Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Global Youth Connect: Deadline Extended


Deadline Extended: April 15, 2014


Summer Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Programs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Rwanda


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In 2013, GYC Rwanda Participants (from 7 different nationalities) visited the Bisesero Mountain Heroes Memorial and learned about the French soldiers' complicity in exposing the Tutsis to the Interahamwe killers. After visiting the memorial, GYC made a donation and participants recorded thoughts in the visitors' book, spoke to a heroic survivor of Bisesero in a nearby village, and drove back to Lake Kivu to debrief the experience and incorporate it into their blogs and volunteer service (some participants volunteered for the Association of Student Genocide Survivors).

 

 

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

 

Global Youth Connect has several positions remaining on our Summer 2014 Human Rights Delegations to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Rwanda.

 

Do you know a young leader, student, or professional who would benefit from engaging in dialogue and action with other like minded young adults and grassroots organizations in post-violence countries?

 

Each three-week GYC delegation brings youth from around the world together with youth from Rwanda/Bosnia to engage together in three key activities:

  • A Cross Cultural Human Rights Workshop
  • Site Visits/Meetings with policy makers, organizations, institutions, and to memorials
  • Volunteer Service with grassroots NGOs on a variety of human rights issues including but not limited to: conflict resolution, education, health care, food/shelter, access to justice, human rights of children/youth, women, low-income populations, LGBTQ populations, indigenous populations, genocide survivors.

The key outcomes of our programs are: experiential and theoretical understanding of transitional justice, conflict resolution, as well as human rights standards, promotion, and protection in a post-genocide context. Other outcomes include future employment and experience for local and international youth participants; networking and capacity building for local grassroots initiatives on a variety of human rights issues. Two decades after the violence, youth and civil society organizations in Bosnia and Rwanda continue to struggle to overcome the legacy of genocide. But they also continue to teach the world.

 

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Change is possible. This trip has actually given me a lot of hope because I see how many people are actually working on human rights and even how much of the younger international generation is moved.  Before I didn't think there was much I could do at this point in my life, but now I realize that even the smallest things matter. (GYC Bosnia Participant)

 

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The regular deadline for applications has been extended to April 15, 2014.  Program fees go up after the regular deadline has passed.

 

The age ranges are: 18 - 30 (for Bosnia Programs) and 18 - 35 (for Rwanda Programs).

 

Anyone can apply: from the U.S. and all over the world! So please forward widely!

 

Download this flyer to post on bulletin boards!

 

There is no application fee, and prospective candidates can apply to more than one program.

 

To apply, visit:

 


 

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JUNE/JULY 2014 CONFLICT RESOLUTION DELEGATION TO BOSNIA

(with SREBRENICA)

Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dates: June 29-July 20, 2014

Age Range: 18 - 30 (Student/Young Professional)

Program Fee: $2700


This program will focus specifically on the roots of conflict and the dynamics of justice, reconciliation, and peace building as experienced in Bosnia and Herzegovina more than a decade after the signing of the peace accord. In particular, participants will gain experience in conflict resolution and transformation as well as deepen their understanding of the post-conflict challenges faced by Bosnians today, especially young people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.

 

 

AUGUST 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS DELEGATION TO BOSNIA

Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dates: July 30 - August 20, 2014 

Age Range: 18 - 30 (Student/Young Professional)

Program Tuition: $2700 (International Applicants)


This program will focus on how local Bosnian youth and human rights organizations (including women’s organizations, youth organizations, LGBTI-rights organizations, arts organizations, and peace-building organizations, among others) are rebuilding the country more than a decade after the signing of the peace accord. Participants will gain experience in the application of international human rights theory, as well as deepen their understanding of the post-conflict challenges faced by Bosnians today, especially young people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.

 

 

August 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS DELEGATION TO RWANDA

Location: Rwanda

Dates: July 31 - August 21, 2014

Age Range: 18 - 35 (Student/Young Professional)

Program Fee: $2500


During this GYC delegation, International participants will join with Rwandan peers to learn about human rights achievements and challenges in Rwanda and the world, and to take concrete action steps together to support current and future efforts for human rights protection and promotion, both in Rwanda and abroad. Through a combination of workshops, site visits, advocacy meetings, and volunteer service with grassroots NGOs, we will learn and act on numerous key human rights issues in Rwanda, including but not limited to: gender and human rights, human rights of children, LGBTI populations, historically marginalized indigenous groups, refugees, domestic workers, poverty reduction, public health, juvenile justice, freedom of expression and the arts. In advance of and during the delegation, all participants will examine the roots of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and see how its legacy has impacted the country and its people, particularly Rwandan youth, and also how the country is attempting to rebuild today.

 

 

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More info:

 

Previous Rwanda Program Reports:


 

Previous Bosnia Program Reports:


 

GYC Blogs:

Gycvillage.org and the Open Society's youthpolicy.org/interculturalblogging

 


 


 

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Thank you for spreading the word about this opportunity for young leaders to engage in human rights learning and action at both local and global levels, in support of sustainable peace and development in post-genocide countries.

With gratitude and in solidarity,

 

Global Youth Connect


 


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