The Hague, 21-28 March 2014

The project tried to answer the question: what makes the participating youngsters Europeans, and what keeps them connected to their national identities? By attending the exchange, youngsters had the opportunity to recognise their own cultural particularities and to integrate them in a wider, diverse European context. They did that in a concrete and creative manner, by making collages representing a European Cultural Square, as the final goal of the project. The Cultural Squares were represented during a creativity session at the end of the programme and were based on the experiences and exchanges of information acquired during the daily activities as well as during the preparatory phase of the project.

Youngsters of various backgrounds came together to discuss European topics, to exchage cultural habits and to learn more about being citizens of Europe. They joined in different intercultural and recreational activities dealing with contemporary issues in today’s Europe.

By creatively representing their own ways of perceiving the European identity, youngsters were able to better understand each other's cultures. They became aware of the differences between their countries, at the same time developing a sense of European Citizenship – since they are all citizens of Europe.

Talking about cultural differences and similarities between their countries, participants experienced basic aspects of the cultural diversity in Europe. The exchange also aimed at giving insight on the various traditions and cultures, on the practical aspects of youth participation and youth understanding in a wide and diverse European context.

The programme took place in The Hague and it was attended by 35 people from Romania, Bulgaria, Iceland and The Netherlands. The project was financed by Youth in Action.

Discriminating Roma - A European Habit?

The Hague, 7-14 June

The international training took place in The Hague, between 7 and 14 June 2014. The programme was implemented with support from Youth in Action and its main aim was to train participants working with Roma youngsters on dealing with various forms of discrimination in the minority-majority relations, in youth work. The training gave participants the opportunity to exchange experiences about their working practices, to raise awareness on racial aspects that have different shapes in their work, to explore the basic concepts related to racism and discrimination, to analyze the effects of intolerance towards Roma from a European perspective and to promote equal opportunities and European Citizenship.

The Hague, 24-31 May 2013

Youngsters of various backgrounds came together to discuss European topics, to exchage cultural habits and to learn more about being citizens of Europe. They joined in different intercultural and recreational activities dealing with contemporary issues in today’s Europe. They did all that with a final goal in mind: to create a European Cultural Triangle, based on the experiences and exchanges of information acquired during the daily activities as well as during the preparatory phase of the programme. By (creatively) representing their own ways of perceiving the European identity, youngsters were able to better understand each other's cultures. They became aware of the differences between their countries, at the same time developing a sense of European Citizenship – since they are all citizens of Europe.

Focusing on the cultural differences and similarities between the three countries involved - Romania, Bulgaria and The Netherlands-, participants experienced basic aspects of the cultural diversity in Europe. They exchanged opinions and cultural habits, getting to know each other's cultures better.

Through practical and non-formal activities, the programme explored what connects the youngsters to Europe. It also helped participants better understand the limits of their national identities and their disillusions and frustrations with the common European space.

Having to represent their own perceptions on European cultural diversity in a creative manner, the youngsters developed skills to better understand their European identity and learnt to respect other cultures.

Beyond the particularities and limits of their own cultures, youngsters could better understand that they are also European citizens, which shed light on the European Citizenship as a main priority of the Youth in Action programme.

By coming in direct contact with other European cultures, the programme provided opportunities for participants to discover and better understand them, to compare them and put all the findings together in the Cultural Triangle. This way, the youngsters became more aware of the European cultural identity as well as the cultural diversity in Europe, as another priority of the Youth in Action.

International Youth Conference

Between 20 and 27 September Foundation Netherlands-Romania hosted an International Youth Conference in The Hague, under the title: "Last arrived, first discriminated? . The project aimed at avoiding discrimination and supporting a better social inclusion of young intra-European migrants into the big European cities. More than 30 young people from various European countries came together and exchanged opinions with each other, debated about various European topics with different personalities and experts. They met, among others, with Mr Wim van Eekelen (former Secretary General of Western European Union, former Dutch minister and Senator), Mr Henk Kool (vice-mayor of The Hague), Mr Eduard Slootweg (Head of the European Parliament Information Office in The Hague), Mrs Ireny Comaroschi (the Ambassador of Romania in The Netherlands).

The participating students, youth-workers, policy-makers, experts and politicians had the opportunity to exchange experiences, ideas and good practicies, to raise awareness on discrimination and exclusion of young migrants, to explore basic concepts related to European integration, discrimination, marginalisation, inclusion or European Citizenship, to share prejudices about each other or to better understand the cultural differences and traditions in Europe.

They presented their ideas and questions to the vice-mayor of The Hague, Mr. Henk Kool, during a meeting at the Municipality.

As the direct result of the debates and experience exchanges taking place during the conference, we will print a booklet including the conclusions and lessons of the meeting.

The programme was developed in line with the priorities of the Structural Dialogue - European co-operation in the field of youth supported by Youth in Action, Netherlands Youth Institute (Nederlands Jeugd Instituut) and promoting the discussions around the theme of social inclusion, which represents the main priority of European cooperation in the field of youth between January 2013 and June 2014. The meeting also stimultated active youth participation in democratic life in Europe, promoting equal opportunities and rights coming with the European Citizenship, in an intercultural environment.

At the same time, the project raised awareness on cultural diversity in Europe, developing skills and knowledge to better tackle national prejudices and thinking patterns in the process of European integration.