Raising Citizens Activity and Encouraging Youth Participation in the European Elections

PARTICIPATION IN THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

1-8 May, 2009, Sofia

The National Student Confederation, Europe House-Sofia, JEF and UEF-Bulgaria have the pleasure of inviting you to participate in the international training course "Raising Citizens Activity and Encouraging Youth Participation in the European Elections".

The European elections in June 2009 are an excellent opportunity to further engage the young citizens with the European project. A whole generation born after the Fall of the Iron Curtain will vote for the first time in European elections. That there is a need to educate young people to take part in elections is not an issue. However, the turnout is lower than that in national elections and there's an overall perception that voting in European Parliament elections "doesn't change anything".

The training course "Raising Citizens Activity and Encouraging Youth Participation in the European Elections" to be held in Sofia from 1 to 8 May 2009 will meet the need to inform the new European generation how the EU works and the rights and obligations the EU citizenship brings in order to encourage them to vote in the European elections and contribute to boost the turnout.

The political, social, economic and cultural aspects that the course addresses will contribute to shape a vision how to strengthen European democracy and counteract the rise nationalist and eurosceptic movements who deny the concept of European citizenship.

The participants will gain practical knowledge how to communicate the EU ÔÏ the young citizens and build capacity for organization of information events during the election campaign. The ideas and knowledge generated during the seminar can be used by every participant and be implemented at local level.

The project will involve governmental officials, elected representatives, as well as scholars, activists of civil society organizations and, most importantly, the participants themselves in a series of debates.

The rich social program, including horse ride in Vitosha mountain (optional) and sightseeing trip to the Rila Monastery, one of the most significant and picturesque monuments on the Balkans, will enable the participants to feel the atmosphere of Bulgaria - an ever-evolving and modern country with great cultural heritage and traditions, dating back from Roman and Byzantine times.

PARTICIPATING CONDITIONS

Age 18-30

Countries EU Member states

Costs 70% of Travel Costs will be reimbursed (up to 230 Euro)

Fee/person 75 Euro participation fee/person

Board & lodging covered by the organisers

Deadline for applying: 24 April 2009!!!

FOR MORE DETAILS AND APPLICATION FORM:

nsc@scas.acad.bg