Youth Dialogue on Mutual Respect

Most Europeans were taken by surprise in witnessing, since January 2006, world-wide anger and protest among Muslim communities against publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed in several newspapers. On the other hand, many Muslims and other citizens of Arab countries witnessed growing interest of Europeans in learning more about sensitive issues of Islam. The present crisis in North-South relations indicates a huge gap in mutual knowledge, especially between Europeans and their Muslim neighbours around the Mediterranean Sea. This situation calls for new forms of dialogue which clearly address differences and diversity between cultures and religions and promote more mutual knowledge and respect.

The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures, based in Alexandria, Egypt, launched a six months youth campaign on mutual respect between cultures and religions in 35 countries. The Foundation invites young people between 18 and 25 years to submit their proposals on overcoming the present crisis. All participants are free to ask questions to young people from anther country of their choice. The Anna Lindh Foundation will provide each participant with answers and comments from a young man or woman from the other side of the Euro-Mediterranean region. All questions and answers will be published, and all proposals will be submitted to the 35 Governments of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
The 100 young people contributing the best questions, answers and proposals will receive awards as “youth messengers for dialogue between cultures and religions”. They will be invited to a youth workshop for further developing their ideas in teamwork.

Dr. Traugott Schoefthaler, Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation: “While the older generations ask themselves why countless dialogue initiatives have largely failed, it is high time to listen to young people. We invite young women and men to express their values, fears and visions. We want to establish a true youth dialogue especially on cultural and religious differences, on human dignity and mutual respect.”

Participation is open until 31 August 2006. For more information and to apply, visit: http://www.euroedalex.org/En/dialogue21.htm.

The Foundation is the first common institution of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership established in the South and jointly financed by all 35 partner countries (25 Member States of the European Union and their ten Mediterranean Partners). It started operations in August 2005. Core mandate of the Foundation is “learning about cultural diversity” and promoting mutual respect.

New Opportunities for Youth

After many weeks of meetings, developing and creating a brand new leadership course for young people in North Tyneside it was finally time for the first session of Inspire.

February 8th saw the launch of a new and exciting leadership course with seven young people aged 15-18 taking part.

During the first session we looked at the theory of leadership and the transformation from participant to becoming a leader. The session was based on the leadership square which went through the four stages of leadership. The young people took to it well;

“I found the talk really interesting. Gave me new ideas for leadership, a very good model” young person aged 18

After a drinks break the group came back together to put words into action.
Inspire is not only a course which provides young people with the ability to lead but also offers them a chance to dream dreams and start developing youth lead projects.

Dance/drama workshops, professional music teaching, film projects and many more exciting ideas were thought up by the young people during a ‘thought shower’ session. This is only the start but already the future looks good and we will defiantly be seeing these youth lead projects underway very soon.

“Turning Ideas into Reality”

We believe in these young people and their passion to make a difference for their local community and also the wider community (the world).

Young people making a difference for today’s and tomorrow’s generation

New Era, New Name

For a number of months now, the e2000 team have been discussing the idea of changing our name. Although the e2000 International name and brand have been very successful for five years now, we have decided that it's time for a change.

The overarching motivation is that the change has the potential to increase our reach with our main clients (young people/organisations working on behalf of young people) and to promote a clearer concept about our core business and work.

From the 1st April 2006, e2000 International will become Global Voice UK - Keep watching this space for more information.

Season's Greetings!

e2000 would like to wish everyone a very happy festive season and all the best for the New Year. This year has been another incredible journey and we would also like to thank all those friends, partners and colleagues that have helped us move on so far. We know 2006 is going to be another great year and look forward to seeing you then.

World Youth Culture Summit

e2000 are working in partnership with North Tyneside Council to prepare for a World Youth Culture Summit in June 2006 and have had confirmation of partnership with the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative's Culture 10 programme. The project is the latest development in the "Culture Shock!" initiative which will see young international artists come from far and wide to define what culture means to them, and raise the profile of youth arts and how they can be further accepted in the arts world.

The events of the week are fringe to the World Summit on Arts and Culture which will begin half way through the Culture Shock! project. For more information, please contact us.

The Start of a New Era

e2000 played a leading role in a historic new development today when 14 youth organisations from across Europe and the Meditterranean signed the constitution for the EURO-MED FEDERATION - a new organisation dedicated to improving the lives of young people in the region.

The occassion was held at the Park Hotel in North Tyneside, and marked the end of the Youth Voice FORUM 2005 event where 200 young people from over 20 countries came together to be heard, and make change. This event highlighted both the need for the new organisation and the potential impact that the Euro-Med Federation can have in the future.

There will be more information about new developments posted here but for now, you can contact the e2000 team if you would like to know more.

Anna Lindh National Network

After consultation with the Euro-Med Platform and national partners Toucan and UK Youth, e2000 International were today nominated as the Youth Contact Point for the Anna Lindh National Network in the UK.

The Anna Lindh Foundation is the first common institution jointly established and financed by all 35 members of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The establishment of the Foundation in the ancient Egyptian seaport city of Alexandria underlines the commitment of the partners to work for increased cooperation and solidarity.

The Middle East as well as the southern and eastern Mediterranean region form an area of vital strategic importance to the European Union. The general objective is to transform the Mediterranean basin into a common area of peace, stability and prosperity.

e2000, in partnership with Toucan and UK Youth will take part in coordination meetings of national networks and our role is to make sure that the interests, needs, opinions and ideas of young people are taken into consideration in discussions and decisions.