Balkan Youth Forum 2018, Bulgaria

Published by Ivona

Deadline: 15 April 2018
Open to: permanent residents of a Balkan country between 16 and 18 years old
Venue: 14 – 21 July 2018, Bulgaria

Description

The Balkan Youth Forum is a non-formal learning program for youth from diverse types of Balkan states, designed by a very young team of alumni of the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship program, aged 18 to 21 and funded by the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund. It brings together 2 participants, aged 16 to 18, from each Balkan country for an intensive week of lectures, debates, workshops, simulations and meetings with representatives of the European Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant institutions and organizations. BYF combines peer-to-peer learning, edutainment and volunteering. The purpose of these activities is helping participants form a more profound understanding of the past and present of the Balkans, to shape a personal opinion on the importance of cooperation and to inspire them to take action. At the end of the program, the participants will present their own projects for sustainable cooperation between their communities, which they will later implement in their own countries with the help of their BYF mentors.

Balkan Youth Forum is an intense eight day summer school full of exciting lectures, debates, simulations, different workshops, discussions and more! It is never boring at the BYF, because there is always something to do, wonderful places to see and interesting people to meet, the fun never ends!

LECTURES and DISCUSSION CLASSES

With a main focus on the history and current relations between the Balkan states, participants will learn more about their neighboring countries and gain a more in-depth understanding of the current geopolitical situation in the region.

DEBATE and SIMULATION

Participants will take part in carefully designed simulations that teach them about the governments and political leadership in the Balkan countries. Through debates and simulations where they will take on the roles of leaders and decision makers, the students will develop their critical thinking, negotiation and problem-solving skills while emulating different political situations and designing optimal solutions.

WORKSHOPS

At the end of the program, students will be asked to present their own project proposals for strengthening cooperation between their countries. For the duration of the program, the participants will get a chance to participate in selected workshops that would give them the necessary skills to help them develop and implement their project proposals. Each of the workshops is designed to inspire new ideas, to discover and foster the strengths of the participants and to teach them how to achieve their goals and make a difference.

LOCAL ENGAGEMENT

Participants will get the chance to engage and interact with the country they are staying in, as well as meet professionals working on governmental international relations and in international organizations and commissions, learn about different positions, perspectives, opportunities and challenges that the Balkan region is facing today.

Eligibility

Participants must be:
  • between 16 and 18 years old at the start of the program;
  • permanent resident of a Balkan country;
  • available to travel on the indicated dates.

Benefits

Fully funded.

How to Apply?

In order to apply fill the application form.

For more information please visit the official website.