From 22–27 April 2008, 27 youth representatives from 25 different European Red Cross and Red Crescent societies gathered in Tuheljske Toplice, Croatia for a training workshop entitled "Red Cross youth in action to promote respect for diversity and non-discrimination". This training was organized by the Red Cross EU office in Brussels, and thanks to the financial support of the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe it was possible for many participants from different National Societies around the region to take part.
The training was part of a joint campaign of the Red Cross Societies of EU member states to promote respect for diversity and non-discrimination. The aim of the training was to provide youth leaders of our Movement with a variety of tools and skills to enable them to play an active role in promoting respect for diversity and non-discrimination. Another objective was to build their capacity to support the implementation of the joint campaign in their own society.
Over four days of intensive training, the participants learned more about the joint campaign, the connection between international humanitarian law and human rights and the theoretical framework of respect for diversity and non-discrimination within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. They actively participated in interactive training exercises to get a better feeling of what respect for diversity and non-discrimination really means from the perspective of someone who is being discriminated against, as well as how they can promote these important issues in their own communities and youth groups.
The training took place in parallel with the bi-annual European cooperation meeting for Red Cross youth, which is a major event of the European Red Cross Red Crescent youth network. On 25 April, the theme of the cooperation meeting was respect for diversity and non-discrimination. The day started with a presentation about the joint campaign that EU societies are participating in and a presentation by Anita Juka from the Open Media Group in Zagreb on the “All different – All equal” campaign of the Council of Europe as well as other campaigns which the group has been involved with in the field of non-discrimination. These presentations were followed by several interactive workshops that were prepared by the 27 participants of the diversity training. Through these workshops the participants of the cooperation meeting also had the chance to learn more about respect for diversity and non-discrimination.
At the end of the training all participants drafted a personal action plan about what they will do to promote respect for diversity and non-discrimination in their own society. To follow-up on the success of this training event, the campaign coordinator at the Red Cross EU office will keep the participants updated on the development and implementation of the campaign and a communication structure will be put in place to ensure the ongoing exchange of new ideas and interesting experiences.
In summary, it was an intensive and inspiring week with great opportunities to share ideas and experiences in a multi-cultural setting. Many thanks to our colleagues at the Croatian Red Cross who did a great job at hosting the training in parallel with the European cooperation meeting.
|
 |
 |
|
|
| Gathering around Fabio and Simona to share ideas / International Federation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Food for thought — Saynur, Ivett, Agnieszka and Caroline discuss their rights / International Federation |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Energizer time! / International Federation |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Constanse, Emre, Agnija, Alina and Mojca in action / International Federation |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Group photograph of all participants / International Federation |
|
News
