Young Citizens Danube Network

http://www.youngdanubians.eu/about-ycdn/press/

http://steinbeis-europa.de/event.S3.html

Liebe Studierende,

ich möchte euch ermutigen, euch für das Projekt der Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung zu bewerben http://www.bpb.de/veranstaltungen/netzwerke/europa-gestalten/130293/stipendium-und-zeitplan-2012-2013.

Im letzten Jahr hat Sepsi Szablocs sich als YCDN-Gesandter mit dem Projekt „Menschenhandel im Donauraum“ bei dieser Aktion der Bundeszentrale beworben und wurde genommen. Nach einem mehrmonatigen Praktikum (alles bezahlt: Reisen, Weiterbildungen, Verpflegung aber auch Gehalt ca. 280Euro/Woche) hat er die YCDN-Kampagne „FreedomKeepers“ ins Leben gerufen, nimmt am Bundeswettbewerb für Politische Bildung teil und organisiert verschiedenste Ländergruppen zu diesem Thema.

Ihr könnte alle Informationen finden unter www.ycdn.eu oder www.freedomkeepers.eu

Wir möchten wieder jemanden über das YCDN teilnehmen lassen und bitten euch um eure Vorschläge: welche Ideen habt ihr für das YCDN? Für den Donauraum? Für die Zivilgesellschaft etc.? Schaut auf die Strategie des Netzwerkes und bringt eure Gedanken vor.

Bei Fragen könnt ihr euch gerne an mich (wulf@ycdn.eu) an Juliane Gierach (gierach@ycdn.eu) oder an Szablocs wenden (szablocs@ycdn.eu).

Es gibt viel zu tun im Donauraum, engagiert euch!

Bitte schickt uns eure Ideen und Projektvorschläge bis zum 04.05.2011. Wir werden diese dann durchlesen und uns dann mit euch zusammensetzen und schauen, welche Ideen die meisten Chancen zur Umsetzung haben.

Herzlich, euer YCDN-Team

„FreedomKeepers” campaign launched!

• www.freedomkeepers.eu
• facebook.com/FreedomKeepers

The first workshop of the FreedomKeepers team was held 7-8 March in Düsseldorf, Germany, hosted by Arbeit und Leben NRW. Ivan Matic and Szabolcs Sepsi were present as organizers on behalf of YCDN.

Besides giving the participants a chance to get to know each other and build a good team, the main goal of the workshop was establishing the clear targets, frames and limitations of the peer-to-peer online prevention campaign on human trafficking in the Danube Region.

Ivan Matic facilitated the sessions of the first day, focusing on identifying the problem and possible solutions. The participants identified the lack of information about modern-day slavery as the main challenge they will face. Misconceptions about trafficking, prejudices, stereotypes and taboos, shame and victim stigma, idealistic expectations of life in the “west” as well as lack of economic opportunities are all connected with these problems.

The goal of the campaign should, as a consequence, be to address the lack of information and lack of interest of 14-18 year olds towards modern-day slavery. It has also been emphasized that we focus exclusively on prevention, coordinate among the target countries and place an importance on the peer-to-peer method.

On the second day of the workshop, facilitated by Sophie Langmeier and Szabolcs Sepsi, the participants had the chance to learn about online campaigning. The name FreedomKeepers was chosen for the campaign because of its positive message and energy.

You can find more information on the campaign here:
http://freedomkeepers.eu/aboutthb/about-the-campaign/

Follow it on Facebook!
facebook.com/FreedomKeepers

Dear Danubians,

I’d like to inform you about a great scholarship programm for European students who would like to study in Berlin! Last year I participated in it, too – and I can only say that it was great! It is called “Studienkolleg zu Berlin”, and brings together European students to discuss and work on the future of Europe.

The Studienkolleg zu Berlin wants to strengthen the „European dimension“ in the thinking of young people on whose decisions the future shape of Europe is likely to depend. Thirty students from all over Europe can participate. The idea is to study “normally” at one of the universities in Berlin or Brandenburg, but you also attend lectures and seminars on topics related to European history, culture and politics. The core module of the college year is a project on current issues relating to European themes on which small teams of participants cooperate during the entire year (my team worked on the Danube Region). The Studienkolleg’s working language is German – meaning you need to speak enough German to talk about Europe… (but the Studienkolleg pays for language classes, too!)

The Studienkolleg pays a monthly scholarship of € 650 as well as up to € 1.000 for travel expenses if you have to move to Germany from abroad.

Formal criteria are:

• current academic student (of any discipline)
• completion of basic studies (in at the least third year of study in one discipline, no Ph.D. students)
• up to 28 years old
• “excellent” academic achievements (sounds terrible. But if you think, you are not a bad student, you should try, don`t let them scare you, chances are quite good)
• strong interest in European issues
• ability to work in a team and willingness to do intensive project work
• all candidates have to apply independently for a place at a university in Berlin or Brandenburg

Closing date for applications is 1 April 2012.

Please find the Flyer here: SKB 1213_Call for Applications

Please contact the YCDN for further information about the DRC-Summer School.

Please find our new publication about the YCDN here:

http://www.youngdanubians.eu/wp/wp-content/uploads/History_of_YCDN.pdf

“I wish I could make a television commercial telling everyone what happens to trafficking victims. I wish I could help poor people have a better life so they will not be treated this way.”
- Survivor of sexual slavery

Modern day slavery happens right at our doorstep. Literally, women and children are brutally exploited for sex; men are forced to work without pay and under inhuman conditions in virtually every European country, often in broad daylight, in city centres or a few hundred meters away from where we pass by every day. And symbolically, human trafficking became an alarmingly common human rights abuse, a quickly growing problem and a huge illicit business at the “doorstep” of the old European Union. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Central and eastern European countries became some of the largest supply and transit markets of the global slave trade. Geographically well connected with west European destination states, with opening borders, Continue reading →