“Saving resources – the way to …“

Международен семинар
“Saving resources – the way to save our world – ecological education for the young generation“

22–26.01.2019
Pasterka, Stołowe Mountains, Poland

 

Summary:

The Foundation for the Development of Local Initiatives Qdowa would like to invite you to Poland for take part in seminar on environmental protection, ecological and global education for youth workers.
Five days seminar will take a place on 22th – 26th January 2019 (21.01 and 27.01 are travel days) in small village in Stołowe Mountains – Pasterka, in mountain shelter “Szczelinka”.
The aim of our meetings is to exchange experiences in the field of ecological education for young people and to reflect on the problem of how to teach young people to feel more responsible for the environment.
Nowadays, we generate a huge amount of waste every day, we buy a lot of things, we consume without restrictions, we waste huge amounts of water, electricity and other resources without thinking about the consequences.
The key to stop this process is to educate people, especially younger generations, paying attention to how simple, everyday activities can affect the improvement of the environment. Saving resources, or the main subject of our project, also contributes to a more economical approach when it comes to the home budget: ecology = economy.
We want to invite participants from different countries, from different backgrounds, to work together on these topics in youth education:
 waste management and recycling
 saving electricity, water and other resources
 air pollution
 environment pollution
 renewable energy sources
The overall goal of our project is to make the largest possible number of people aware of the global impact our unreflective approach to everyday activities and the use of resources, which contributes to the change of the environment and the quality of our lives and future lives generations. We believe that the „Resources Saving Guide“ created during the project will change children’s and young people’s attitude and they will start to take care for the environment having in mind the processes taking place in it.
The aim of our meetings is to exchange experience in ecological education of youth, reflect on the problem how to teach young people to feel more responsible for environment and how to don’t waste that much water, electricity and other resources.
During the seminar we will work under the supervision of experienced trainers who will provide us with a lot of knowledge in several thematic blocks every day.

Participant`s profile required:

People interested in the issues of ecological and global education and sustainable development who want to include in their educational activities with young people. Those who want to gain more knowledge about these global problems, to increase their ability to use in practical activities with young people, and to have a ready set of practical activities / educational materials that would help them in their work.

!!!To prepare before the project:
 presentation about your country for international evening
 information about the biggest environmental problems they face in your countries and local environments.
 good practices of ecology activities in your country
 report on the use of resources – you will get more information and materials after apply to the project

Venue:

Accomodation and our activities will take place in Szczelinka – a mountain shelter in Pasterka. “Szczelinka has always been a shelter. That is, at the beginning, in the first years of the 20th century, it was simply a country cottage, but it was extended to a regional youth hostel with 130 beds. What was happening there… In any case, after the Second World War, it remained a hostel and almost survived unchanged until today. So today, standing in the queue to the morning toilet, we can feel like the inhabitants of the old village. Because in an exclusive hotel everyone can sleep and be part of history – only a few. 😊 We have restaurant in the neo-bistro style. The menu includes dishes combining modernity and tradition. We use seasonal products and our card is changed several times a year. We are recognized by pasta, bread and burgers made on the spot.”
(short info from their website: http://www.przystanekpasterka.pl/obiekty/dw-szczelinka/ )
 Rooms and bathrooms
There are 4-5 bed bedrooms with a separate bathrooms (in the corridors). Participants from different nationalities will be divided in rooms. We will try to divide women and men, but it might happen that it is not possible for every room. In case you feel uncomfortable with sharing room with the other gender, please inform us!
 Food
Because our goal is also to promote a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition, all meals will be vegetarian. Let us know if you are vegan or have other needs or allergies. If you are not a vegetarian, you will be very surprised what meals you can prepare without meat, the chef in Szczelinka is a master in such meals.
 Internet connection.
It’s not super speed, but it will work in case you need to contact your family or check on emails and social networks. However, if you want to upload pictures, but might be challenging!
 Very important information!
In Pasterka there isn’t signal (network), only in few places, so be prepared… 🙂

Working methods:

All the training will be done through the methods of non-formal education. The activities will be for example brain storming’s, plenary discussions, simulations, role plays, team building, energizers, ice breakers and many others. Non formal education we remember you that is voluntary, no hierarchical and all its methods are based on the concept of learning by doing.

What to bring with me:

 warm clothes, gloves, hats and good shoes – we hope there will be a lot of snow!
 traditional foods and drinks for the intercultural nights where each team will introduce their
culture, hometown, country etc.
 towels and flip-flops
 European Health Insurance Card
 each group at least one laptop (notebook) to make the working easier
 music instruments if you play, or some music that you would like to listen
 positive energy 😊

Intercultural night:

What we expect from you to present in these nights are: local or national dances, local music, games, little sweets, drinks, pictures, etc. from your countries.
Every country will prepare a short presentation of their culture, using all kinds of methods. It’s preferred a short and FUNNY presentation, such as showing pictures and commenting it, quiz, short video (either already existing or made by you), etc. (YES – use your creativity!). For the intercultural night, we ask you to prepare in advance a brief performance (singing, your traditional music, popular dances) to present your group (typical costumes are really welcomed!).
The main idea of this presentation is: What is important for a stranger to know about my country?
Any kind of presentation is granted, better not to do a power-point presentation to avoid yawning.
The Intercultural night is the “most wanted event” on the beginning of the youth exchange. It is a sort of traditional night opened to all participant audience made up of our group leaders, youth workers, facilitators, participants to the exchange. All National groups are asked to perform briefly (10 for your NGO and country/city not more, and 10 min for traditional dances and music) in order to introduce their self. Certainly, we need your enthusiasm and energy!!
For the Intercultural evening a Swedish buffet (cold buffet) will be organized. Here every country will bring traditional food dishes. The food that will be brought must be eatable without any processing (boiling, frying, etc). The dishes must also be accompanied by a brief description (their origin and ingredients, the way they are eaten…)

Travel Costs:

100% of the participants‘ travel costs will be reimbursed within the valid budget sums calculated according to the official rules of Erasmus+ programme. If a sum exceeds the limit, the excess will be paid by the participants themselves. The reimbursement limit is 275€ per participant from Bulgaria.

Financial support:

Project is supported by “Erasmus+” program. Accommodation, meals, program and travel cost (based on distance) are covered from grant. There is NO participation fee! However, 15 BGN will be deducted from the guarantee of 100 BGN which every participant must send prior the departure, in order to be covered the different taxes, related to the participation of each representative from Bulgaria (bank transfer fees, post expenses, difference in the exchange rates, etc.). This guarantee will be reimbursed after completing all the dissemination activities, the participant is required to conduct after returning to Bulgaria.

Insurance:

The travel insurance is not mandatory but it is highly reccommended. It costs 1 BGN/day and covers all the common injuries during projects up to 5000 Euro. Our organization is not covering insurance, it is individual, but we are going to support you to obtain a proper insurance for the duration of the project. For more information about the insurance, contact us.

YouthPass:

Every participant is individually entitled to receive a Youthpass Certificate, which confirms participation and validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of Training course project. Validating the learning experiences of participants is important in itself and the document can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant. Through Youthpass the European Commission ensures the Training course activity is recognized as a non-formal learning experience.
(*For more information on Youthpass you may click on this page to check it online)

Applicants MUST:

1. Read carefully the Terms and Conditions you are agreeing with, when sending your application!
2. Read carefully the Privacy Policy page.
3. Have a valid ID/International passport.
4. Possess valid European Health Card.
5. Fill in the application form and send it to: stanimir.chukov@gmail.com – APPLICATION FORM
6. Check the conditions your participation will be evaluated – Final evaluation form

IMPORTANT!!!
In the title of the e-mail, write down the name of the project.
Empty e-mails will be deleted automatically