Call for Participants | REVIVE Bucharest

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is organizing a series of training activities, as part of JEF’s 2023 Work Plan, supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. These activities are carried out in the framework of the REVIVE project, which aims at enhancing the situation of youth civic spaces in Europe through building capacities of young people and promoting the new Council of Europe Recommendation on protecting youth civil society and young people.

Working to support healthy and resilient democracies is a core part of the work of JEF Europe. In particular, conceived in the context of JEF’s Democracy under Pressure (DuP) campaigns, the REVIVE project will respond to the first priority of the Council of Europe Youth Sector for 2022-25, ‘Revitalizing pluralistic democracies’. It will combine actions that aim at supporting young people’s participation in political life, raising awareness about the shrinking of youth civic spaces and supporting youth participation in strengthening effective, accountable and inclusive democratic institutions.

This regional training will explore and inspire action about the situation in the Western Balkans. Bucharest is a city bridging the Balkans with Eastern Europe while Romania is a leading example as one of the most recent countries joining the European Union, thus becoming the perfect location to assess the current situation of youth civic spaces and the on-going initiatives in the region. This context will lead to the preparation of joint actions for awareness-raising about the Council of Europe Recommendation and the situation of youth civic spaces in Europe

The main objectives of this regional seminar are the following:

• To promote the new Council of Europe Recommendation on protecting youth civil society and young people by raising awareness of the recommendations and developing the skills of young people to implement it. 
• To equip young people with the competences to act for safeguarding civic space especially in countries where youth civic spaces are particularly under pressure through capacity-building training courses.
• To promote the exchange of good practices among young people across Europe on how to act for safeguarding youth civic spaces.

The sessions will be facilitated by 2 professional trainers (1 junior and 1 senior trainer) with expertise in non-formal education, democratic activism and sustainable youth civic society building.

• You must be resident in one of the Council of Europe Countries. Candidates from the Western Balkans are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Being able to work and communicate fluently in English.
• 18 – 30 years old.
• Interested in the topic and in being involved in supporting youth civic spaces and encouraging youth in participating in democratic processes.
• Available to attend all training sessions between the 17th and the 23rd of September.

• A full five-day training event (with arrival on the 17th of September and departure on the 23rd of September 2023).
• Accommodation and food covered for the duration of the seminar in Bucharest, Romania.
• Travel reimbursement up to 100 euros.
• An opportunity to learn about civic spaces and gain the right skills and tools to safeguard them, especially in countries where they are under pressure. 
• A networking opportunity with young people working in different development and youth sectors.
• Becoming part of an engaging and dynamic pool of participants from all over Europe, focusing on countering the shrinking of civic spaces and fostering youth participation in democratic processes in different contexts.

• The participation fee is 50 euros covering all on-site expenses.  We understand budgets are tight for young people all around Europe at the moment, and we will gladly consider your application to JEF’s Solidarity Fund for fee-free participation. In order to apply for it, you should state it in your application and we will get back to you. Be aware that this opportunity is only available for a few participants and thus be very specific in your motivation as to why you are applying for the Solidarity Fund. It is especially meant for young people coming from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Should you want to apply for this fund – after submitting your application through the form, please write your motivation in an email to michela.procoli@jef.eu
• The travel reimbursement will be made after the event once we have received all relevant tickets and receipts (by email and physically in our office).

Please apply by completing the application webform: APPLICATION FORM

The deadline to apply is July 9th, 2023 at 23:59 CET and all applicants will be contacted shortly during the week afterwards.