The religious communities have a long history of social work and welfare institutions, running alongside state welfare systems and often substituting them. There is a great asset of expertise in various fields, which could gain more strength in collaboration. With this project EYCE wants to follow-up and build upon the conclusions of 2011 – the anniversary year of the European Social Charter and provide a link to the UN Millennium Development Goals. We want to reinforce the implementation of the above mentioned in religious communities ant the social work which is being done by them. This event will also mark the Jubilee of 10 years of cooperation between EYCE and FEMYSO.

We are happy to invite you to nominate a possible candidate for the International Planning Committee (IPC) for this training course:

THEMATIC BACKGROUND

The main aim of this training course would be : to strengthen the role of young people from various religious communities in overcoming poverty and social injustice on various levels and to promote collaboration between religious communities in developing joint initiatives.

OBJECTIVES

-To provide good factual knowledge on mechanism behind poverty and social injustice on global, national, or local level;
-To give an overview on definitions of poverty and social welfare models in various religious traditions;
-To analyse the role of religious communities in tackling poverty and collaboration between them;
-To study poverty and social inclusion in the context of basic HR;
-To discuss the causes of poverty in the framework of multilevel discrimination;
-To share best practices;
-To raise awareness of the creative potential of young people and empower them to increase their active engagement on local, national and global level;
-To equip participants with tools for addressing poverty and social injustice;
-To increase the participation of young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds;
-To provide a safe platform for sharing and interreligious dialogue.

DATES

The first IPC meeting is scheduled: 12th – 15th July, Paris, France
The second IPC meeting is scheduled: Just prior to the training course, 31st August – 2nd September, Paris, France
The training course is scheduled: 2nd – 9th September, Paris, France

APPLY NOW!

For more information please contact your National Correspondent or the EYCE office at applications@eyce.org! The absolutely latest deadline for receiving applications will be 10th of June 2012 !

PLACE
Minsk, Belarus

Taking Steps Towards an Ecologically Responsible Society
This training course is central event of the second year of EYCE’s Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice. EYCE’s 3-year Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice has been launched in 2011. For the second year of the campaign it is important to look beyond the immediately visible, which brings us to the following questions: how can habits, policies, products, which are hindering the ideas of ecological justice, be recognised? In which way can we as young people influence policy making processes? How can we address and influence ways of excessive consumption, excessive exploitation and cultivation of the earth and its natural resources, as well as excessive economic growth in general? What are the possibilities for all of us to become more aware of the causes and consequences of processes such as poverty, unsustainable manufacturing, bio-piracy, greenwashing and others? How can we promote the solidarity and justness of fair labour, fair trade, migrants’ rights and renewable energies?

Moreover, for EYCE as a community of young Christians it is important to link these processes and look for answers in our faith. How can we promote more solidarity among peoples? What needs to be done to reach modesty in consumption? How can one’s conveniences be diminished or overcome in order to allow people who live in other continents and are severely affected by the climate change, to lead a life that is appropriate to their dignities as our sisters and brothers?

In order to disclose all of these processes for young people around Europe and to raise awareness of the issues mentioned in churches in Europe and globally, the second year of the campaign will more specifically review and analyse ecological justice in the framework of various links. Within this scope we would like to explore the relation between ecology, economy and politics, including reviewing ecology issues as basis for numerous conflicts.

This training course will offer participants the following:
- Knowledge on various situations of ecological injustice in various contexts.
- Overview and examples of basic notions and concepts of ecological justice (in relation to economics and politics).
- Understanding of mechanisms influencing the processes of ecological justice, such as political negotiations and economic transactions.
- Analysis of the governance and economic mechanisms of distribution of wealth and possible consequences and the outcomes of international events with a significant impact on environmental policy.
- Tools and methods to address issues of ecological justice and implement concrete projects in one’s own context.
- Possibility to learn from good practice examples on the local level in Belarus.
- Space for exchange of experiences and good practices.
- Practical tips on low-consumption lifestyle.
- Opportunity to meet with young people from different countries and denominations, to share experiences and develop new friendships!

PARTICIPANTS
This training course is aimed at young people (age 18-30) actively engaged in their communities and coming from EYCE’s network. The participants should be open minded young people, with an initial interest and basic knowledge in issues linked to ecological justice. They should have potential to raise awareness of the themes addressed at the training course thus providing help to their sending organisations/ Churches in addressing the issues of the training course and bring meaningful and sustainable solutions. Altogether 30 participants are expected at the training course.

PARTICIPATION FEE
50€ (Euros) including accommodation, meals and programme.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Two simple steps:
- E-mail to applications@eyce.org and ask for the application form;
- Fill in the application form and send it back!

Application deadline is 5th MAY 2012!

Earth Day is a day early each year, when events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Earth Day was fist celebrated in 1970 in San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. From 2009, the United Nations designated the 22nd of April to be International Mother Earth Day and nowadays Earth Day is celebrated in more than 175 countries!
Read more: www.earthday.org

One of the objectives of EYCE’s Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice is to raise awareness about responsibility for Creation and to achieve more sustainability in way we live! Therefore we want to contribute to the Earth Day 2012 together with the friends of the campaign. But not only! This is about raising awareness on important things and still having fun together! We invite you to join us in Earth Day activities in your city, country, parish or youth group! When Mother Earth is happy, we are happy!

This is what we want you to do:
- Dress up in party hats made of plastic bottles or any attire made of recyclable materials! You might also get party whistles…
- Prepare simple posters saying “City-Country-for Earth” (e.g. Brussels-Belgium-for Earth)!
- On the 22nd of April 2012 go to a main square, church, park or any other well visited place of your city/ country!
- Take photos holding the posters together with the passers-by!
- Give passers-by leaflets containing good advice how to make Mother Earth happy!
- Send the pictures to campaign@eyce.org !

We will:
- Provide you with ready designed leaflets, where you only will have to insert the text in your own language and print!
- Publish the pictures on www.eyce.org and campaign Facebook page, thus raising awareness about Earth Day, recycling, responsible consumption and why we need to make Mother Earth happy!
- Give free campaign materials (T-shirt, bracelets) to the person, who will send in the biggest number of photos with passers-by!

HAPPY EARTH DAY TO YOU!

Please write to campaign@eyce.org to ask for the leaflet template!

Duration:
The programme will start on 1st of July 2012 and last until the end of June 2013.

Tasks:
The volunteer will work at the EYCE office in Brussels, Belgium together with the EYCE General Secretary and another volunteer. The volunteer’s work will consist of assisting the General Secretary in office work, the practical organisation of EYCE events and taking part in them. The particular project “Acting Together to Overcome Poverty!” will focus on addressing issues of poverty and social justice through EYCE’s interreligious work.

The main tasks of the volunteer will be to coordinate the preparation and implementation of the training course on this theme together with the EYCE Executive Committee and General Secretary, as well as networking with the EYCE members and partners in preparation of the event and awareness raising materials, a small publication and other relevant materials. Furthermore, the volunteer will be in charge of the coordination of the activities linked to the 10th anniversary of EYCE’s interreligious work in cooperation with the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO).

In the framework of this project, tasks of volunteer will include:
- Attending meetings and participating in seminars and trainings relevant to the theme, taking place in Brussels and elsewhere;
- Representing EYCE in Ecumenical organisations and European institutions, when the topic of the project is concerned;
- Internet research and text studies on themes of the project;
- Compiling resource documents and materials regarding the theme of the project;
- Facilitation of International Planning Team, communication, administrative tasks related to the work on the project;
- Being part of the preparatory team for the thematic event, coordinating practicalities and thematic work, together with the EYCE General Secretary;
- Work on publications and awareness raising materials regarding the theme – coordinating the submission of articles, looking for authors and facilitating layout processes and publishing;
- Contacting youth organisations/ religious communities to express their views regarding the theme and in particular meeting with other youth organisations from EYCE’s network to develop the thematic work (via phone, email, visiting);
- Working on newsletters, EYCE Facebook page and section on EYCE website promoting and raising awareness on the theme;
- Assisting EYCE office staff in preparation of other EYCE events and taking part in International Planning Committees;
- Communication with EYCE’s members and partners regarding the theme;
- Working on preparation of the follow-up project.

Conditions:
International travel, accommodation, insurance, as well as a monthly ticket for public transport in Brussels and a small pocket money will be provided to the volunteer. EYCE will help the volunteer in finding accommodation. It will be also possible to take a language course in Brussels, if needed. The volunteer will be supported by the General Secretary and EYCE Executive Committee. There will be also a mentor from the network of former EYCE office volunteers, who will help the volunteer with guidance.

We are looking for:
EYCE is looking for a volunteer, who is interested in ecumenical youth work, aged 18-30 years and is able to communicate well in English. He/she should also have the potential to address issues of poverty and social injustice in his/ her local context, as well as implement initiatives triggering a change. Yet, the motivation, the willingness to widen the knowledge with regards to the theme of the project and an nterest in developing skills in addressing poverty and social injustice through interreligious cooperation will be crucial. Furthermore, the volunteer should be willing to learn and able to recognise the chance to work in a multicultural and inter-religious environment as an opportunity to grow personally.

Application process:
Applications in free form along with CV are to be sent to the EYCE office (general.secretary@eyce.org) no later than 20th of May 2012. For more information contact the EYCE office at general.secretary@eyce.org!

Much time of the visit was dedicated to strengthening the contacts with EYCE’s Portuguese member organisation, as well as the Presbyterian Protestant Church of Portugal. The representative of the PPCP Youth department Ms. Letícia Mauaie introduced the CCT to the work of the youth department, as well as the ecumenical platform in Portugal.

One of the most important parts of the visit was the meeting with Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation and its representative Vanda Marques. The CCT was introduced to the vast work of Quercus, starting from simple recycling projects to preserving biodiversity and offering alternative energy sources. The section for Education for Sustainability was particularly interesting for the work of EYCE’s Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice, as it offers good opportunities for further cooperation and exchange of experiences. The Campaign Coordination Team was very inspired by the meeting and will offer the readers of the Leaf, the campaign magazine, an overview of the work of Quercus and the visit.

The CCT had an opportunity to attend the service of the Methodist church in Lisbon, as well as meet with the youth group. The meeting was very successful and great interest in the work of EYCE and the campaign aroused. Together with the youth group the CCT developed an input for the Earth Day activities of the campaign, which will be carried out on the 22nd of April.

EYCE and the Campaign Coordination Team are looking forward to an interesting and fruitful cooperation with the organisations in Portugal!

In some Christian traditions, Stations of the Cross depict the different stations of Christ’s passion, being a devotional experience for Christians. The fourteen Stations of the Cross can ground you in the story of Christ’s passion and as you watch the different stations, you can pray and reflect. Usually, you walk the Stations of the Cross and as you move from station to station, you move physically and mentally from the beginning of the passion to its end.

Mary Button, minister of visual arts at First Congregational Church in Memphis (TN), has created a contemporary Stations of the Cross, depicting both the passion of Jesus Christ, and the journey of the Syrian uprising that began in January 2012. It shows in a very powerful way, how the situation of the Syrian people has been in the past year and how they have suffered from violence and terror. When seeing both journeys next to each other it becomes clear that violence and terror should not exist any more within God’s creation after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. Yet, they continue to exist, because human beings do not abstain from striving for power and oppressing other human beings. In the midst of this world, it is often difficult for us to recognise God’s transforming grace and liberating power at work in the different parts of the world. Nonetheless, we as Christians are called to work for peace and justice in our contexts with the abilities we have. Considering that in God’s oikonomia no part of the inhabited earth is left out of the call to care and work for peace, Christians must work together across denominations and borders to advocate for peace – in Syria and other parts of the world. While we know that it is not us, who bring peace, but that it is God’s peace that will transform the world, we need to work for this peace in every possible way.

Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14,27)

We wish you a peaceful and blessed Easter and ask you to pray for peace in Syria during these days!

Earth Day is a day early each year, when events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Earth Day was fist celebrated in 1970 in San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. From 2009, the United Nations designated the 22nd of April to be International Mother Earth Day and nowadays Earth Day is celebrated in more than 175 countries!
Read more: www.earthday.org

One of the objectives of EYCE’s Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice is to raise awareness about responsibility for Creation and to achieve more sustainability in way we live! Therefore we want to contribute to the Earth Day 2012 together with the friends of the campaign. But not only! This is about raising awareness on important things and still having fun together! We invite you to join us in Earth Day activities in your city, country, parish or youth group! When Mother Earth is happy, we are happy!

This is what we want you to do:
- Dress up in party hats made of plastic bottles or any attire made of recyclable materials! You might also get party whistles…
- Prepare simple posters saying “City-Country-for Earth” (e.g. Brussels-Belgium-for Earth)!
- On the 22nd of April 2012 go to a main square, church, park or any other well visited place of your city/ country!
- Take photos holding the posters together with the passers-by!
- Give passers-by leaflets containing good advice how to make Mother Earth happy!
- Send the pictures to campaign@eyce.org !

We will:
- Provide you with ready designed leaflets, where you only will have to insert the text in your own language and print!
- Publish the pictures on www.eyce.org and campaign Facebook page, thus raising awareness about Earth Day, recycling, responsible consumption and why we need to make Mother Earth happy!
- Give free campaign materials (T-shirt, bracelets) to the person, who will send in the biggest number of photos with passers-by!

HAPPY EARTH DAY TO YOU!

Please write to campaign@eyce.org to ask for the leaflet template!

Enjoy reading!
EYCE_Newsletter_April_2012

PLACE
Minsk, Belarus

Taking Steps Towards an Ecologically Responsible Society
This training course is central event of the second year of EYCE’s Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice. EYCE’s 3-year Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice has been launched in 2011. For the second year of the campaign it is important to look beyond the immediately visible, which brings us to the following questions: how can habits, policies, products, which are hindering the ideas of ecological justice, be recognised? In which way can we as young people influence policy making processes? How can we address and influence ways of excessive consumption, excessive exploitation and cultivation of the earth and its natural resources, as well as excessive economic growth in general? What are the possibilities for all of us to become more aware of the causes and consequences of processes such as poverty, unsustainable manufacturing, bio-piracy, greenwashing and others? How can we promote the solidarity and justness of fair labour, fair trade, migrants’ rights and renewable energies?

Moreover, for EYCE as a community of young Christians it is important to link these processes and look for answers in our faith. How can we promote more solidarity among peoples? What needs to be done to reach modesty in consumption? How can one’s conveniences be diminished or overcome in order to allow people who live in other continents and are severely affected by the climate change, to lead a life that is appropriate to their dignities as our sisters and brothers?

In order to disclose all of these processes for young people around Europe and to raise awareness of the issues mentioned in churches in Europe and globally, the second year of the campaign will more specifically review and analyse ecological justice in the framework of various links. Within this scope we would like to explore the relation between ecology, economy and politics, including reviewing ecology issues as basis for numerous conflicts.

This training course will offer participants the following:
- Knowledge on various situations of ecological injustice in various contexts.
- Overview and examples of basic notions and concepts of ecological justice (in relation to economics and politics).
- Understanding of mechanisms influencing the processes of ecological justice, such as political negotiations and economic transactions.
- Analysis of the governance and economic mechanisms of distribution of wealth and possible consequences and the outcomes of international events with a significant impact on environmental policy.
- Tools and methods to address issues of ecological justice and implement concrete projects in one’s own context.
- Possibility to learn from good practice examples on the local level in Belarus.
- Space for exchange of experiences and good practices.
- Practical tips on low-consumption lifestyle.
- Opportunity to meet with young people from different countries and denominations, to share experiences and develop new friendships!

PARTICIPANTS
This training course is aimed at young people (age 18-30) actively engaged in their communities and coming from EYCE’s network. The participants should be open minded young people, with an initial interest and basic knowledge in issues linked to ecological justice. They should have potential to raise awareness of the themes addressed at the training course thus providing help to their sending organisations/ Churches in addressing the issues of the training course and bring meaningful and sustainable solutions. Altogether 30 participants are expected at the training course.

PARTICIPATION FEE
50€ (Euros) including accommodation, meals and programme.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Request more information and application form NOW: applications@eyce.org!!!

Application deadline is 15th APRIL 2012!