Training course: Activists against Xenocide

Location: Krzyzowa, Poland

Dates: 28 August – 3 September 2016

Number of participants: 25

Participating countries: Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Poland, United Kingdom

Organizer: Kreisau-Initiative

Apply here: fill the application form and send it to Carolin Wenzel at wenzel@kreisau.de

Deadline to apply: 1 August 2016

Date of Selection: 2 August 2016

Inquiries about this training course: Carolin Wenzel: wenzel@kreisau.de

For general Inquiries and consultation: hello@abroadship.org

Costs: This project is financed by Erasmus+ programme. – Participation fee (covers accommodation, full board and all programme activities)
Participants from Denmark, Germany and Great Britain: 90 EUR / Estonia, Poland: 50 EUR / Greece: 30 EUR – Travel costs: For participants Denmark, Estonia, Great Britain and Greece can be reimbursed up to 275 EUR per person, for participants from Germany and Poland up to 180 EUR of the economy class travel costs.

Activists against Xenocide

“Activists against Xenocide” is an international training on migration to and within Europe today and in the past in non-formal youth education.

Professionals of non-formal education (18 years upwards) from Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and United Kingdom who are interested in the topic of migration and escape today and in the past and moreover want to learn methods (film and photography) on how to work on this topic with young people.

AaX consists of:
– 7 day training in Krzyżowa, Poland (28.08.-03.09.2016)
– Planning and carrying out microprojects with young people in their home towns
– a 7 day youth meeting in Krzyżowa, Poland (20.-26.03.2017)
The training is part of a two-step project. Participants of the training are invited to carry out small projects on migration with young people in their home cities over the winter. They will have the chance to return to Krzyżowa with up to four young people for the international youth meeting taking place from 20.-26.03.2017. It is not obligatory to take part in the international youth meeting, but applicants with tangible ideas for carrying out projects will be given special consideration.
Since the training is going to be held in English, a high level of English is required. Please apply individually by August 1st (please see application information below).

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT + METHODOLOGY

Participants are encouraged to take part in an intercultural training and discuss during workshops, seminars and film-photo trainings political and historical experiences as well as knowledge of migration. Individual stories of people are in the centre of attention. Through the training participants address questions such as how can we humanly deal with the refugee situation, what do refugees actually experience, including the situation of the participant’s home countries (solidarity and discrimination) and how they can actively act and advocate for people in need. Furthermore, professionals demonstrate media skills which lead to higher qualification and enable youth workers to work in this area with young people and prepare them for the upcoming youth exchange.
Based on the impact on Europe’s societies we will closely examine, the process of European integration and the way of dealing with today’s migration and refugee situation in Europe. Apart from dominating narratives about refugees and migration today and in the past, that exist in the general European public, participants deal with personal stories of people who have undergone that fate and share their individual experiences.
“Xenocide” is an invented, broader term to cover incidents like genocide and crimes against humanity. The term “activists” refers to people who saved others from suffering by resisting authorities committing xenocidal acts.

During a methodological workshop (film and photography) youth workers will be enabled to work on this topic with young people in their local communities. After the training, participants will use their expertise to carry out small projects with young people in their home towns. They deal with the current need for standing up against violation of human rights and become active. With the help of film and photography, participants analyse the situation of migrants in their local community.
Up to four young people from each country and their trainer (hence a former participant of the international training) will have the possibility to take part in an international youth meeting in Krzyżowa (20.-26.03.2017).

During the youth exchange, the collected material will be analysed, edited and prepared for a public presentation, to be held at the end of the meeting in the Capital of Culture 2016, Wrocław.

ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
* Lectures and discussion forums
* Excursion to the European Capital of Culture 2016, Wrocław
* (Media) workshops
* Microprojects

Organizers

The Kreisau-Initative’s aim was to sponsor ideally and materially the set-up and maintenance of an international youth community centre and memorial in what was German Kreisau until 1945 and subsequently Polish Krzyżowa. We are represented on the boards of the Polish Kreisau Foundation for European Understanding and cooperate closely on concepts for and the implementation of projects in and around Kreisau/ Krzyżowa.

As a non-governmental, non-profit organization we draw people’s attention to Kreisau in cooperation with our partners. Our office in Berlin guarantees continuous and professional cooperation with the Kreisau Foundation, e.g., financing and organizing common projects such as events in Kreisau and Berlin. Through our public relations and networking, and our consulting and fund-raising we promote civil society engagement for the special “European locality of Kreisau/ Krzyżowa”.

Click to access activistsagainstxenocide.pdf