in doing so, the project partners will empower young Roma as change-makers through capacity-building activities, starting with a first Summer Academy on combating antigypsyism in 2022. During the academy, the young people will learn about the concept of antigypsyism, share experiences and develop ideas for local activities within the framework of the campaign.

Summer Academy:

The Summer Academy will bring together 20 young participants and 5 trainers from all partner organizations for four days in Slovakia.

During the Academy, the participants will learn more and share experiences about the concept and different manifestations of antigypsyism and discuss ways of combatting this specific form of racism. This will include sessions on counter-speech, advocacy and campaigning as practical tools.

They will also develop ideas for local campaigns that will raise awareness of antigypsyism among their non-Roma peers.

Organizer: ERGO Network in partnership with ERGO members, and Romedia Foundation

Profile of participants:

We aim to invite a diverse group of Roma and non-Roma participants from a variety of organizations that are active in their respective (youth) organizations with experience and commitment to combat antigypsyism. We aim to have a wide international outreach and diversity, as well as multiple experiences of activists (grassroots, European, non-formal education, youth participation, advocacy, from general anti-racist and minority organizations). We aim to have a gender-balanced group.

Participants must:

be able and committed to acting as multipliers in youth work and activism on the theme of combating antigypsyism and other forms of racism.
Have some experience in nonformal education and knowledge of antigypsyism or other forms of racism.
be motivated to develop their competencies in human rights education and to share their experiences with other participants.
be motivated to contribute to developing their local campaign during the event.
Come with an open-minded and sensitive attitude towards discussing antigypsyism and share related experiences.
be aged 18 – 30.
be committed to attending for the full duration of the event.
be able to work in English.
be resident in a member state of the European Union.

We welcome applications from all candidates who fulfil the specific profile of activities, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial-ethnic or social origin, religious belief or sexual orientation.

Costs

The following costs will be reimbursed:

Travel from and to your place of residence
Accommodation and meals

If you are interested to participate, please apply by filling out the application form (https://forms.gle/CAhnCENXtiXsXovB6) until the 15^th of July, 23:59 h!

Questions? Contact Mustafa Jakupov at ERGO Network: m.jakupov@ergonetwork.org

This project is kindly supported by the International Visegrad Fund and European Union.