THE EU AMBASSADORS ON THE BOARD OF EUROBUS!

On May 15, 2011 the participants of “Eurobus-4: European youth to Ukrainian communities” project and the ambassadors of the European Union took place in Bashtanka (Mykolayiv region). The participanbts of the round table discussed the possibilities if Eurointegration initiatives and youth movement development in Ukraine.

During the official Europe days celebration in Ukraine Bashtanka was visited by the ambassadors of four EU countries: Belgium, France, Latvia, and the Netherlands. Also, the delegates of OSCE and the EU delegation to Ukraine were present at the meeting.

During the round table was made a presentation of the “Eurobus-4” project. Afterwards, the participants discussed the problems which are actual for Ukrainian youth, such as volunteering opportunities, civil activity, and participation of Ukrainian youth in international projects with the EU and other countries. The participants of the Eurobus project spoke about their experience of realizing similar initiatives, and the crew members shared their impressions about working and communicating with local youth.

At the end of the round table the organizers and the participants of the Eurobus project got on the board of Eurobus and made a smal travel through the town together with the local youth and the volunteers to feel the air of the project. Zoltan Salayi, a representative of the EU delegation to Ukraine, noticed that the atmosphere in the bus is really friendly, and asked everyone to feel like at home.

The round table resulted in achieving an agreement on further cooperation between the ambassadors and the Eurobus volunteers. Among the rest of initiatives, a possibility of creating a constant EU delegation for youth in Ukraine was discussed. The participants of the round table agreed about the necessity of motivating the youth for active participation and awareness about the opportunities for civil activity and volunteering.

“We are happy to see such a great interest to the “Eurobus-4” project, and we are grateful for the willingness of European countries to participate in the intercultural dialogue and to develop the youth activity aimed at eurointegration in Ukraine. I am sure that one of the most important points in it is spreading the information about the EU nd the opportunities for youth activity and volunteering”, said Daryna Barsukova, the coordinator of the “Eurobus-4” project, to Mariya Iurikova, the deputy head of the EU delegation to Ukraine.

It is necessary to remind, that it is the forth time that 12 young citizens of the EU and Ukraine take part in a three-week “Eurobus” journey. During the journey the participants of the project take part in events aimed at breaking stereotypes about Ukraine and the EU. During the tour a series of training and seminar sessions are conducted, as well as the Europe days on 12 towns and villages of Ukraine are celebrated. Besides, the youth takes part in realizing local initiatives suggested by the local youth. The trip started on May 7 with the Shumann parade in Warsaw and will end on May 27 in Kyiv, after the project will have visited 12 towns and villages from 8 regions of Ukraine.

The “Eurobus-4: European youth to Ukrainian communities” project is implemented by the activists from the Kharkiv branch of youth NGO “Foundation of Regional Initiatives”, financed by the International Renaissance Foundation, and co-financed by the EU delegation to Ukraine. The aims of the project include activating the youth from rural locations in Ukraine to resolve the problems of their communities and raising the level of awareness of Ukrainian and the EU citizens abouth each other.

You can find more information about the project and its donors from the official webpages: www.eurobus.org.ua, www.irf.ua, www.delukr.ec.europa.eu

On May 10-11 the “Eurobus-4: European youth to Ukrainian communities” visited Chortkiv. The youth from 8 EU countries brought the Europe days celebration to Ukraine.

During the program in Chortkiv, which lasted for 2 days, youth organized educational, informational, and intercultural events.

Among the projects initiated by the youth there were improving the walking and resort area in the Rydoduby village (“Save the clean curbs”). Also the youth of Chortkiv initiated the renovation of a children’s park and installing an information stand, devoted to the “Eurobus-4” arrival.

On May, 10 a series of trainings by young EU citizens was conducted for the local youth. The trainings were aimed at activating local communities and considered the topics of civil society, volunteering, cross-cultural stereotypes and informing the Ukrainians about the EU and journalism.

Chortkiv was the first town, where Eurobus came, but the project events will continue in 12 towns and villages from 8 regions.

“I’m really impressed with how local youth wants to study journalism and to write articles of good quality. It’s my second time in Eurobus, and I’m really impressed of youth being ready to write good articles in English. We have made an awesome newspaper all together”, says Matteo Cazzulani, a trainer on journalism form Italy.

Within the dialogue with local authorities on the 11^th of May there was a round table on “International cooperation development for youth” conducted. The round table ended in achieving an agreement on cooperation between youth NGOs from Poland, Hungary and Ukraine.

Group 1

Volunteering as an opportunity for self-development and building a better world

Aim

• to help young people to see volunteering as a useful tool to develop their social competencies that are demanded in labor market
• to make them see that they can change the world by active participation and volunteering; their lives will be more interesting if they do what they like

Group 2

Breaking stereotypes

Aim

• to change attitudes
• to break some stereotypes about Ukraine and the EU

Group 3

European Voluntary Service (EVS)

Aim

• deliver information and knowledge about the European Voluntary Service
• providing the tools for search
• motivate the youngsters in order to take part in EVS
• deliver a clear image of EVS

Group 4

Searching for international projects on the web

Aim

• offer access to information/searching
• inform about selecting information and networking
• Internet as a tool for gathering people
• Looking for international projects on the web

Group 5

The EU and Eastern Partnership program

Aim

• offer a greater importance of Ukraine for Eastern Partnership foreign affairs/Ukraine – part of Europe
• mention the main topics of the Eastern Partnership
• presenting financial support for NGO’s (project)
• presenting the possible impact for ordinary people

Group 6

Be the change you want to see in the world

Aim

• let the young people understand that they are part of the society and that they can influence the society, motivate and empower problem solving

Group 7

Making a Eurobus newspaper!

Aim

• communicate with local communities and make them write about the problems in the village
• show the importance free access to information
• tell about the most important aspects of journalism

The project is running all around and as soon as we finished preparatory training for local youth we have proceeded to selecting the participants. The selection process was, as usually, not that easy – this year we had to select only 12 young people from 40 applications we received from 15 EU and even non-EU countries.

All applications were really interesting and we were happy to read great motivations, but the rules are always strict, so we selected only 12 participants for the project:

1. Andreea Sida Mocanu (Romania)
2. Blazej Zajac (Poland)
3. Denes Pal (Hungary)
4. Federico Pozzoni (Italy)
5. Jazeps Krukovskis (Latvia)
6. Kateryna Kravchuk (Ukraine)
7. Lucasz Cudny (Poland)
8. Martina Kuehner (Germany)
9. Matteo Cazzulani (Italy)
10. Nika Farnworth (UK)
11. Veronika Senkute (Lithuania)
12. Urban Jaksa (Slovenia)

We sincerely congratulate the participants and wait for them to join a big, interesting and really intensive project – “Eurobus-4: European youth to Ukrainian communities”.

Also we are grateful to the applicants, who weren’t selected for the project – we are waiting for your applications next year – you’ll have a privilege then And follow the Eurobus news on our web page.

Very soon the detailed info will be published on the project’s web page, so stay tuned!

Meet new logo of the project  “Eurobus-4: European Youth to Ukrainian Communities”.

So, after 1,5 days of considering the applications, arguing and discussing on them, Eurobus core team is happy to announce the list of towns and villages selected for the project:
1. Chortkiv (Ternopil region) Local coordinator – Olha Zadilska
2. Zvenyhorodka & Kozatske(Cherkasy region) Local coordinator – Liudmyla Strashna
3. Bashtanka (Mykolayiv region) Local coordinator – Tetiana Hvozd’
4. Dnipriany (Kherson region) Local coordinator – Oxana Boychuk
5. Armiansk (AR Crimea) Local coordinator – Illia Chyzhykov
6. Sofiyivka and Yuvileyne (Dnipropetrovsk region) Joint application. Local coordinators – Liudmyla Pustovoyt and Ivan Romanenko
7. Bilozerske and Sviatohorivka (Donetsk region) Local coordinators – Mariya Samars’ka and Viktor Biliankin
8. Krolevets’ (Sumy region) Local coordinator – Volodymyr Liubyvyi
Also we recomend to involve the following villages into preparing and participating in Eurobus events:
1. Pochetne(Krasnoperekopsk area, AR Crimea) Local coordinator – Alla Mekhonoshina. Involve into events in Armiansk.
2. Hannivka (Dobropillia area, Donetsk region) Local coordinator – Volodymyr Oros. Involve into events in Bilozerske and Sviatohorivka.

We are happy to inform you that the deadline for applying for a crew member is extended till March, 31.

The full call and application can be found below.

We wish you good luck, wait for your great applications and remind you that even March, 31 is really soon, so hurry up!

Regards, Eurobus core team.

What is the “Eurobus” project?

Eurobus is a three-week dynamic journey to rural Ukraine with an international crew of youngleaders from the EU member-states. The team will have meetings with youth from rurallocations in Ukraine, conduct informal discussions on issues of Ukraine’s European choice, andparticipate in common activities initiated by local youth.

What for:

• To break the stereotypes about Ukraine and the EU;
• To encourage the youth activity in rural Ukraine;
• To provide rural youth with information about opportunities for self-developmentboth in the EU and Ukraine;
• To discover the unknown Ukraine for the EU-participants;
• To develop the intercultural dialogue and to foster international cooperation through mentoring…

Terms and conditions:

The project will provide you both with accommodation (partly in host Ukrainian families,partly in hostels) and food. Also Eurobus will reimburse a part of your travel costs from thehome-place to Warsaw and back.The project will start on May, 5 in Warsaw with a preparatory training, continue with Schuman parade on May 7, 2010. The journey across Ukraine will last May 8-27.

Can I apply?

If you are:

• Highly motivated and would like to join the intercultural dialogue;
• Have youth work experience: leadership, facilitating, chairing or training in anyprojects;
• Want to share it with Ukrainian youth;
• Like challenging and inspiring journeys;
• Have spare time from May, 5 to May, 27 2011 to spend in Poland and Ukraine;
• Aged 18 – 35 years old;
• A citizen of the EU.

then we’ll be happy to show you the magnificent Ukraine and to get you acquainted to interesting Ukrainian youth.

Speaking Ukrainian or Russian is an advantage.

Why to apply?

You might have no other chance to see the pure Ukrainian culture in its non-globalized form –the pure Ukrainian identity can be found only in rural locations;

This journey will become for you a key to make friends from the whole Ukraine, as well asfrom the EU;You will get great experience of conducting training, taking part in round tables with localauthorities, communicating with rural youth – this all can serve you a good job in future;

You will have a chance to escape the routine and enter a completely new world for 3 weeks –we are sure, you’ll never forget this journey. More about the project on http://eurobus.org.ua/en/

What are my responsibilities in the project?

During the the project the participants will:

• Conduct trainings or make presentations on opportunities for self-development,youth work, civil activity and similar topics;
• Participate in common activities initiated by local youth;
• Participate in round tables with local authorities;
• Choose one idea from those presented by local youth for mentoring it in future;
• Communicate with local youth and their families;
• Present your countries, cultures and the EU as a whole.

Have some questions?

Contact our Core Team via

E-mail: info@eurobus.org.ua,

Facebook: www.facebook.com/eurobus.project

Mobile: +38 068 890 19 80

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 20, 2011, 23:00 CET

EXTENDED TILL MARCH, 31, 2011, 23:00 CET

Application form

Application form should be emailed to: info@eurobus.org.ua

Any town or village can participate in the project!

Key project features:

1) Eurobus will stay in your town or village for two days;

• The first part of the visit will include trainings, seminars, informal discussions with the foreign mentors held for youth. It will be possible to choose and discuss the topics of the trainings in advance, at our web-page;
• The second part of the Eurobus program will include common toloka-format activities, performed by the local youth and the international Eurobus team. The ideas of these activities will be discussed and prepared in every settlement beforehand. Currently, there is a possibility that some initiatives of the local community will be financed by the project. These initiatives should be aimed at developing life conditions in the town or village, and will have to be realized before the project.

2) The foreigners will stay in the families of locals;

Who can apply?

• NGOs;

• Official bodies;

• Local administrations;

• Local activists (youth leaders, teachers, lecturers);

• Indifferent Ukrainians interested in developing the local community.

The applying person automatically takes responsibility of coordinating the project on the local level.

Priorities and criteria.

• Town and villages from the whole Ukraine can apply, but the priority will be given to the Eastern and Southern regions;

• Towns and villages with the population of 1000-15000 people can apply, but the priority will be given to those of 2000-5000 people.

• The priority will be given to the town and villages with schools and/or other educational establishment like college or a technical school.

• The priority will be given to the towns and villages, where the financial and organizational help of local authorities can be provided. Also the possibility to involve the neighboring communities will be an advantage.

What will “Eurobus-4” give to the local community?

• Preparation trainings on the topic of civil activism and youth leadership will be held for the students aged 15-18. The project’s org team provides trainers;

• Co-financing the events of the program in your town or village during the Europe days celebration;

• The arrival of Eurobus and the preparatory actions will give a strong impulse for activating the youth in your town or village. In the observed future this will foster the development and implementation of youth initiatives, as well as the the improvement of dialogue with the local authorities;

• A representative of the local community (the local coordinator, a representative of the local administration aged under 35 or a young activist) will take part in a preparatory training held in Warsaw on May 5-8, 2011.

The local coordinator:

• takes part in a two-day introduction training held for all local coordinators;

• helps in holding the preparatory trainings for the local community;

• develops the program of Eurobus events (in his/her town or village) in cooperation with the project coordinators;

• Organizes lodging for the foreigners during the 2-day stay in his/her town or village;

• Manages other logistic issues (organizing meals, bus parking, etc.);

• Coordinates the activities during the Europe days celebration in the town or village;

• Communicates with the local authorities (village or town administration);

• Local coordinator is the Eurobus guide in his/her town or village!

For this, you need to fill in and send the application form to the email: info@eurobus.org.ua until 23:00 of March 8, 2011

Download the application form

Contacts:

Daryna Barsukova,

Project coordinator

+380501625031

info@eurobus.org.ua

The “Eurobus 4: European youth to Ukrainian communities” project is organized by the young people from a youth NGO “Foundation of Regional Initiatives” (Kharkiv branch).

The project is financed by the International Renaissance Foundation and the EU delegation in Ukraine.

We remind you that over 800 young people from 7 regions of Ukraine were involved into the events of Eurobus-3 program. Besides, round 3000 people were involved into common activities and realizing local mini-projects.Young people from 3 regions of Ukraine the final educational and motivational summer camp “Be Free-3″.

During the previous Eurobus project students and pupils visited trainings and presentations on volunteering opportunities, basics of journalism, basics of entrepreneurship, study opportunities abroad, art studies and other study sessions.

Dear friends, support the “Eurobus-3″ project and vote for it, please. You can do it at visiting to the following page: http://studnews.org.ua/project2010/osvitni-proekti/eurobus

The present and the future of Eurobus projects depends upon you, so hurry up, please: you can vote only until March, 6.