Black Sea offers her ‘Richdom’, youngsters add their wisdom.
Since 1999, youngsters from different countries in the Black Sea region have been participating in Observer-Projects organized by I’MI. Present in the Black Sea Project are participants from other conferences* and from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Moldavia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands, representing various kinds of organizations. The Black Sea Conference is a tool for the bettering of:

1. The situation of youngsters (youth organizations) in different Black Sea Countries.
2. The possible role of youngsters in dealing with environmental issues concerning the Black Sea and the sustainable development of Black Sea countries.

This Conference may give the opportunity to set up "pilot-projects" and to get familiar with the philosophies of the region by way of multicultural and multi-ethnic cooperation of the participants.

Organisation:
Institute for Migration Issues (I’MI), Haarlem, the Nederlands.

Theme of the meeting:
Black Sea offers her Richdom & youngsters add their wisdom.

The meeting took place in Georgia between september 14th and 23rd 2005.

Participants: 60 Age range: 18-25 years old

Number of working days: 10

Main language: English. Whenever necessary, other languages were used as well (German/Russian/Spanish).

*Youth for Europe thema Rol van de Media, Jongeren en Political Participation in Europe, Vakbonden en Jongeren: is dit een contradictie in Europa?, Future without Fear, etc.

Aims of the Conference:

• Creating open dialogues between all the participants of the Conference.
• Examining practical measures on the development and implementation of youth policy and youth work in Black Sea countries, together with young people, according to their needs.
• Promoting mutual understanding and respect between the actors of the Black Sea Region, governmental and non-governmental sectors, enterprises or civilians, and to encourage them to cooperate.
• Examining the approaches, methods and logistical working conditions of the different Black Sea partners in order to strengthen the effects of their actions.
• Helping the participants and grassroot groups to develop tools and skills to implement their newly gained knowledge in their daily work and life.
• Actively learning about democracy and water-related procedures in member states.
• Building up a “Black Sea program and network structure” with its own website/bulletin.

Program elements:

• Getting acquainted with each other’s role in the participating countries and organizations.
• Focusing on cultural differences, mutual stereotypes and their influences and consequences.
• Developing and focusing on elements playing an important role in the communication between NGO’s, governments, enterprises and civilians.
• Promotion and continuation of the Black Sea international network in the participants’ countries.
• Structuring the Monitoring of decisions and their practical implementation for all projects after the Black Sea Conference is finished.

Working methods:

• Plenary sessions, lectures and team discussions/dialogues with Black Sea- and EU experts.
• A visit to the Georgian Parliament as well as contacts with the Georgian media.
• Learning how to use cameras and microphones; making video interviews on the streets in different cities and villages along the Black Sea coast.

Follow-up of the Conference:

• Presentation of a report of the “Black Sea” project 2005.
• Developing further contacts and networks between the project partners.
• The participants from NGO’s and other actors (enterprises, tourist industry and civilians) will start up “Black Sea” steering groups in their countries. They will produce Black Sea info campaigns and youth work presentations in high schools and universities, neighbourhood centers, unions, enterprises and political parties.
• The participants will give interviews to newspapers and radio/tv stations as well as publish articles in local, provincial and national newspapers.
• The building of a network called the ‘Black Sea Youth Platform’.

The future:
Experiencing the positive effects of this Conference and the growing involvement of youngsters in democratic processes in NGO’s and other sectors of society, we have decided to continue with this encouraging project. The program will be actualized according to the constantly changing political, economical, environmental and social situations in the Black Sea region. A follow-up Conference is planned for October 2008…

A profile of the participants and the recruitment procedure:

• Actively involved in youth work, youth (development/environmental) organization or youth network, young interpreters.
• Aged between 18 and 25.
• A resident of one of the countries mentioned in the introduction.
• Active members of Black Sea wide S.E.E./F.W.F./EVS I’MI transfer-point network.
• Well informed about their organizations (participants should be able to present their organizations and activities to the other participants.
• Making an effort to attend for the full duration of the Conference.
• Be able to read and speak English.
• Write a letter of motivation before the conference starts as well as a final report after the conference.
• Readiness to participate in follow-up platforms.
• Provide I’MI with a signed declaration.
• Willing to work in a group, take initiatives and share experiences with others.

Candidates will have to apply using an application form, and attach a motivation letter as well as a letter of support from the sending organizations. Selection procedures will ensure a balanced group (gender, age, geographical regions, different experiences, cultural backgrounds and organizations). Selected participants will receive further information and formal invitations.

Special Remarks:
During the fact-finding mission the preparation team had the honor of coming to an agreement with mrs. Sandra Roelofs, the First Lady of Georgia.

1. Mrs. Roelofs opened the Conference.
2. Received a delegation with conclusions of the Conference in the Georgian Parliament.
3. Maintains contact with the ‘Black Sea Youth Platform’.

Important contacts:
Black Sea Eco-Academy
Contact person: Ekaterine Khvedelidze
51 Rustaveli st.
Batumi, Georgia
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ;
CENN - Caucasus Enviromental NGO Network
http://www.eco-web.com/register/05802.html

YES – Young Europeans for Security
http://www.yes-dk.dk/

Azerbaijan Youth Union
http://www.womenaid.org/caucasusnow/English/directory/azyouthunion.html

Black Sea NGO Network
http://www.bseanetwork.org/

Black Sea Environmental Program
http://www.blackseaweb.net/general/enviprog.htm

European Youth Center – Budapest
http://www.eycb.coe.int/

UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project
http://www.undp-drp.org/drp/index.html

Romanian Marine Research Institute
http://www.rmri.ro/

For more information:
INSTITUTE FOR MIGRATION ISSUES(I’MI)
Jansweg 52
2011 KN HAARLEM
THE NETHERLANDS
Tel.: 0031 (0) 23 532 76 20
Fax: 0031 (0) 23 542 83 70
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.imiorg.nl

Kakhi Sakhltkhutsishvili, Project Coördinator
Eli A. Ros, Secretary General
Franco Morittu, Office Manager
Grace Coussy Rodriguez, President
Saïd Mokadim, Vice President
Manuel Lorca Cornejo, Youth Work I’MI