The first pre-Forum event took place in Primosten, Croatia from April 10-12, 2019 and it coincided with Croatia’s network members annual meeting. The event titled MARE NOSTRUM focused on youth; challenges, mobility, employment, opportunities for business development, education, and best practices exchange, what’s is Mediterranean today, how they relate to being a ‘Mediterranean’, what is Mediterranean culture to them today.
HoNs from the following 20 countries attended: Austria, Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Italy, Morocco, Ireland, Lithuania, Jordan, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Luxemburg, Poland, Greece, Algeria, Slovenia, Turkey.
The two-day program also coincided with the 10th Anniversary of the Croatian Network for Cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean in the framework of Anna Lindh Foundation.
This pre-Forum event was used for the presentation of youth projects – exchange of good practice examples with the following projects being presented:
- Youth and EU – Croatia
- Resilient Thessaloniki – Greece
- Center for Youth – Croatia
- NIAK Intercultural competencies for social cohesion & integration in Ireland – Ireland
- Famagustawhitenights – Cyprus
- Program Open Institute – Spain
- Activism and volunteering of young people in the community – Croatia
- Social Entrepreneurship Caravan – Turkey
- Philanthropy and the youth – Croatia
- Mediterranean theater – Italy
An Oxford-style debate by Young Mediterranean Voices with audience participation took place as well. The motion of the debate, proposed and selected by the young debaters, was: Virtual exchange is the best tool to revive the youth Mediterranean identity. Debaters were: Danijela Svirčić (Croatia), Aissam Benaissa (Algeria), Fatima Boulahdoud (Morocco) and Burak Yusmak (Germany). The debate was moderated by Najra Krvavac (BiH).
Anna Lindh Foundation and Germany’s HoN presented Erasmus + Virtual Exchange -
Intercultural learning experiences, highlighting what makes it unique:
- Scalability and inclusivity
- Experiential learning
- Community of trust
- Learner-led approach
They presented an actual Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange debate with the motion THBT all citizens over 18 who do not vote should pay a fine. Debate participants were from Italy, Algeria, and Morocco.
The general impression of all participants: The importance of unity, of what we have in common, not what divides us - migration, tolerance, stereotypes, unemployment, youth, Mediterranean identity - how can we present what unites us?
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