Contact seminar "Balkan co-operation and European integration" 
(in the frame of the project "Balkan Identity and Youth Information Policy", Action A.5)

and workshop 

“(In)visible faces”

Sofia & Plovdiv, 05.04.2001 – 08.04.2001

SCAS, 10 Narodno sabranie sq., Sofia 1000, Bulgaria,
phone/fax: +359 2 9870293, fax: + 359 2 9877477
 e-mail: course@scas.acad.bg, URL: www.scas.acad.bg

Contact seminar "Balkan co-operation and European integration"

As a part of the long-term project ("Balkan identity and youth information policy") this event will consider just a part of the phenomena called "Balkan identity" and will be an introduction to the next events called "Youth exchanges management and youth information" and establishment of “Balkan youth information network”.

The integration process in South–Eastern Europe and the European integration are closely related. The recent political, economical and cultural transformations in whole Eastern Europe and especially on the Balkans have changed the European map, have broken the old links, stereotypes and visions. The whole set of significant changes and inter-influences in the Balkan region aroused the problem of the identity. The European integration of the region posted a lot of questions related to the identity preservation. The networking process of the Balkans and the establishment of strong links between this region and the other European countries could be stimulated by using the potential of youth information and youth exchanges and involving the modern media. Youth information and youth exchanges are also important instruments for promoting tolerance, understanding and intercultural approach in South–Eastern countries.

All the problematic settings of situation described above and the significant problems in organizing youth exchanges and voluntary services on Balkans have strongly motivated us to seek for tools and measures to overcome those problems and to enhance the abilities of youth organizations from South-Eastern Europe to organize youth projects. 

Workshop “(In)visible faces”

The focus of the workshop "(In)visible faces" falls on the problems concerning the self-labeling and self-expression of the young people on the Balkans and in other part of Europe.
The phenomena "Balkan identity" has a lot of faces, some of them - hidden, some of them - visible: cultural identity, social identity, personal identity, national identity etc. The identity is a large-scale collective phenomenon and long-term historical process. 

How do young people choose identity when more than one possibility is available to them? During transition process in South – Eastern Europe in the last years young people are in doubt - they are very negative, very passive and the level of participation in the society decreased rapidly;

One of the fields of comparatively big interests of young people are modern media and communications. Through them everyone can express personal visions and ideas, can change his/her own identity and experiment with it. 

Also, nowadays technology strongly influences the human thinking, working and living and in that way influences the basics of human nature. The battle of the sexes, the traditional moral steering mechanism and the old stereotypes are strongly modified and we see the contours of the "Unisex culture". The slight borders between male and female hairstyles, male and female perfumes, male and female accessories, between male and female professions, male and female roles in business and family leads to melting into universal "uni"-culture…

The contact seminar "Balkan co-operation and European integration” and the workshop “(In)visible faces” will take place in Sofia & Plovdiv from 05.04.2001 to 08.04.2001. It will give young people and artists, students and experts the possibility to share their cultural and work experience in the form of lectures, games and workshops and to exchange ideas about the topics above. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and the biggest city, near the very beautiful mountain Vitosha. Plovdiv is the older (former) capital of Bulgaria, old and very attractive city on the river Maritza.

Almost all of the expenses will be covered by the hosting organization SCAS (for details see the “costs” section bellow) and this is a great opportunity to meet and exchange information.

The main training and information exchange methods will be: Lectures, discussions, workshops, interactive exhibition , confrontation games, simulations.

Target group: 

1/ Young people (up to 25 years) working in youth organizations or youth information centers and using new media and communications in their work; 

2/ Young people form youth organizations organizing youth exchanges and/or EVS events and working on international level;

3/ Experts working in the field of influence of new media in the society, virtual identity in new media and communications;

4/ Disadvantaged young people who would like to use modern media & information technologies in their work and for preserving their identity;

5/ Young people from youth organizations willing to organize common activities with partners from South - Eastern Europe;

Deadline for receiving the application forms: 05.03.2001

Working languages: English and Bulgarian.

Dates and place: Sofia & Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 05-08. 2001
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and the biggest city, near the very beautiful mountain Vitosha. Plovdiv is the older (former) capital of Bulgaria, old and very attractive city on the river Maritza. 

Hosting organization and supporters:

Hosting organization is the National association- Student Computer Art Society /SCAS/, Bulgaria. The workshop "(In)visible faces" is organized with the support of European Cultural Foundation and the contact seminar "Balkan co-operation and European integration" (in the frame of the project "Balkan Identity and Youth Information Policy") is supported by Youth programme of the EU (Action 5.1). Both the events are also supported by SCAS. The seminar "Balkan co-operation and European integration" and "(In)visible faces" are developed in partnership with a lot of organizations and institutions (more information about the program and organizers will be sent to the selected participants).

Costs and reimbursements: 

-	board and lodging are provided by the hosting organization and are covered by the project budget;
-	80% of the travel expenses will be reimbursed on the basis of the most economic transport fairs (APEX, student fare etc.); Also there are limitations for the travel reimbursements, depending on the country and the distance, presented in the Table 1 (it will be sent to the selected participants). In principle, the biggest compensation for the travel costs will be up to 350 EUR (but 80% of the costs).  
-	Participation fee is 60 EUR for Western European Countries and 30 EUR for Eastern European countries (former socialist countries); The fee will be deducted from the travel reimbursement;

Application and selection of participants:

-	Please, send filled application form (by fax, post or e-mail) to the address of SCAS; All the applications must be received before the deadline;
-	Participants will be selected by the Organizing Committee of the event on the base of: 1/Different geographical areas and organizations; 2/ Experience, expectations and training needs; 3/According to the above described profile of participants and the rules of “Youth Programme”; 4/According to the project partners proposals.

The accepted candidates will receive more detailed information and confirmation of their participation till 10.03.2001.

The DEADLINE for receiving the applications (by fax, post or E-mail): 05.03.2001

Address:
SCAS, 10 Narodno sabranie sq., Sofia 1000, Bulgaria,
phone/fax: +359 2 9870293, fax: + 359 2 9877477
e-mail: course@scas.acad.bg, URL: www.scas.acad.bg