28/1/2008

youth for vivicitta seminar

new deadline: 6th of April 2008

Invitation to the ISCA and UISP International Seminar
"YOUTH FOR VIVICITTA"
21st to 25th May 2008, Bucharest - Romania

How to implement a large-scale, socially valuable sport for all event
Vivicittá is an international sport and culture event based on the value of sharing. Discover how to build a network, expand the Vivicittá concept and bring it to your own city.

Context

If your heart beats for sport and your eyes can see the social dimension…
If you would like to be a part of a mass sport event but you don’t know how to …
If you would like to play an active role in an international environment but you need an opportunity…
If you would like to organize a big event but alone you can’t…
If you would like to develop your managerial skills and you need a challenge…
If you strongly believe that sport can send social messages and you think you are “alone”…
If you are wondering whether sport can really be a vehicle for integration and you want to see it working …

then Vicicitta wants you!

the Vivicitta event

Vivicittá is an international sport for all (mass sport) event organised by UISP, using running as a tool to promote human rights and values: the specific theme changes from year to year. Vivicittá brings more than 70,000 citizens to run simultaneously in different cities from across the world. Each participating city organizes two runs; the ‘competitive’ run with a 12 km route and the not-competitive run, which varies between 2 to 5 km. The unique event includes a computing system that allows the athletes of Venice to run with and against their friends in Lisbon or any other city taking part in Vivicittá. It’s not only a run but also a social event.

Runners demonstrate their support to live in an eco-friendly environment, in solidarity with the inhabitants of other countries, sharing different cultures, respecting differences and sending a united message of peace.

The first Vivicittá was run in 1984, the theme of the event was “Reappropriation of historic centres for more liveable cities”. Soon after Vivicittá grew as an “international event”. The 1992 run included six torchbearers involved in the Barcelona Olympic games. In 1996, Vivicittà was run in Rebibbia (Rome prison), two years later in the indoor stadium of Sarajevo. In 2002 Paul Targat – the Kenyan athletic champion – gave the start to the “Run without borders”. One year ago it was the first edition in Beirut.

Vivicittá aims at growing even bigger and wants to give youth a role in developing this growth.

objectives of the seminar

The purpose of this training is to involve and qualify young Europeans to implement Vivicittá in their own city and country in order to spread the concept and spirit of Vivicittá. The “Youth for Vivicittá” training gives young people the opportunity to meet in an international environment and to:

Develop knowledge, attitudes and skills to play an active role to organize a mass sport event
Learn how a mass sport event can also be a promotional tool for social values
Learn how to implement cross-sectorial campaign during mass sport events
Learn how to get an important media coverage of mass sports events for social causes
Demonstrate how sport can be used to overcome political, social and cultural barriers
Work in groups, taking on different roles such as leader or organiser, taking responsibility for carrying through a task with others, facing up to challenges and taking decisions democratically
Work on concrete follow-up activities from local to international level

training conditions

Working language
The working language will be English. Applicants are requested to have good knowledge of English.

Participant profile
Young people involved in voluntary work at local, regional, national NGOs and Sport organisations. Young people working in the field of international youth work, education through sport or social change.
Participant’s age should be between 18-30.
Applications can come from all Council of Europe member states, http://www.coe.int/T/e/com/about_coe/member_states/default.asp
Candidates should have high motivation to contribute to the follow up of the training course.
Participants are asked to carefully fill-in the online application form below.

Financial conditions of participation
The organisers and sponsors pay accommodation and food.
Travel expenses will be refunded by ISCA at a maximum rate of 200€ per person.
ISCA will need to see all original tickets and receipts to enable a refund.
Participants need to participate in 90% of the seminar programme, otherwise we can not refund their
travel expenses. We encourage participants to make use of the cheapest mean of travel possible.
The participation fee is 25€ for all participants.

application procedure

Application procedure and selection of participants
The call for applications is launched on the 20th of February 2008 and will be closed on the deadline of the
6th of April 2008.
On the base of the received applications, ISCA will take a final decision on accepted application.
Confirmation will be send to participants on the 6th of April 2008.

draft Programme
Wednesday   21st of May 2008   Arrivals and welcoming of all participants
Thursday   22nd of May 2008   Getting to the know the group and the Vivicitta concept
Friday            23rd of May 2008   Campaign and events in cities
Saturday    24th of May 2008   Projects, network and follow-up
Sunday          25th of May 2008   Leisure time and departure

Vivicitta invitation (PDF, 0.17 MB)