1. Introduction

The Festival focus for year 2007 was on correlation between people, borders and education in the world. The aim was to encourage inter-cultural dialogue and enable young people to meet as many young people from other cultures and other nations as possible. eYouWiNS 2007 has offered experience of meeting different cultures and becoming more open towards them in order to contribute in battle against all existing borders, especially intolerance and prejudices.

2. Support: Funding, Media and Partners

The project received funding from the following donors: Executive Council of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, OSCE Mission to Serbia, University of Novi Sad, and Faculty of Technical Sciences.

Media support was given by: Public TV service of Vojvodina, TV Panonija, Radio 021, Radio 5, Radio Sajam, Radio As, Multi radio, and newspapers Dnevnik and Gradjanski list.

Partners on this project were next student organisations: EESTEC LC Novi Sad, ESTIEM LG Novi Sad, and IEEE SB Novi Sad.

3. Activities

3.1 Venue, date and participants

The second European Youth Week in Novi Sad – eYouWiNS 2007, was held in Novi Sad, at Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, between August 19th and 26th, with 107 participants from 20 European countries and Serbia.

Preparations for Festival started at the beginning of March 2007. The first project proposal was made and sent to potential donators, after that was introduced web site HYPERLINK “http://www.eyouwins.com” www.eyouwins.com and invited people to apply. During 30 days of application period organizers received more then 180 applications from all over the Europe. Finally, 120 applicants from 23 European counties were invited. After some problems with visa issues and the last minute cancellations, 107 participants took part in the Festival.

Accommodation was organized in students’ dormitories, and food in student restaurants at the University Campus.

All lectures, workshops and presentations were held at Faculty of Technical Sciences in Ceremonial Hall and several classrooms. All technical equipment was given by the Faculty.

3.2 Program

The title of the eYouWiNS 2007, “People vs. Borders” was motivated by the need to assemble young people at one place and to investigate the links between people, borders and education in the world, especially in Europe from the perspective of students, perspective of the young.

To fulfil project goals program was divided in two parts. The first part was lectures organized for all participants and held by invited speakers. The second part was workshops.

3.2.1 Part One – Lectures

First segment were lectures, held by diplomatic core in Serbia, from European countries and USA, European Union – Delegation of the European Commission members in Serbia, representatives of official institutions in Vojvodina and Serbia. During seven days of Festival, 5 lectures were held lasting around 80 minutes each (including discussion).

On the question about Europe without borders we have discussed Visas issues, EU perspective, Foreigners policy, migrations and mobility in EU, further integration, the future of the Region.

As a one possible solution we offered Education against borders. In order to understand it better we tried to answer Why education? Is it for me? Education for Democracy.

Lecturers:
Sara Krespo, Counsellor, Portugal Embassy in Belgrade
Hannelore Valier, Head of Office for Democratisation, OSCE Mission to Serbia
Petar Janjic, major assistant, Municipal In?ija
Jelena Brankovi?, TEMPUS office Serbia
Jennifer Lawson, Vice consul US Embassy in Belgrade

3.2.2 Part Two – Workshops

The main part of the thematic work of eYouWiNS 2007 was the group work on different topics derived from the main theme. The Festival had 3 different workshops which highlighted the festival theme from various aspects.
Workshops were held in Faculty of Technical Sciences on University of Novi Sad. Preparation phase started in June 2007, when we had open call for moderators for workshops. After reading all applications, organizers choose the best 8 youth workers who applied. Here is list of chosen moderators: Milica Nikoletic, Dusan Vurdelja, Bojana Peric, Tamara Borovica, Milisav Milinkovic, Ksenija Milic, Masa Mitrovic and Ljiljana Cumura. All of them had finished course “Leadership and Developmental Youth Work” and we tried to have gender balance. Preparation meetings we organized during June-August and in this period all moderators had chance to discuss about methodology, way of work, different games and energizers etc
Topics of workshops were, in this order: Intercultural learning, Education as human right and Youth in Europe of diversity, and they were chosen by organizers as this year elementary issues. Aim of workshops was to explore learning trough different perspectives comparing experiences, knowledge and praxis from European countries. All participants were divided by organizers, in four groups, according to their countries. Expected number of participants was 26 students from different countries per workshop. All groups worked on same topics, but using different workshop methodologies. As leaders on these topics we chose to use manuals dealing with education on human rights and intercultural learning (“Compass” and “T-Kit: Intercultural learning”). The report consists of results from all four groups.

3.2.3 Meet Novi Sad, Vojvodina and Serbia

Third segment of eYouWiNS program was introducing Novi Sad, Vojvodina and Serbia people, tradition, culture, music, nature, way of life, food and drinks, humor… This was an exciting experience for all participants.

First of all we familiarized participants with Novi Sad, with their accommodation, University and Faculty facilities. On Tuesday afternoon was held City Rally at Novi Sad streets. The main goal of this event was to introduce Novi Sad, but not on standard way. That was opportunity for all participants to explore Novi Sad, to ask people for help, to visit unusual places and find out a lot about history and about people in Novi Sad.

Excursion on Wednesday included visit to national park Fruska Gora and Sremski Karlovci, one of the oldest towns in Serbia and one of the most important for Serbian culture. Sremski Karlovci are famous vine town, so we visited old vinery and tasted vine. After that we spent all day in nature at Strazilovo, cooked traditional Serbian dish Rostilj. All participants took part in preparing food and enjoyed eating. Also, day out in Belgrade was organised for all interested participants.

3.2.4 Social activities

Last, but not the least important part of eYouWiNS program was a group of cultural activities organized only for the participants asked to present the values and cultural traditions of different nations. Special attention was dedicated to creating informal and cultural contents, which were very important part of the festival. Parties were organised every night at different places in Novi Sad.

The event that was one of the most interesting – intercultural day was place where the participants from all the countries presented the specificities of their cultures. This event was organized to stimulate active involvement of all the participants.

3.3 Methods

A number of methods were used during the festival, like teamwork, workshops, presentations, debates and round tables. We tried to foster group work and teambuilding activities. Participants had opportunity to learn from internationally known experts and to exchange ideas and opinions, as well as to acquire or develop practical skills that would help them in the future.

4. Ceremonial Opening

One of most exiting parts of Festival was ceremonial opening of eYouWiNS 2007. More then 200 people, participants and guests attended an hour program in the Main Lobby of Banovina building, home of Executive Council of AP Vojvodina. Program started with short introduction by Zeljko Tekic, project coordinator. After that, special guests: Mrs. Radmila Marinkovic-Neducin, rector of University of Novi Sad, Mrs. Hannelore Valier, Head of Office for Democratisation, OEBS Mission to Serbia, and Mr. Bojan Pajtic president of Executive Council of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, gave welcome addresses. About 12 different media, TV and radio stations as well as newspapers were present.

5. Presence in the public

The project was satisfactorily presented in the media. Considering that the project does carry much media weight, the coverage that we have received seems more than reasonable.

Within the University and City the project was advertised through posters, flyers and personal contacts and two sets of advertisements.