Civil Society Organizations from All Council of Europe Member States Are Eligible to Apply

Dear friends,

Youth Cultural Center- Bitola (YCC- Bitola) and partner organizations (SEEYN, ADP Zid and Vojvodina Environmental Movement) take this opportunity to invite you to take part in Training course for youth workers “Social inclusion of young people through volunteering in the local communities” taking place from 10-17th of April 2011 in Bitola, Macedonia. This training will be delivered by experienced trainers from SEEYN training centre and partner organizations.

Civil society organizations from all Council of Europe member states are eligible to apply. Candidates will have to be coordinators, leaders, managers, volunteers or active members in their organizations with certain knowledge or experience with topic of the training course. One organization can nominate only one candidate. Participants have to be 18 – 30 years old. Total of 25 participants will attend the training.

We will cover 70% of the travel costs for participants (using cheapest way of transport bus, train, low cost airfare/ economy class). There is no participation fee!

PROJECT SUMMARY

The main aim of the training course is to improve participatory methods of young peoples involvement in community development through voluntarism. The training will gather participants from youth organizations and volunteer centers that work with volunteers on local, national and/or European and international level.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

·  To achieve common understanding about factors of social exclusion of young people.

·  To introduce volunteering in local communities as a tool for social inclusion of marginalized youth.

·  To discuss positive impact that volunteering has on individuals, groups and societies.

·  To exchange experiences, approaches, practices and tools in organization of volunteering activities that lead towards young people social inclusion.

·  To analyze different measures for recognition of volunteering in different European countries, various approaches in legislation and common European strategies and policies.

·  To empower participants to multiply effects of this training course in their organizations and raise their competences to organize and implement volunteering activities.

·  To encourage future cooperation between participants and their organizations.

Please find attached all the necessary information for your attention:

i.  Application form

ii.  Training Programme

Please note that in the course of application period, we would use the opportunity to send you reminders.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE WILL BE ENGLISH. NO TRANSLATION SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE.

Please fill in the application form and together with Letter of recommendation by your organization (scanned copy - signed and stamped) return it to by Thursday 10th March 2011.

Selected participants will be notified not later than Friday 18th March 2011. Detailed info sheet with all necessary information will be sent at a later stage to all selected participants.

In case of any questions please contact us at

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Meri Nashoku

Program Director

YCC-Bitola

Youth Cultural Center- Bitola (YCC- Bitola) is an independent, non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit youth organization officially registered in 1999. The vision of YCC- Bitola is developed democratic society where young people are leaders of the progress. YCC- Bitola aims to unite and develop the creative potentials of young people in the region of South Eastern Europe and to encourage civic activism.

YCC - Bitola activities are focused on sustainable development of National Volunteer Center, skills development of young people, support of civic initiatives and campaigns as well as development of urban culture and intercultural exchange.

YCC- Bitola provides volunteer services, organizes workshops, trainings, seminars, cultural events and festivals, work camps, issues bulletins and other printed materials.

Official website: http://www.mkcbt.org.mk

The annual program of YCC-Bitola is supported by CIVICA Mobilitas program, implemented by CIRa and financed by SDC.

Youth Cultural Center- Bitola Car Samuil 29, Bitola 7000, Macedonia Tel. +389 47 233 020 Fax: +389 47 203 925

E-mail: Web: http://www.mkcbt.org.mk