Call for the Local Actions: Cities for all – now!

Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe is happy to announce the third step of the annual work plan “Cities for all – inclusive Urban planning and decision making in the Eastern European cities”. The call for local actions is an opportunity for the youth organisations or group of young people that participated in the previous stages of the project to submit the applications consisting of the Local Action Plans and Budget.

The 3rd part of the project, “Cities for all-now” aims to contribute to the improving of the Urban infrastructure for Women and LGBT+ people in the cities of Eastern Europe and raise awareness on inclusive urban planning, by providing the the youth with an opportunity to practice their gained experience in the home cities.

We would like to achieve this by meeting the following objectives:

  • To support the participants of the previous phases and their organisations in creating a space on the local level for young people wishing to tackle urbanization and gender;
  • To ensure the transfer of the gained knowledge and skills between the participants of the previous two phases and their organizations and communities;
  • Address the local authorities, organizations and other stakeholders working on Urban planning in order to affect the local decision making.
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Open call for Participants: Training “Cities for All – How?”

The Green European Foundation with the support of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe is announcing a call for Participants for the international training “Cities for All – How?”. The training will take place between 25th and 31st of July in Serbia. 24th of July and 1st of August are the arrival and departure dates for the participants.

The project is the second phase of the Annual Work Plan “Cities for All – inclusive Urban planning and decision making in the Eastern European cities” and is going to focus on developing the advocacy skills of young activists to shape a more inclusive, LGBT+ friendly and safe cities for everyone in the local contexts.

Objectives of the “Cities for all – How?” are:

  • To develop the participants’ skills of creative and efficient campaigning for spreading the message to the wider public;
  • Create a space to explore the new tools and strategies, adapted to the struggles of young LGBT+ individuals and women in the cities, for lobbying the demands to the different stakeholders;
  • Equipping the participants with the skills of working with the local communities and organising outreach activities on the local level, that encourage young people’s active mobilisation around the topic of Cities for all.
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Open call for Prep-Team: Training “Cities for All – How?”

The Green European Foundation with the support of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe is announcing a call for Prep-Team members for the international training “Cities for All – How?”. The seminar will take place between 26th and 31st of July in Croatia.

The project is the second phase of our 2021 Annual Work Plan “Cities for All – inclusive Urban planning and decision making in the Eastern European cities” and is going to focus on developing the advocacy skills of young activists to shape a more inclusive, LGBT+ friendly and safe cities for everyone in the local contexts.

Objectives of the “Cities for all – How?” are:

  1. To develop the participants’ skills of creative and efficient campaigning for spreading the message to the wider public;
  2. Create  a space to explore the new tools and strategies, adapted to the struggles of young LGBT+ individuals and women in the cities, for  lobbying the demands to the different stakeholders;
  3. Equipping  the participants with the skills of working with the local communities  and organising outreach activities on the local level, that encourage  young people’s active mobilisation around the topic of Cities for all.
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Working Groups: call for new membership

All Working Groups (WGs) of CDN are looking out for new members, which is why they decided to publish a joint call for new membership. At the moment there is one regional WG – RUMB, and three topical ones: Gender, Digital [X] and Alternative Urbanisation. They differ from one another in topics they discuss and work on, but what binds them all is a common Green vision of working towards a more inclusive, democratic, just and sustainable Eastern Europe. Bellow, you can read short descriptions of Working Groups, just to get acquainted with each of them 🙂

Gender WG APPLY HERE

We are a group of diverse green activists from all over EE passionate about feminism, gender equality and LGBT+ rights. In the working group we have several topical priorities which define our objectives: 

  • Combating discrimination 
  • Gender Equality
  • LGBT+ rights

However, we work on wide range of related topics: feminism, education, sex education&health, advocacy and making queer and feminist theories and discussions accessible to all people. We are passionate about creating a network of people committed to these ideas and aim to create a safe space for gender activists, feminists, queer people and young greens who wish to engage and learn within this framework. 

Digital [X] – APPLY HERE

Do you want to be a part of or initiate activities for a better and free internet? Come and join us! At digital [x] we care about an open, diverse, and privacy-respecting online world. We’re also big fans of open source software and believe that human culture should be accessible to everyone. Anyone is welcome, and no technical knowledge is required. Whether you just want to discuss with like-minded people, start a campaign, organise a seminar, digital [x] is happy to welcome you. 

Alternative Urbanisation – APPLY HERE

The Group serves as a platform for young people to discuss fair and innovative solutions for cities in Eastern Europe, through discussions, movies’ discussions, international projects and online campaigns. Through its activities and endeavours the Working Group aims to advocate for sustainable and just development of urban areas to voice the existing issues of accessibility, gender inequality and overall betterment of societies, particularly of Eastern Europe.  

RUMB APPLY HERE

RUMB  stands for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus working together on  common problems and common solutions in this region. Currently, our working group consists of young people from the RUMB region with different backgrounds: students, lawyers, engineers, education workers, etc. But the will to participate in Green activism and thirst for changes are something we have in common. Therefore we are ready to apply our skills and knowledge to empower youth in our countries and make a first step for a better fair reality for all, despite the actual situation appears as it is.

For more information about the Working Groups check out the Working Groups pages on CDN’s website!

Open call for Participants for the Online course “Cities for all: Why?”

The Green European Foundation with the support of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe is announcing a call for Participants for the online course  “Cities for all: why?”. 

This online course is phase one of the Annual Work Plan of CDN, “Cities for all: Inclusive urban planning and decision making in the Eastern European cities”. The online course will be taking place on online learning platform of the Green European Foundation during May 2021. Aside from interactive educational content on the platform, you will have opportunity to learn, have fun and meet new people on weekly meetings, webinars with experts and workshops. Zoom meetings will happen on Mondays (at 18:00 CET), Wednesdays (at 18:00 CET) and Saturdays (at 12:00 CET). All webinars will be recorded and sent to the participants of the OC. All participants will receive a workbook on their residence address in which they will track online course progress and other tasks.

The course attendants will be encouraged to continue their learning in the scope of project through the second phase of the Work Plan, which will take place in Croatia in July 2021 (depending on COVID situation) and involvement in both events is a precondition for applying for Local Actions sub-grant that will take place in September 2021.

Online course â€śCities for all: why?”  will aim to understand how patriarchy shapes our cities, urban infrastructure and lives of urban youth and has the following objectives:

  • Provide the participants with the theoretical knowledge on how the cities are affecting the lives of young people of different genders and sexualities.
  • Create an inter-cultural safe space for young women and LGBT+ people to share their struggles and stimulate the discussion on the values, principles and the directions about the future of inclusive cities.
  • Empower the participants with the tools and analytical skills for identifying the local challenges of their communities in regards of gender inclusive city planning.
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Open Call for Prep-team: Online Course “Cities for All – Why?”

Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe and Gender and Alternative Urbanisation Working Groups are announcing a call for Prep-Team members for the international Online Course “Cities for All – Why?”. The OC will take place between 1st and 31st of May in Online – on Green European Foundation learning platform and Zoom.

The project is the first phase of our 2021 Annual Work Plan “Cities for All – inclusive Urban planning and decision making in the Eastern European cities” and is going to focus on aiming to understand how patriarchy shapes our cities, urban infrastructure and lives of urban youth.

Objectives of the OC are:

  1. To provide the participants with the theoretical knowledge on how the cities are affecting the lives of young people of different genders and sexualities.
  2. To create an inter-cultural safe space for young women and LGBT+ people to share their struggles and stimulate the discussion on the values, principles and the directions about the future of inclusive cities.
  3. Empower the participants with the tools and analytical skills for identifying the local challenges of their communities in regards of inclusive city planning.
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Work Plan “Cities for all – inclusive Urban planning and decision making in the Eastern European cities”

Project background

Urbanism and Gender are strongly related topics and should be looked at together. In many Eastern European countries, bad city planning is failing young women and LGBT+ youth. Basic safety is a top concern for women and queer people in public spaces, public toilets are often insecure for us , the streets around suburban areas do not have enough street lightning, side walks are very narrow or do not exist at all. This causes discomfort for the pedestrians and often is not safe, the number of properly functioning public toilets are very low and are strictly divided into 2, which is another concern for gender queer people. All these put young women and queer individuals under big risk of facing different types of violence, including sexual. As a result, young LGBT+ individuals and women feel insecure to leave their houses when it gets dark. Additionally, women and queer people even in the city center can be followed and face verbal abuse. Around suburban areas of the city such cases are even more extreme – in some countries, women who are seen in public in late hours can be stigmatised. All the above mentioned issues are closely tied with the class, religious and ethnic background, education and other social aspects.

This is why CDN and its Alternative Urbanisation and Gender Working Groups are organising a Work Plan that aims to empower the young activists from the Eastern Europe to reach out and influence the local authorities through advocacy for improving urban infrastructure for all.

We will do this by reaching these objectives:

  1. First, train young activists from the Eastern Europe to understand how patriarchy shapes urban infrastructure and cities through equipping them with the tools and skills to explore the connection between our habitat and Gender. 
  2. Second, to develop skills of campaigning and advocacy among young activists to shape more inclusive, LGBT+ friendly and safe cities for everyone. 
  3. Third, to enable participants with an opportunity to practice their skills and share the gained knowledge further on the local level through communicating with authorities and expressing their demands regarding public spaces and inclusive infrastructure. 
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Outsmarting the paradigm: Implementation of new technologies in the cities

Project background and summary

The role of youth in cities has been one of CDN’s areas of work for several years now. The Network has previously organized several projects, including the Annual Work Plan “Urban Steps for Resilient Future” and a Summer School “Youth and the City: Young People for Fair and Green Cities”. Building on this work, in May, CDN will organise a training in Riga as a part of the GEF transnational project “A Charter for the Smart City II”. 

Young people are digital natives. We embrace technologies earlier than older generations. For a couple of years now, there are lot of talks about Smart Cities, but the solutions suggested are often not very smart or sustainable. What the large corporations and governments are presenting as a “Smart City”, in reality has many elements of a technocratic dystopia, the proposed solutions are called “smart” but in reality, they are just technology oriented projects for those that can afford it. However, technology doesn’t necessarily have to have negative implications on the city. It can be used for good if directed at improving everybody’s life in the cities. We would like to explore how our cities could move towards use of digitisation to benefit us without turning the city into a place of surveillance, exploitation and exclusion.

The training will deal with the challenges and opportunities that implementation of new technologies brings to the cities in different aspects (social, environmental, economical, democratic) in the Central and Eastern Europe. Participants will be made aware of how technologies change us and our cities, be able to rethink the concept of smart cities from a green perspective for Eastern and Central European cities and create ideas on how to influence public debate and local decision-making on technological innovations and their implementations in the cities of the region.

The training is meant for young people (till 30) from Eastern and Central Europe (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo*, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine) interested in looking at how the implementation of new technologies in cities can affect the democracy, social and economic influences on youth. The event will take place between 26th and 30th of May in Riga  (25th and 31th are travel dates).

Aim: To explore how technologies change us and our cities and rethink the concept of smart cities from a green perspective.

Objectives:

  • Train 25 young people in critical assessment of technology in cities and re-evaluate its role in the urban environment;
  • Assess the Charter for the Smart Cities through the Central and Eastern European lens; 
  • Create a platform for exchange of best practices for young people interested in exploring the connection between Urbanism and/or Technology;
  • Create a set of outputs relevant and useful for the young people in the Central and Eastern Europe tackling the connection between the Cities and Technology.

Methodology

The program will be based on the principles of non-formal education and intercultural learning. We strive for active, inclusive and direct communication and transfer and sharing of knowledge.

Sessions will be balanced between theoretical inputs, training, workshops, discussions, reflection, planning, brainstorming and other interactive methods of learning.

By the end of the project, a draft toolkit for actions which will foster public debate on smart city policies and influence local decision-making will be developed.

This project is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of CDNEE and Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.

Call for Prepteam: “Outsmarting the paradigm: Implementation of new technologies in cities”

Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe and its Alternative Urbanisation Working Group are announcing a call for Prep-Team members for the international training “Outsmarting the paradigm: Implementation of new technologies in cities”. The seminar will take place between 26th and 30th May in Riga (25th and 31th are travel dates).

The event is implemented as a part of the transnational project “A Charter for the Smart City II”. More information about the project you can read here.

A&O

Aim: To explore how technologies change us and our cities and rethink the concept of smart cities from a green perspective.

Objectives:

  • Train 25 young people in critical assessment of technology in cities and re-evaluate its role in the urban environment;
  • Assess the Charter for the Smart Cities through the Central and Eastern European lens; 
  • Create a platform for exchange of best practices for young people interested in exploring the connection between Urbanism and/or Technology;
  • Create a set of outputs relevant and useful for the young people in the Central and Eastern Europe tackling the connection between the Cities and Technology.

If you are young (till 30) person from Eastern and Central Europe (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo*, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine) interested in how the integration of new technologies in cities can affect the democracy, social and economic influences on youth, this project will be very much relevant.

In order to achieve these objectives, we are looking for young activists to join the preparatory team. Prep-team members should speak English, be available during the preparation period, be responsible about fulfilling their tasks, have good organisational skills, be good team players and committed to the aims of the project and CDN’s values and be familiar with non-formal education methods. 

Main responsibilities of the prep-team:

  • Active participation in the regular online meetings prior to the event (March-May/ 2-3 h a week);
  • Participation in a live prep team meeting in Riga: 14-15 March (2 full working days), arrival day 13th, departure 16th.
  • Dissemination of the call and selection of participants, preparation of participants for the event and providing them with all the necessary information regarding the program;
  • Preparation and facilitation of the programme of the Training; designing and preparing sessions based on non-formal education methodology, invitation and communication with speakers, experts, trainers and partners in accordance with the project aims (4-6 h a week);
  • Helping with the promotion of the event and ensuring media visibility;
  • Taking care of practicalities and of the general well-being of the participants;
  • Full participation during the entire event and prep team meeting before and after: Arrival 23rd of May, departure 1st of June;
  • Supporting the finalisation of the outputs;
  • Helping with the reporting of the seminar.

Being a prep-team member at CDN event would offer you:

  • Working in a lively international urban activist environment;
  • Experience in managing youth projects – preparation, implementation and reporting;
  • Getting familiar with Green values and CDN work;
  • Getting to know local activists and Alternative Urbanisation activists and their work;
  • A possibility to develop your leadership and group work skills;
  • A lot of work and a lot of fun!

Practicalities: 

Accommodation, food, working space, travel and visa costs for preparatory team will be fully covered. For selection of travel means the condition is to combine the most economic and environmentally friendly way (lowest price + travel time + CO2 emissions).

DEADLINE for submitting online applications is 5th of February, Midnight CEST. 

You will be informed by e-mail approximately in 2 weeks time after the deadline. Please add project.coordinator@cdnee.org to your contacts, so that you do not receive our reply in spam folder.

APPLY HERE

This project is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of CDNEE and Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.

Open call for Participants: Summer School “Youth and the City: Young people for fair and Green cities” [Extended]

Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe and Alternative Urbanisation Working Group are announcing a call for Participants for the summer school “Youth and the City: Young people for fair and Green cities”. The event will take place from 5th to 9th of August in Prague ( 4 and 10th are travel dates to and from Prague.)

With this summer school we aim to conceptualise and promote the model of sustainable and democratic cities among active young people in the Central and Eastern Europe and provide them with tools for reclaiming their cities.

The aims and objectives of the project are:    

  • To create a space for youth to discuss the concept and role of Alternative Urbanisation in shaping the future of the cities;
  • To empower young people to use the city as a platform for doing local, Green and alternative politics;
  • To create a toolkit of positive practices and methods of influencing politics on a very local level.

Who should apply?

We are looking for 20 young people aged 16-35, residing in Central and Eastern Europe (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo*, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine).

We encourage applications reflecting diversity in all forms; therefore we welcome applications from those who identify as women, LGBTQIA+, POC, migration background, or with a different ability.

Participants who have activism experience in working on the rights for the city and/or urban planning and policy making and with relevant knowledge or high motivation to learn about the topic are highly encouraged to apply.

Practicalities: 

Language: The main language of this activity will be English. But not being comfortable interacting in English should not prevent you from applying, majority of us at the event will be non-native speakers and the group will be able to help out if there is some term you might not know!

Costs: The full cost of working materials, visa and lodging (accommodation in multi-bed rooms, vegetarian food, and refreshments) during the event will be covered by the organizers. In exchange, we ask for a participation fee of 20 EUR for participants coming from non-EU countries and 30 EUR for participants coming from EU countries.

Accommodation, food, working space, travel and visa costs for participants will be fully covered. For selection of travel means we encourage participants to combine the most economic and environmentally friendly way (lowest price + travel time + CO2 emissions).

DEADLINE for submitting online applications: 16th of June 2019 at Midnight CET. You will be informed about the results of the selection within two weeks after the deadline.


*All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

This project is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of CDNEE and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.

 Apply here!