more info at:
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/Youth/1._News/Calls_
for_applications/090_TC_WIYS.asp#TopOfPage

Training Course on Working in International Youth Structures
5-16 October 2004
European Youth Centre Strasbourg
Deadline for applications: 4 June 2004
Download the course description and application form in Word
format
The training programme of the Directorate of Youth and Sport is
aimed at young people who are in a position to act as
"multipliers". The programmes are based on a philosophy of
participation, democracy and intercultural exchange in order to
promote the building and strengthening of an open and democratic
European society. The knowledge and experience gained at
international seminars and training courses can be used all over
Europe by young people in the work of their associations and
adapted to the needs of their societies.
One way of participating in society is to become a member of a
youth organisation. The role of youth organisations is paramount
and it is fundamental to support them, particularly in the
international field. This course intends to enable those actively
involved in the youth structures to improve their skills on
working at international level, to provide additional knowledge
and to increase the effectiveness of their work at international
level.
Dealing with questions like structures, international
institutions, lobbying, funding, etc. requires knowledge and
organisational competence. This Training Course on Working in
International Youth Structures allows participants to take a
critical look at and further develop their qualifications in this
field.
Aim & objectives
The main aim of the course is to help participants, already
active in international structures, to better understand and more
effectively use European youth structures and European youth
programmes.
Objectives
_ To provide a complementary European training to participants
involved in European or international youth structures.
_ To increase participants' knowledge and awareness on the
concepts and practices of European youth structures and European
youth programmes.
_ To increase participants' competence and motivation to
introduce intercultural learning in international and/or European
youth activities.
Contents of the Course
The programme will start with a session of getting to know each
other and presenting the youth organisations represented. The
main content of the course covers the international structures of
youth organisations themselves - what they are, why they exist, a
short overview of their history, and the evolution of the
relations between them. Links to international institutions at
different levels will be examined. Through workshops,
participants will be trained in lobbying, decision-making, and
administrative skills. Different perspectives and understandings
of Europe will be discussed. The focus will be on the importance
of co-operation between organisations. Furthermore, the programme
will deal with the different European youth programmes.
Another important element will be the reflection on the
intercultural learning processes that takes place in
international organisations, their branches and how they affect
the work at that level. Part of the programme also covers
practical skills training. The course will be finalised with an
evaluation activity. Free time and leisure activities are
foreseen in the programme.
Methodology
Five experienced trainers will design and carry out the the
programme of the course. It should be emphasised, though, that
mutual learning from each other will add an important element to
the learning process. Participants' prior experiences in youth
work will be important and recognised. Active participation,
group-work and teamwork, learning-by-doing, as well as
theoretical inputs form the most important aspects of the course.

Languages
English and French are foreseen as the working languages of the
course. However, to better evaluate participants' language needs,
candidates are kindly requested to mention in their application
form all languages in which they are able to work. Candidates who
apply for this course must be able to fill in the application
form without assistance from another person.
Profile of participants
The participants selected for this course shall be young leaders
and people in position of responsibility of International
Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs), National Youth
Councils (NYCs), National Youth Organisations, governmental
services, including municipalities or other partners, in
particular those co-operating with the European Youth Centres
(EYC), the European Youth Foundation (EYF) or the YOUTH
programme. They should be responsible for representing their
organisation in international youth structures.
In general candidates should be:
… between 18 and 30 years of age (a few exceptions may be made if
seen as justified by the team);
… actively involved in a youth organisation or governmental youth
service, preferably in the field of international cooperation,
prepared to take on responsibilities at the international level
as representatives in the European youth structures, or seeking
to co-operate with them;
… act as multipliers, i.e. be prepared to pass on to colleagues
the knowledge and skills gained during this training course ;
… well-informed about the organisation in which they are involved
and prepared to present and explain its mission, programmes and
way of functioning to the other participants;
… be able to work in one of the working languages of the course;
… committed to attend the entire duration of the course and be
supported by a sending organisation, institution or service.
Support of the sending organisation
The sending organisation must attach a letter of support to the
application form stating the benefit for the organisation of the
participation of the candidate. In case the sending organisation
is a local or national authority, a letter of endorsement from
the superior is required.
Educational Team of the Course
The educational team of the course will be composed of the
following individuals:
_ Bal·zs HIDVŠGHI - Council of Europe, Youth Directorate (course
director)
_ Anne DUSSAP - Council of Europe, Youth Directorate (educational
adviser)
_ Alexandru BADINICI - Romania, freelance trainer (European Youth
Forum)
_ Miriam LEXMANN - Slovakia, freelance trainer
_ Giulio "Mac" MAISTRELLI - Italy, freelance trainer
Application Procedure and Selection of Participants
All candidates must apply using the enclosed application form.
Applications should be sent to the European Youth Centre,
Strasburg together with a letter of support from the sending
organisation.
The letter of support for the candidate should explain the need
and the value for the organisation and for the candidate to
attend this course.
If an organisation wishes to propose more than one candidate,
their number should be maximum three, and the order of priority
should be clearly indicated.
The preparatory team will select 30 participants on the basis of
the profile outlined above. It will try as far as possible to
respect the organisations' priorities, but also to ensure a
balance between geographical regions, different types of
experiences, cultural backgrounds, organisations, institutions or
projects. We will also attempt to recruit a roughly equal number
of men and women. The motivation and perceived training needs of
the individual participants are among the criteria taken into
consideration during the selection process.
The selection of candidates will take place in June. Selected
candidates will be informed first, during the first part of July
2004, followed by other non-selected candidates. A waiting-list
will be drawn up from candidates who are seen as strong
applicants, and who, in case of cancellations, may be offered the
possibility of participation. Selected candidates will receive
the course documentation directly.

The sending organisations and their successful applicants are
reminded that once a candidate has been placed on the final list,
they must make every effort to attend the full duration of the
course. We ask selected candidates to inform the Directorate of
Youth and Sport immediately in case they cannot attend and have
to cancel their participation. This is important in order to be
able to invite others in time. Replacements will be taken from
the waiting list, but not necessarily ones from the same
organisation.
Deadline of applications
Application forms must reach the EYC Strasbourg by 4 June 2004 at
the latest.
Applications may be sent by post, by fax or by email. Applicants
are reminded that it is enough to send their application form
once.
Financial and practical conditions of participation
Travel expenses
Travel expenses and visa fees (on presentation of the relevant
receipts) are reimbursed according to the rules of the
Directorate of Youth and Sport. Only participants who attended
the entire training course can be reimbursed. Payment will be
made either by bank transfer after the course, or at the end of
the course in cash.
Accommodation
Board and lodging are provided and paid for by the Directorate of
Youth and Sport at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg.
Enrolment fee
An enrolment fee of Ä54 is payable by each participant. This
amount will be deducted from the amount to be reimbursed for
travel expenses or paid at the EYCS during the course.
Compensation for cost of living for young workers and young
unemployed people
The Directorate of Youth and Sport compensates for cost of living
for young workers and young unemployed people who are obliged to
take unpaid leave in order to attend one of its activities.
Further details about this will be sent at a later stage to
selected participants.
Other training courses of the Directorate of Youth and Sport
If you are interested in a training course in international youth
work, but your profile does not fully correspond with the
requirements of this course, please note that the Directorate of
Youth and Sport organises other training courses, such as
- Training for trainers;
- Training for Trainers working on human rights education;
- National and regional training courses in human rights
education with young people;
- Training modules on European Citizenship (in cooperation with
the European Commission);
- Training in intercultural learning and building peace.
Further information about these courses can be obtained from the
Directorate of Youth and Sport Secretariat or from our website
www.coe.int/youth.
Contact information
Council of Europe
Directorate of Youth and Sport
30, rue Pierre de Coubertin
F-67000 Strasbourg France
Tel.: +33 388 412-300
Fax: +33 388 412-777
www.coe.int/youth