By Hakeem Babalola
This
year’s UNITED Conference will take place in Bratislava from May 16-21 where United
for Intercultural Action in partnership with Open Society Foundation, Bratislava,
will host about forty three organisations across Europe with focus on a theme
titled ‘From Theory to Practice: Creative Action Towards Social Change’.
The
five-day Conference ‘seen as catalyst part of a longer process’ is expected to
examine, discuss and find solution to sub-themes structured around six working
groups – towards social change.
Participants
are encouraged to share their knowledge in the areas of Anti-Fascism, Do we
need it? Know your Fascists: Data Collection; Let’s get started: Basics for NGO
work; Once upon a Time in Fortress Europe; Minorities Voices-Minority Rights;
and Working with youth: Methods and Practices.
In
addition, there will be presentations, training workshops and plenary session
on different topics such as the danger of words, key issues and nationalism in Slovakia,
working with victims of hate crimes, extremism and terrorism propaganda,
involvement of supporters in preventing or perpetuating hate, creative action
towards social awareness.
In
order to ensure the success of the conference, only the participants that
demonstrated skills to contribute immensely to the overall success of the theme
were selected.
Although
optional, participants will have free afternoon on Thursday to visit local
NGOs, a guided city tour in Bratislava
designed to further build and cement integration between the participants and
the local organisations.
The
conference which is sponsored by the European Youth Foundation of the Council
of Europe and Minority Rights Group Europe will end with evaluation followed by
intercultural evening and farewell party on Friday.
UNITED
for Intercultural Action prides itself as European network against nationalism,
racism, fascism, and in support of migrants and refugees.
Even
though UNITED is in an unstable financial situation there is no doubting its commitment or enthusiasm to social
change. Hence the need for a fundraising "lucky dip", in which participants
exchange gifts by buying a lottery ticket to be revealed at the Intercultural
party on the last day.
UNITED
was founded in 1992 as a counter-fight ‘when participants of two anti-racist
European youth seminars in Strasbourg decided to set up a network bringing
together the movement in all its shades and varieties’.
The
conference is prepared by the following organisations:
Enough
(SK)
People
Against Racism (SK)
Austria Students Union Klagenfurt (A)
Finish
youth cooperation Allianssi (FIN)
Folkesagen
– worthy Life for Asylum seekers (DK)
Young
Mountaineers – Mladi Planinari (MK)
UNITED
for Intercultural Action
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