NEAC Youth Meetings
World heritage is the witness of history, a part of the present and our message to the future. For young people from around the world making up the next generation to turn their attention to histories and cultures of their own hometowns and discuss the future from a global perspective.
Youth Meetings are short theme camps organized to provide an opportunity for young people to explore important intercultural issues and promote European Citizenship. Young people attend the Youth Meetings to learn and work with each other, to get to know each other, and together to seek answers to questions about the past, the present and the future. The motto of the YM comprises these aspects: “remembering – meeting – understanding – working for the future”.
As well as different types of workshops, the YM involves talks with historical witnesses, guided tours of the places, excursions and lectures. In addition to thematic work, participants have time for personal conversations, trips out, free time activities and getting to know contemporary Europe.
Theme
Respect for
cultural diversity is the starting point for peaceful co-existence
and the inclusion of all people. It should be the basis for
life in a complex and multi-cultural world.
Many societies are becoming more and more diverse with
people of different cultural backgrounds, nationalities,
ethnic groups, languages, and religions living together. We
are all different and it is therefore important that we as
individuals and groups can live together in
peace rather than conflict. We all have a right to be who we
are and to be different from others around us. We also all
have a responsibility to respect the ways in which others
are different from us. Living happily together requires
accepting everybody for who they are and learning to value
differences as an exciting part of what it means to be a
human being. We must acknowledge and value equally the
rights and contributions of different cultures. Our society
should strive to value diversity and to develop policies of
inclusion and acceptance which cater for the needs of all
groups. This is part of living in a society where we all
have a say in how we live our lives and which will ensure a
flourishing and creative community. This is called cultural
pluralism and it leads to acceptance, respect, unity,
friendship, happiness and harmony.
Methods
Various different methods are employed in the workshops,
whether lasting two days or longer. They include drama,
video, music and art as well as carrying out questionnaires
and searching for evidence. The participants work with
documents, visit exhibitions and historical places, and talk
with invited speakers.
Free Time
Despite all the thematic work, free time is not neglected in
the YM either. It becomes full of life when participants
laughingly compete in games evenings, enjoy concerts and
dance to discos in the basement, when they lie in the garden
in the sun or chat to each other in the bistro. It is
important that the participants have enough time and space
to think through their experiences, to get to know each
other and to collaborate with others on shared projects.
Programme of Cultural Events
Interested local people are particularly welcome to attend a
series of public events such as the official opening of the
Youth Meeting, traditional concerts, films and lectures.
These events related to topics, contemporary history and
current affairs.
The YM aims not only to encourage international youth
exchanges but also to help people learn how to co-operate at
international level.
