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Project Factsheet
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Dates
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07/30/2010-08/10/2010
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Target Group
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Students
and youth leaders, aged 18 to 30
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Participating Countries
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Germany, Poland, Lithuania, United Kingdom
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Locations
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Lambrecht and Berlin
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Sponsors
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Federal
Agency for Civic Education, EU Program “Youth in Action”
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Coordinating Team
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Martin
Kaiser (academy director), Anna Polus (Wroclaw,
Poland), Inga Balzekaite (Vilnius,
Lithuania), N. N. (Northern Ireland)
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Summary
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Only
twenty years ago, words like freedom, democracy and human rights seemed
unattainable for many people in Eastern Europe.
In the communist countries, political violence and oppression ruled. With
increasing resistance, people went out in the streets to protest.
Finally, their strenuous efforts and long struggles proved successful.
The communist governments were overturned and a long-awaited revolution
changed the world. What happened to the spirit of those years? In how far
can these historical events of the past inspire democratic engagement in
the present? How can intercultural dialogue make a difference in the
future of world politics? These and other central questions form the
cornerstones of the international seminar project.
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Project Details
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As
with all other international youth projects at PfalzAkademie,
the aim of “Make a Difference” is to open up new perspectives
for young leaders and to provide them with the means to realize their
personal vision of political involvement. As the title indicates, the
seminar serves as a platform for all those who want to make a difference
in the world. The project draws on a wide range of methods and tools to
make intercultural encounter a unique experience inside and outside the
seminar room. Students and youth leaders from Germany, Poland, Lithuania
and the United Kingdom come together to share their views and get
inspired by each other’s experiences. History thus becomes a field
of intercultural learning. An experienced team of seminar trainers
supports the participants in opening up the space to practice
intercultural friendship as the first step to making a difference in world
politics.
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Topics
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 The
recent history of European relations is marked by the breakdown of the
Communist system. It is a history of long-standing opposition,
active citizenship and non-violent protest. In Lithuania, activists formed
the Baltic Chain as an appealing symbol of resistance. In Poland,
people established Solidarnosc as a powerful
instrument of opposition. In Germany, GDR-citizens tore
down the Berlin Wall which had divided the nation for almost three
decades. In Northern
Ireland, activists made considerable
steps toward solving “the troubles,” as the conflict ist called. These and other events of contemporary
history form key elements in the seminar schedule. Participants exchange
their knowledge and views on these major issues and discuss their
significance for current political involvement. Further seminar topics
include:
- Stories Become History: a look at grandparents' biographies
- Taboo Topics: talking about issues which are often ignored and hard to
deal with
- History’s Messages
for the Future: visits to historical
sites and talks with eye witnesses
- Active Citizenship on the
Spot: getting to know integration
projects in Germany
- Conflict Resolution
Techniques: intercultural dialogue
as means to conflict solution
- Interference Required: ideas on democratic citizenship, talks with politicians and
activists
- How to Make a Difference:
development of future projects in the
field of active citizenship
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Methods
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 As with all
international youth trainings at PfalzAkademie,
the seminar is based on an experiential learning approach. Besides
exploring and exchanging factual knowledge on history and international
relations, the project largely rests on a mixed-method approach toward
intercultural dialogue. Presentations by acknowledged experts and
small-group discussions open up the ground for active engagement with the
seminar topics. Interactive activities, role plays and a variety of
creative tasks allow every participant to get involved. Furthermore,
outdoor excursions, visits to historical sites and talks with politicians
complement the seminar schedule and provide unique first-hand
impressions.
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Cooperations
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 The program is run in
cooperation with the seminar “The Time to Build New Bridges”
which takes place simultaneously at the PfalzAkademie
and in Berlin.
Due to joint activities and excursions, students get the chance to
closely work together with participants from the United States.
This offers a unique opportunity to include the transatlantic perspective
in the program and to discuss Europe’s
role in world politics from a more global point of view.
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Program
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>> Download program outline
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Partners
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www.silesius.org.pl
www.corrymeela.org
www.vu.lt/en
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