YOUTH EXCHANGE “DIALOGUE OF CULTURES”
Youth Exchange
“Dialogue of Cultures”
Information Package
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23 July - 6 August 2014 Aghveran, Armenia
Youth Exchange “Dialogue of Cultures” Information Package
The project is funded within “Youth in Action” Programme of the European Union which is already under ERASMUS+ Programme since 2014
The methodological framework used will be based on the approaches and values of non-formal education. The course is participants-based and entirely participant-oriented, experiences and contributions from participants constitute and inherent part of the Activity. The objectives of this project are: -to raise the participating young people's intercultural sensitivity, sense of tolerance and understanding of diversity though intercultural exchange of cultural forms of expression (dances, music, national games, myths, cuisine, etc) prepared and presented by participants themselves,
Applicant Organisation
Narviksenteret Contacts: +47 91547078 sta@narviksenteret.no www.narviksenteret.no elena0290@mail.ru
Host Organisation
Youth Exchange
The project “Dialogue of Cultures” is designed as a youth exchange of 13 working days (excluding travel days) in Armenia where youth of different nationalities and different ethnic groups will be gathered under a common roof for an actual intercultural dialogue through presentations of national arts, music, film, dance, folklore, traditional and ritual games, mythology and national cuisine.
“Dialogue of Cultures”
The Project
-to explore the themes Intercultural Learning and Culture of Peace through theoretical presentations and various exercises with non-formal learning participatory approaches and encourage participating young people to further investigate this themes and become multipliers in their local communities -to develop new youth projects under the New Youth programme of EC (ERASMUS+) as a follow-up and multiplication of this youth exchange involving also the participating young people in this process.
International Center for Intercultural Research, Learning and Dialogue Contacts: +374 10 585092 info@icirld.net www.interculturaldialogue.net
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Venue The project will take place in a rest house near Aghveran which is located in Kotayk region, Republic of Armenia and has 2000 inhabitants. The distance from Yerevan, the capital of the Republic is 60km. The nature is very nice in the surroundings of the Hotel, there are a lot of forests. The average temperature in summer is 25-35°C. Cool breezes blow from the mountains in the evening during this time. Make sure you take lights clothing for the work in the building as well as something warm to wear for the evening. There is an appropriate central heating system in the hotel.
“Dialogue of Cultures”
You will be sharing a double room with another person of the same sex, each room has one bathroom. There are towels and bed linen in the hotel. Internet is available in/around the training hall. We will be staying in the following hotel: http://parkresort.am/about-us/?lang=en
Youth Exchange
The rest house is fully equipped to host international projects with appropriate equipment and working spaces and leisure time activities.
Travelling to the venue
Note: The hosting organizations and their members can support you in arranging accommodation of those participants who arrive earlier to Armenia or decide to stay longer. Let us know if you need support in finding accommodation in those days.
Take a flight to Yerevan to Zvartnots International Airport from all the countries except Georgia; from Georgia you can either take a train or a minibus. It is also possible to arrive to Tbilisi International airport and travel to Yerevan from there. For those coming by plane the best flight connections to Yerevan are flights via Prague (Czech Airlines) and Vienna (Austrian Airlines). It might be also convenient for you to check out the flights via Moscow (Aeroflot), Poland (LOT) and Ukraine (UIA). All the participants will be picked up from the Airport, Train or Bus Station as well as we will arrange you with transportation to the Airport, Train or Bus Station after the project. You will receive more detailed information regarding picking you up and transporting to the project venue once we get your travel information.
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Please look at the Airport, Train/Bus Station for the volunteer with a paper with the name of our project. In emergency cases contact our project coordinators.
VISA Arrangement None of the citizens of the participating countries need visa to enter Armenia. From January 2013 EU citizens do not need visa to enter Armenia. Lucky you! You just go to the passport checking point and receive your luggage. Please, take your PASSPORTS with you. You have to have a valid passport to enter Armenia. In case of participants having other citizenships than the participating countries, please contact the organizers for concrete information.
Armenia is situated in a unique geo-political region, which from the point of religion and particularly culture can be characterized as a crossroad of Eastern and Western civilizations. In ancient times this aspect turned it into an arena of major trade, political, and cultural interests, and as a consequence of the exchange and intermingling of cultural practices the culture of Armenia and that of the neighboring countries enormously enriched. Today, Armenian arts and culture successfully combine elements and symbols of both East and West, making it unique phenomena and testament to the practicability of cultural dialogue as opposed to clash and conflict of cultures and civilizations. This tendency has to be continued in the current era of globalization as well, using the existing opportunities and challenges in terms of increased international interaction at human, technical, informational and cultural levels.
Youth Exchange
National currency in Armenia is DRAM (AMD) and its value in euro is about 540-560 drams for 1 euro but it would be good for you to check the exact rate before you depart on the website of Central Bank of Armenia (just to have a better idea). Payments everywhere in Armenia (except Airport) are accepted only in national currency. The best currencies for exchanging in Armenia are EUR, USD, RUB, GEL.
“Dialogue of Cultures�
About Armenia and Currency
Owing to the historical background and present realities, Armenia provides an ideal ground for the initiatives that promote intercultural dialogue and learning, especially among youth. If you want to know more about our country here are some web pages: http://www.armeniainfo.am and http://www.lonelyplanet.com/armenia
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Profile of Participants 72 participants from 12 countries (6 from each country: 5 young people + 1 leader) will be participating. The participants have to be between 18-25 years old. For the group leaders, there is no age limitation (18+). The profile of the participant is:
Youth Exchange
“Dialogue of Cultures”
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Young people who are interested in intercultural learning/dialogue topics speaking basic English, additional knowledge of Russian is a plus both active young people - youth leaders, representing NGOs dealing with the topic of intercultural dialogue and young people from deprived urban and rural areas and/or with economic difficulties interested in setting further co-operation with their friends from other European countries the teams should be more or less gender balanced
The requirement for the participants is also to be aware of the cultural heritage and practices of the ethnic/national group they represent and preferably be a native carrier of that culture. It would be a plus if participants are familiar with music, dancing in national fields etc., they are creative and open minded persons.
The working languages The Working languages of the exchange are English and Russian. The main course will be run in English but with Russian translation provided for participants with no English (who speak Russian). There will be also parallel sessions in English-Russian.
The working methods The program includes: - Icebreakers, i.e. interactive games facilitating introduction of the participants to each other and their joint activities; - Team Building Exercises, i.e. games that help develop team spirit and team work skills in achieving a particular task, for example building a paper bridge; - Introduction to Intercultural Learning theory, models and concepts through oral and visual presentations by the organizers, i. e. Power Point, slides, and scientific publications. The presentations are followed by Question and Answer and Short Discussion sessions; - Group presentations by participants of their native countries and cultures basing upon the history, geography demography, nature, architecture, sculpture, religion, rituals, music, dance and other aspects. The presentations are based on the audio-
The format of the Youth Exchange includes both learning and creative elements.
“Dialogue of Cultures”
video, photo, poster and other visual and audio materials brought by the participants. The participants should perform national dances and songs themselves; -Presentation and learning of national games; - Competition on the best knowledge of World Architecture, Music. The winners get appreciation certificates; - Excursion to historical places in Armenia. The participants learn about the historical and cultural heritage of Armenia; - National Cuisine Day. Participants break down into mixed groups with 4 people in each, where 2 are external assistants to the core national group. Each group makes national dishes. In this way the participants learn from each other. The groups present their separate tables with the dishes they cooked; - Contemporary, national dances – dances and games on the basis of the musical materials brought by the participants. - Screening of documentary and other movies brought by the participants; - Project wrapping up, evaluation and follow up, i.e. the participants evaluate the project, their own experiences received as a result and forward their remarks and suggestions for more effective implementation of the next Festival relevant projects.
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Organisation Narviksenteret
ADVIT Europa fara frontiere NON-FORMAL LEARNING CLUB “WE” Lastochki/Icye Russia Academy for Peace and Development CENTRE DES SUREAUX Associação Mais Cidadania Akzija spokuty sarady myru Belarusian Association of Assistance to children and Young People with Disabilities 10 Youth Development and Integration Association STRIM 11 Youth Association Oportunidad Europa 12 International Center for Intercultural Research, Learning and Dialogue
Country Norway Moldova Lithuania Russia Georgia France Portugal Ukraine Belarus
Youth Exchange
Partner Organisations
Poland Spain Armenia 5
Finances and Travel Tickets The full board and lodging is covered by the project 100% during the activity dates. If some participants stay longer or arrive earlier, they have to cover their accommodation and food by themselves. Each organsiation will receive 100 EUR as preparation and sending costs designed for purchasing any kind of goods needed for the national teams to present their countries (buying books, national flag, special food for cuisine day, etc.).
Youth Exchange
“Dialogue of Cultures�
The organizers will reimburse 70% of your actual travel costs from your home to Aghveran, Armenia and back. Reimbursement of travel costs will only be done upon full attendance in the project programme and presentation of the original tickets with boarding passes and receipt/invoices. Note: Minibuses from Yerevan Airport to Aghveran and back will be arranged by the organizers which will costs 20 EUR per person. 30% of the 20 EUR will be deducted from the reimbursement. Please send us your flight details before buying the ticket! You can buy your ticket only after receiving official confirmation from us. It is also possible that in some cases the organizers buy the flight tickets and participants will transfer us the 30% of the costs. It is even possible that the organizers transfer the 70% of the flight costs in advance to the partner organsiations for purchasing the tickets. We are flexible on this matter in exceptional cases. Let us know in case you cannot find suitable flights. Reimbursement will be done in EURO via bank transfer regardless of the currency indicated on your ticket and receipt/invoice which will be calculated according to the exchange rates from official European Commission website for the month of ticket purchase. In some exceptional cases, reimbursement can be done in cash. Here is the exchange website: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/inforeuro/index.cfm?Language=en Taxis are not subject for reimbursement! Only cheapest means of transportation must be used (2nd class of plane/train ticket, public transportation, etc.). Please make the copies of your tickets and invoices before you come to the project!
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Special Needs and Insurance In case of having special needs, whatever kind they are of, please feel free to communicate these needs to us (allergies, disability, vegetarian, etc.). Health insurance is not provided by the organizers. All participants are required to purchase health insurance individually.
Please send the enclosed Questionnaire made by the organizers in order to provide quality learning process based on the profile and needs of the participants. Send it to dialogue.cultures2014@gmail.com by the 1st of April 2014. !!! Please note that in case of not receiving the Questionnaire of your participants by the deadline the organizers will consider changing the partner!!! Please, let us know in case you are having difficulties in finding participants!
“Dialogue of Cultures�
Registration
+374 93554216 (Anais), +374 99 401600 (Areg), +374 93 735691 (Artur), +374 98 980505 (Oliver), +374 98 980101 (Tatul), +374 55 848006 (Vardan) email address of the project: dialogue.cultures2014@gmail.com
Youth Exchange
Contact details for emergency cases in Armenia:
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