Preamble
The European Solidarity Corps is the new European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe. According to its MISSION, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) “brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal challenges. It offers an inspiring and empowering experience for young people who want to help, learn, develop“.
DISCOVER more about the mission & principles of ESC, HERE.
At the same time, we celebrate International Youth Day and the headline of this year is “Transforming education”, which highlights efforts to make education more relevant, equitable and inclusive for all youth, including efforts by youth themselves. Rooted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” – International Youth Day 2019 will examine how Governments, young people and youth-led and youth-focused organizations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming education and how these efforts are contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 
DISCOVER more about the targets & indicators of Goal 4, HERE.
DISCOVER more about Education 2030 – Incheon Declaration, HERE.
Both the UN and the EU focus on SOLIDARITY. The concept of “solidarity” has defined the work of the United Nations since the birth of the Organization. The creation of the United Nations drew the peoples and nations of the world together to promote peace, human rights and social and economic development. The organization was founded on a basic premise of unity and harmony among its members expressed in the concept of collective security that relies on the solidarity of its members to unite “to maintain international peace and security”. When it comes to the EU, we may find “solidarity” among its Goals – “enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and solidarity among EU countries”.
About the project
The Youth Centres UP International Conference is an integrated part of the European Solidarity Corps – funded project, “Youth Centres UP”, which is the largest ESC project, by the number of volunteers involved and aims to create new safe spaces for young people to express themselves and to learn. Also, in the context in which Timisoara will be the European Capital of Culture in 2021, we need spaces where young people can express and develop freely.
The youth centers will be safe spaces created for young people, no matter their identity, preferences, gender, religion or other characteristics. The project aims to create the basis for these spaces, in order for them to become spaces for communication between the young people and the community, where they can come and develop together.
With energy, enthusiasm, will to change and to be involved, more than 90 international volunteers arrived in Timisoara to create together for the Timisoara community these new safe spaces dedicated to young people for their free expression and development.
Over a period of 40 days, the young change-makers have been engaged in solidarity activities through volunteering alongside the Timisoara community to jointly develop and transform 5 old industrial buildings into urban youth centers.
DISCOVER more about their adventure, HERE.
About the conference
Having in mind all the above mentioned, we decided to bring into your attention not only the concept of “solidarity” but taking into consideration that the result of the project will be 5 new youth centres, “transforming education” will be in the spotlight, as well. Therefore, our objectives are:
- promoting models of good practice gathered from ESC projects implemented in Romania
- disseminating “Youth Centres UP” project results with the wide public and the conference guests
- promoting community change through the activities initiated by young people.
The main purpose of the conference is to share and develop with you how to improve ESC in order to transform education through youth centres.
This conference promotes gender balance, which we have secured considering the total number of the interventions, referring to both categories together – the speakers and facilitators, and the whole conference is moderated by our colleague Bianca PRISACARA.
At the same time, we guarantee access to people with disabilities (our main activities and two of the workshops take place at the ground floor and the garden is accessible, as well).
The food is carefully chosen – we wanted to taste flavors from one country where we do not have participants from. Reason for which, we chose Vietnamese food. Regarding the coffee break – we have the habit of promoting fairtrade products, and the coffee, tea, and snacks are all from this category.
Even though we are using a lot of paper and plastic materials during this conference, at least we wanted the welcome pack for the participants to be easy to carry, access, full of info and spear the paper, therefore, all the necessary information are on a simple access card. Therefore, if the agenda will suffer changes during the conference, the participants will be able to be informed at any time, with accurate information.
Agenda
09:30 – 10:00
Coffee & Registration (main hall, ground floor)
Each participant will receive an access card with a QR code that will direct to this page. There are 6 types of cards, according to the parallel workshops (14:00 – 15:30). At the same time, due to the fact that the conference takes place in the English language, those who need the translation, will receive headphones for the Romanian language.
The access cards look as follows:
10:00 – 11:00
Opening speeches – Plenary session (conference room, ground floor)
- Mihai-Adrian VILCEA, Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT)
- Andrei LUCACI, Timis County Council
- Emanuel FRANGA, Romanian Agency For Community Programs in the Field of Education and Vocational Training
- Vlad CHERECHES, West University of Timisoara
- Yolanda FLORESCU, European Network of Youth Centres
- Milos STANKOVIC, Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions
11:00 – 12:45
Good practice examples – Plenary session (conference room, ground floor)
Presentations from organizations that are implementing ESC projects in Romania:
- Association for Promoting Creative & Eco Education and Innovative Abilities CREATIVE+ (CONSTANTA)
- The Youth Offensive Association (ARAD)
- Communities for Youth Association (CRAIOVA)
- Timis County Youth Foundation (TIMISOARA)
12:45 – 14:00
Vietnamese Lunch (garden)
14:00 – 15:30
Parallel workshops
- To educate is to believe in change. Let every voice be heard, by West University of Timisoara (Room 213, second floor)
- Exploring diversity / A peer to peer approach in diversity education, by The Youth Offensive Association (Room 003-004, ground floor)
- Privilege and exclusion / A peer to peer approach on inclusive education, by The Youth Offensive Association (Room 004-006, ground floor)
- Action changes, by Communities for Youth Association (Room 218, second floor)
- SDG no.4 in youth centres, by European Network of Youth Centres (Room 209-210, second floor)
- How can ESC move rural youth forward, by Timis county Youth Foundation (Room 214, ground floor)
15:30 – 16:00
Fairtrade Coffee Break (main hall, ground floor)
16:00 – 18:00
Visiting the 5 youth centres – Plenary session (city tour)
We have organized a visit to the youth centres which have been the focus of our project.
19:00 – 20:00
SOLIDARITALKS – Plenary session (garden)
International Youth Day and how young people can shape our society.
- Our ESC volunteers in Youth Centres UP project
- Ioana BALTARETU & Antonia PUP (former and current presidents of Romanian High school Students Council)
20:00 – 20:15
Conclusions of the conference – Plenary session (garden)
The president of Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT) will read the common statement of the conference as a result of the key messages collected during the day.
20:15 – 20:30
Social evening – Celebration of International Youth Day. Cultural activity held in the complex Behind the House (În Spatele Casei):
- Fine arts exhibition – Daliana PAVEL; Cristian ANGHEL; Alina SFERLE; Tvetozar AVRAMOVICI; Teodora PAVEL; Vasile BURDILA
- Theatre play – “Welcome America”
- Music Concert – Lia BURG; Emil KINDLEIN; SONATIC.