Open Call for Participants – Roma Youth Advocacy Training 2023

Brussels, 22 – 28 April 2023 (including travel days)

This is your chance to raise the voices of Roma youth to combat antigypsyism and to advance important issues for Roma communities during the EU Romani Week 2023, hosted by the European Parliament and civil society. Join the 5-days training in Brussels to learn about European policy-making and civil society advocacy, and to raise your voice!

This training will gather 30 young Roma and non-Roma activists in order to strengthen their capacity as young advocates and leaders to tackle antigypsyism. During the training, the group will raise their voices against antigypsyism targeting EU level actors, like Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European Commission. The five-days-lasting training on Roma Youth Advocacy is part of the “EU Romani Week 2023”.  It is organized by the Documentation and Cultural Centre & Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and the Phiren Amenca International Network  in cooperation with ERGO  and  ternYpe International Roma Youth networks.

Our mission and vision

The organizers aim to empower young Roma to have a voice to become key agents of change, and to foster solidarity among young people! We have a strong vision to make a change in Europe. As young Roma and non-Roma we believe that we can build a European culture based on respect, dialogue, human rights and equal opportunities. We strongly follow our mission to create space for young people to become active citizens through empowerment, mobilization, self-organization and participation. 

How to apply? Register in the online application form:

https://forms.gle/kihgdzVAy2Djz8ft8

Application deadline: March 12, 2023 (23:59 CET)

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The training aims to strengthen the capacity of the participants to understand the structures and working mechanisms of the EU institutions, as well as the current EU policies concerning Roma and against racism, and to develop advocacy strategies and campaigns raising-awareness about antigypsyism on European level. 

The objectives of the training: 

• Get to know the European Union institutions and to understand their working mechanisms, and policies towards Roma, in particular of the European Parliament and European Commission;
• Build a dialogue and bring a Roma youth perspective to DG Justice (responsible for Roma policies in the European Commission), to DG EAC (Education and Culture, includes the youth sector in the European Commission),  as well as to Members of the European Parliament in particular of ARDI (Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup);
• Learn about the work of the EU umbrella organizations and contribute to their work;
• Raise awareness about antigypsyism, and the current anti-racism policies;
• Raise awareness about the Brussels-based civil society structures and their strategies against antigypsyism and racism (in particular ERGO Network, ENAR (European Network against Racism) and the European Youth Forum);
• Develop youth actions against antigypsyism and on Roma youth perspectives during the “EU Roma Week” of the European Parliament;

EU Romani Week in the European Parliament

The EU Romani Week 2023 (24-27 April) aims to build on the work done during previous Roma Weeks and build on the landmark own-initiative report that the European Parliament adopted in October 2017 on “Fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting anti-Gypsyism” which called upon the European Commission and EU Member States to put the fight against antigypsyism at the forefront of efforts for the social and economic inclusion of Roma. Romani Week aims to do this by raising the voices of people who are affected by antigypsyism.

PROGRAM of the Roma Youth Advocacy Training 2023

PROFILE OF THE PARTICIPANTS

We are looking for Roma and non-Roma youth leaders, activists, multipliers and volunteers who are active in Roma communities and/or have experience working with Roma communities and/or Roma youth. We aim for a balanced group of experienced participants and participants who have never participated in a training before. All participants show a strong interest in advocacy and political participation. 

Participants must also:

• be able and committed to act as young advocates and multipliers in youth work on the themes of anti-discrimination, combating racism and antigypsyism and promotion of human rights with young Roma, for the benefit of Roma communities and Roma youth;
• be motivated to develop their competences in advocacy, anti-discrimination work, human rights education and youth work and to share their experiences with other participants;
• be actively committed and involved in a Roma (youth) initiative, advocacy group or organization;
• be between 18 and 35 years old; 
• be committed to attend for the full duration of the course;
• be able to work in English, or check with the coordination that translation can be provided through other participants or team members;
• be resident in one of the following countries: Belgium, Germany, North Macedonia, Finland, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia. If you are a resident in another European country, we still encourage you to apply but have very limited capacity to accept applicants.

DATES OF THE ACTIVITY 

Arrival: April 22, 2023 (Saturday)

Program days: April 23  to April 27, 2023

Departure: April 28, 2023 (Tuesday)

LOCATION: Brussels

The training will take place mainly in Mundo B (Rue d’Edimbourg 26, 1050 Ixelles, Belgien) and the European Parliament. Detailed information will be provided with the Info Pack prior to the event.

TRAVEL

Participants should organize their travel (arrival and departure) for these dates immediately after the organizers have confirmed their participation. Earlier arrivals and late departures must be discussed with the organizers.

COSTS

Reimbursement of travel costs:

The organizers of the training cover accommodation/board and other training related costs during the activity. 

The maximum reimbursement of travel costs is € 250 (for French and German participants € 150); if your travel costs are higher than  €250, they have to be covered by the participants themselves or please contact the organizers. The reimbursements of travel expenses will take place on the spot during the week in cash or by bank transfer after the activity (cash reimbursement is only available to participants living outside the European Union). Participants should deliver original invoices to prove the costs of travel as well the tickets and boarding passes. 

APPLICATION AND SELECTION

How to apply? Register in the online application form:

https://forms.gle/kihgdzVAy2Djz8ft8

Application deadline: March 12, 2023 (23:59 CET)

Selection procedure:

If you fit into the participants’ profile, please submit your application until March 8 at midnight Central European Time. The preparatory team will select up the participants on the basis of the profile outlined above, ensuring also a balance between genders, geographical regions, different types of experiences and organizations. Within few days, we will inform the candidates whether their application has been accepted or rejected. 

ANY QUESTIONS?

Documentation Centre contact: marius.luedicke@sintiundroma.de 

Phiren Amenca contact: nasko@phirenamenca.eu 

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Organisers and Partners of the Roma Youth Advocacy Training 2023

FUNDING & SUPPORT