BSSSCSpringYouthEvent digital edition started!

3…2…1…#BSSSCSpringYouthEvent digital edition starts today with the discussions on Green Deal to Fight Climate Crisis in Corona Times. ?
?Get inspired by Kamil Wyszkowski from Global Compact Network Poland; Katarzyna Bałucka – Dębska from European Commission; Marcin Gerwin from @Uniwersytet Gdański and Marta Wróblewska – Youth Climate Strike.

Want to know more about the BSSSC Sporing Youth Event supported by the Euroregion Baltic and Union of the Baltic Cities?

In these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic, which has already changed our lives and mindsets, we believe that maintaining communication is even more important than before. We, in the Baltic Sea Region, want to speak across generations on the most important issues. On our fears and ambitions, on the problems we face and the solutions that can be undertaken.

​

Therefore, on behalf of the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation, Mieczyslaw Struk – Pomorskie Region Marshal and the BSSSC Chairman, together with the Union of the Baltic Cities, Euroregion Baltic, Pomorskie youth and climate activists invite you to the very first online BSSSC Spring Youth Event to take place on June 2nd-5th 2020.

​

We already know that the Corona crisis is with us for longer and influences a lot of aspects of our lives. It affects, among others, the ambitions we have had to make our planet clean and safe, and the society caring and prosperous. So we want to discuss what will be the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on:

• the climate crisis;
• digital world;
• education;
• modern democracy.

​

There are lots of challenges around us, which we can try to face together! We believe that we all need to think about how to critically react to information flow selecting facts from fakes and getting to know the whole picture. And how every one of us can contribute to a better life.

​

Working together and across the Baltic Sea, we can be more effective. Our voice will be much stronger, so decision-makers will have to listen. It will be important to take your voice to the EUSBSR AF in Turku, the Conference on the Future of Europe launched by the European Commission and other fora dealing with the state of our Earth and condition of our lives. Acting in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals we have to find solutions.

​

Let’s do this together!

Programme

Date: 2nd – 5th of June 2020

Online sessions on ZOOM

• Please join ZOOM via link before 15:00 PM

June 2nd, 15:00 -18:00 CET

1. Welcome and opening of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting – Mr. Mieczysław Struk, BSSSC Chairman
2.  General introduction to the idea of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting
3.  Expert debate/Introduction to the thematic area Green Deal to Fight Climate Crisis in Corona Times

• Mr Kamil Wyszkowski – Global Compact Network Poland
• Ms Katarzyna Bałucka – Dębska – European Commission
• Mr Marcin Gerwin – University of Gdańsk, Sopot Development Initiative
• Ms Marta Wróblewska – Youth Climate Strike (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia local group)

1. Discussion
2. Summary of day 1

June 3rd, 15:00 -17:00 CET

​

1. Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Digital World in Post – Corona Times

• Ms Aleksandra Przegalińska – Skierkowska – Koźmiński University
• Mr Timo Väliharju – The Finnish Centre for Open Systems and Solutions
• Mr Krzysztof Stachura – University of Gdańsk, The Foundation Center for Social Research and Analysis
• Mr Darius Šoparas – Creative Partner
• Mr Martin Rümmelein – former BSSSC Board Member

1. Discussion
2. Summary of  day 2

June 4th, 15:00 – 17:00 CET

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1. Expert debate /Introduction to the thematic area Education for the New World

• Ms Małgorzata Bukowska – Ulatowska – Teachers Education Centre in Gdańsk
• Mr Timo Väliharju – The Finnish Centre for Open Systems and Solutions
• Ms Indre Razbadauskaite – Venske – Globalkey.lt and Nepaleisk svajones
• Mr Przemysław Staroń – psychologist,  cultural expert and teacher

1. Discussion
2. Summary of day 3

June 5th, 15:00 – 18:00 CET

​

1. Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Democracy in the Post – Corona World

• Mr Marius Ulozas – Institute for Policy Research and Analysis
• Mr Wietse Van Ransbeeck – CitizenLab
• Mr Dominik Ringler – Children and Youth Participation in Brandenburg
• Ms Ewelina Górecka – the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation
• Ms Daniela Vanić – Democracy International

1. Discussion
2. Introduction of the BSYP project

• Ms Kaarina Williams – Council of  the Baltic Sea States
• Ms Aline Mayr – Council of Baltic the Sea States

1. Presentation of the results to the politicians/decision – makers, debate and summing up
2. End of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting

​

Download Programme as PDF

Questions and practical information

To register to the event, please visit https://bsssc-registration.pomorskie.eu

​

• Make sure you send us the motivation letter (not too long! max 1 page A4 format:-)) – tell us what drives your activities in the BSR. Add graphics, a collage, a film, or a photo if you wish – be creative!

​

Follow the instructions in the registration form. If you need more information, contact the BSSSC Secretariat: 

e-mail: bsssc@pomorskie.eu

Find us: 

twitter.com/bsssc2019

facebook.com/BSSSCnetwork/

facebook.com/BSSSCyouth

facebook.com/groups/bssscyouthnetwork/

What is important for the young citizens of the EU?
✅Freedom of Information #FoI,
✅trust-based democracy,
✅transparency.

Read more in the final publication of our Europe for Citizens#SIA4Y project including the handbook “Youth for Healthy Democracy in the European Union”, document on the PRIORITY TRANSPARENCY NEEDS FROM YOUTH PERSPECTIVE and Code of Good practice including the best practice on youth engagement policy form the Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic.

You can download and read them all here:

In these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic, which has already changed our lives and mindsets, we believe that maintaining communication is even more important than before. We, in the Baltic Sea Region, want to speak across generations on the most important issues. On our fears and ambitions, on the problems we face and the solutions that can be undertaken.

​

Therefore, on behalf of the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation, Mieczyslaw Struk – Pomorskie Region Marshal and the BSSSC Chairman, together with the Union of the Baltic Cities, Euroregion Baltic, Pomorskie youth and climate activists invite you to the very first online BSSSC Spring Youth Event to take place on June 2nd-5th 2020.

​

We already know that the Corona crisis is with us for longer and influences a lot of aspects of our lives. It affects, among others, the ambitions we have had to make our planet clean and safe, and the society caring and prosperous. So we want to discuss what will be the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on:

• the climate crisis;
• digital world;
• education;
• modern democracy.

​

There are lots of challenges around us, which we can try to face together! We believe that we all need to think about how to critically react to information flow selecting facts from fakes and getting to know the whole picture. And how every one of us can contribute to a better life.

​

Working together and across the Baltic Sea, we can be more effective. Our voice will be much stronger, so decision-makers will have to listen. It will be important to take your voice to the EUSBSR AF in Turku, the Conference on the Future of Europe launched by the European Commission and other fora dealing with the state of our Earth and condition of our lives. Acting in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals we have to find solutions.

​

Let’s do this together!

Please register here https://bsssc-registration.pomorskie.euto make sure you will be a part of this game-changing activity.

​

Contact: (+48) 58 32 68 313 or bsssc@pomorskie.eu

Programme

Date: 2nd – 5th of June 2020

Online sessions on ZOOM

• Please join ZOOM via link before 15:00 PM

June 2nd, 15:00 -18:00

1. Welcome and opening of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting – Mr. Mieczysław Struk, BSSSC Chairman

2. General introduction to the idea of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting

3. Expert debate/Introduction to the thematic area Green Deal to Fight Climate Crisis in Corona Times 4. Discussion

5. Summary of day 1

June 3rd, 15:00 -17:00

1. Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Digital World in Post – Corona Times

2. Discussion

3. Summary of day 2

June 4th, 15:00 – 17:00

1. Expert debate /Introduction to the thematic area Education for the New World

2. Discussion

3. Summary of day 3

June 5th, 15:00 – 18:00

1. Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Democracy in the Post – Corona World

2. Discussion

3. Introduction of the BSYP project

4. Presentation of the results to the politicians/decision-makers, debate and summing up

5. End of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting

​

Download Programme as PDF

Questions and practical information

To register to the event, please visit https://bsssc-registration.pomorskie.eu

​

• Make sure you send us the motivation letter (not too long! max 1 page A4 format:-)) – tell us what drives your activities in the BSR. Add graphics, a collage, a film, or a photo if you wish – be creative!

​

Follow the instructions in the registration form. If you need more information, contact the BSSSC Secretariat: 

e-mail: bsssc@pomorskie.eu

Find us: 

twitter.com/bsssc2019

facebook.com/BSSSCnetwork/

facebook.com/BSSSCyouth

facebook.com/groups/bssscyouthnetwork/

The InDigiSE project, funded by Erasmus+ programme, aims at delivery of youth-oriented, innovative educational tools to develop the entrepreneurial competence in the field of social economy and engage youth within social entrepreneurship.

Its duration will be 24 months starting from April 1^st 2020 and closing on 31^th March 2022, and the total amount received from Erasmus+ fund is 143.307€.

The project is led by Klaipedos Universitetas from Lithuania with the joint efforts of Kristiansand katedralskole Gimle (Norway), Baltic Institute for Regional Affairs (Poland), Socialas Inovacijas Centrs (Latvia) and Stowarzyszenie Gmin RP Euroregion Baltyk (Poland).

In the project we will present information on social entrepreneurship and social innovation from
www.socialenterprisebsr.net adressed to young people.

We would like to present to you one of the outcomes of YCGN project – an ebook on “Youth civic engagement in the South Baltic Region.

The main aim of the YCGN project led by the Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic was to increase cross-border cooperation resulting in building capacity of local actors working with youth and to demonstrate the benefits of soft cross-border cooperation for solving common youth issues. Project objectives were: enhancing cross-border cooperation of young people in partner countries; improving capacity and competencies of local governments and their representatives to engage in civil dialogue with youth, and disseminating project results for the development of future plans for increased youth participation in local and cross-border issues in the SB region.

Download the full publication here:

https://sbycgn.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/YOUTH-CIVIC-PARTICIPATION-IN-THE-SOUTH-BALTIC-REGION-PDF-ENG.-VERSION.pdf

The issues of civic participation, including youth civic participation, have been present in both the scientific and political discourse for many years. The changes taking place in modern societies and civic activity encourage the search for effective solutions, especially systemic ones, to involve as many citizens as possible in decision-making processes.

The importance of youth issues has been emphasised in a number of European Union documents: the Maastricht Treaty, the Treaty of Lisbon, European Commission White Paper, the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, the European Pact for Youth and the EU Strategy for Youth. Young people are also the subject of many national documents: laws, ordinances and strategies of Sweden, Lithuania and Poland. However, neither the European Union policy nor the policies of Lithuania, Poland and Sweden concerning youth and its civic participation can ensure the desired level of youth engagement in decision-making concerning young people as citizens.

International projects, particularly those co-financed by the European Union, have an important role to play in promoting young people’s civic participation. They allow the exchange of knowledge and experience, the creation of new solutions to problems and their implementation at the grassroots level. This was the role of the South Baltic Youth Core Groups Network (SB YCGN) project implemented in the framework of the 2014–2020 Interreg V-A South Baltic Programme by a Polish-Lithuanian-Swedish partnership. One of its outputs is this monograph.

The aim of this study was to show youth civic participation as a social inclusion element in the Southern Baltic region in need of reinforcement, based on the examples of selected municipalities from Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. The authors focused on the diagnosis of key elements of youth civic engagement at the local and cross-border level, taking into account the context of national youth policies and the European Union policy.

The problem was highlighted from the perspective of two social groups: adult decision-makers represented by employees of local institutions and young people aged 14–24 from the Lithuanian municipality of Telšiai, Polish municipalities of Dzierzgoń, Elbląg, Gdynia, Iława and Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, and the Swedish municipality of Hässleholm. For this reason, the core part of the monograph consists of the results of quantitative studies and qualitative studies conducted on the two populations. The objective of the quantitative studies was to identify and assess the needs of institutions and young people relating to the stimulation of youth civic participation at local and cross-border level, youth engagement in decision-making processes, key barriers to civic participation of young people and effective forms and methods of involving youth in active citizenship.

The quantitative studies of institutions and youth were conducted by a Polish-Lithuanian group whose members were Prof. Krystyna Gomółka, Dr.
Izabela Borucińska (Gdańsk University of Technology), Prof. Ligita Šimanskienė and Dr. Jurgita Paužuolienė (Klaipeda University). The qualitative studies were carried out with the aim of supplementing and broadening the knowledge of youth civic participation issues at the local and cross-border level, with particular emphasis on political involvement. The authors of these studies were the Lithuanian team composed of Prof. Rimantas Stašys (Klaipeda University) and Dr Remigijus Civinskas (Vytautas Magnus University).

To read more about the YCGN project –
https://southbaltic.eu/-/sb-ycgn

Dear friends of the Baltic Sea Youth Platform,

First and foremost we hope you are doing well.

As you probably know we received funding through the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU to develop the Baltic Sea Youth Platform together with you!

The project started in February 2020, in March 2020 a Project Assistant position at the CBSS Secretariat was established to coordinate the development of the BSYP. The strategic partners of the project met in the beginning of March in Elbląg, Poland to discuss how to continue the Erasmus+ project.

The project funding of almost 240.000€ for a period of 31 months is quite a lot, but if we really want to create a project for all youth organisations in the Baltic Sea Region this can only be the start.

Therefore, we are now reaching out to all associated partners and potential new associated partners, as well as all young people in the region. We want to hear your opinion to create an innovative, useful and sustainable Baltic Sea Youth Platform.

We created a survey where everyone can state their opinion on how the BSYP should look like.

Please think about how an ideal BSYP would look like for you, then fill in the survey and let us know.

Share the survey with your friends and everyone who might be interested in this.
We need every opinion to ensure all – young people, youth workers, decisionmakers- are on board.

The deadline for filing the survey is the 30.04.2020

We have heard from many youth organisations that they want to be more engaged in the BSYP.  This makes us very happy and shows we are on the right track.

Now we only need to find the best way to include you in the BSYP.

We are happy to have everyone on board and we do not want to assail you with information that can not be digested.
Therefore, please fill in the associated partner sign-up form, so we know about your capacity and can include you in the best way for the project and your organisation.

Thank you very much!

Join our Baltic Sea Youth facebook-group!

You want to get the latest information?

Sign-up to our BSYP Newsletter


Feel free to forward this mail to others!

Stay safe and healthy!

It is now time to mark this date in your calendars and contact us for possible travel support to join the SIA4Y project team for our final conference! We will meet for a full-day event in Gdansk, Poland on 28th April 2020. Our conference venue is the European Solidarity Centre. 

We are currently looking for youth participants to take part in the youth conference on Freedom of Information and transparency needs in the EU. Our Europe for Citizens co-funded project called „Strengthening civil society rights by Information Access for European Youth (http://civicyouth.eu) – SIA4Y will have its final event on 28th April in Gdańsk, Poland.  The project organized a series of mirroring events “Access to public information from the youth perspective” in each partner country (Poland, Estonia, Finnland and Belgium), and we’re now organizing the final conference to summarize our efforts and activities.

Our event will count ca.100 participants from different European countries (i.e. already confirmed youth from Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Finland, Estonia and Belgium). Our target group will be mainly young people ageing between 18 and 28 years old. The main objective of the event will be to inform and train the participants in the use of the right of access to public information, including practical training on socially responsible relationships and participatory budgeting knowledge for youth. We have now confirmed speakers from AccessInfo www.accessinfo.org who run the AskTheEU platform, as well as from Team Europe- official European Commission advisors.

Please see the draft fo the agenda here: SIA4Y Final conference agenda 28_04.2020 (draft Feb2020)

Registration is now open: https://forms.gle/ftb8sUXXtRAvmWXU7

If you want us to cover your travel and/or accommodation cost you need to contact the Project Coordinator, Magda until 20th Match 2020 the latest at magda.rzucidlo@euroregionabltic.eu

Euroregion Baltic, CBSS and our project partners are happy to announce that the project “Baltic Sea Youth Platform (BSYP)” has received funding from Erasmus+.

The platform will empower youth in the Baltic Sea Region starting 1 February 2020. The project period ends in August 2022, and the total amount received from the Erasmus+ fund is 240.000€.

The project has 3 focus areas:

• To improve the political impact of youth on decision-making in the Baltic Sea Region.
• To develop tools for better knowledge transfer, as youth involvement in policy making is subject to high fluctuation in human resources. 
• To serve as a facilitator for various innovative projects relying on the interests and capacities of youth in a broad range of policy areas.

All current information can be found in the Slack workspace and will soon be published on the CBSS website.

If you want to be part of shaping the platform, or stay updated on the project development, you can do so by providing your contact information here.  

For a brief overview of the platform, see our brochure.

BSYP aims at empowering youth and fostering real participation in decision and policy-making in the Baltic Sea Region.

The BSYP will enable youth organisations to reach their fullest potential by empowering them to develop new ideas and pursue them jointly, under the guidance of the 2030 Agenda framework.
The platform will engage youth at different levels, in the design of a common framework for action and a shared Baltic Sea Region (BSR) identity.

The aim of the partnership is, to:

1. Improve the political impact of youth on Baltic Sea policy-making.
2. Develop tools for better knowledge transfer.
3. Facilitate various innovative projects relying on the interests and capacities of youth in a broad range of policy areas.

What will be done?

The BSYP will produce several Intellectual Outputs usable for youth organisations and policy-makers in the BSR and other macroregions to promote the region and its identity.
The main output will be a virtual platform for youth, organisations and decision-makers for projects and to interact with each other. The platform will be built according to the needs of the young people in the region and the demands from policy-makers. The platform enables youth to interact, cooperate and communicate across borders and to virtually meet peers and decision-makers in a safe and productive environment.
The BSYD will also produce a Baltic Sea Youth Power Box, with toolkits and guidelines for intergenerational dialogue, policy-making, youth engagement and advocacy especially tailored for youth in the region, but with possible transferability to other regions.
Furthermore, the youth platform participants will be able to engage in the production of youth inputs for the Baltic Sea Cultural Cities (BSCC) – a flagship project of the Policy Area Culture of the EU Strategy of the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
The platform will collectively produce External Reports to show what projects have been done and how the platform was established. Furthermore, Policy Recommendations for decision-makers in the region to emphasise the political perspective of young people and to ensure their positions and rationales are delivered to those who make decisions about our future, will be produced.

How will it be done?

The Baltic Sea Youth Platform ensures that there is nothing about us, without us!

The Youth Platform will work as an umbrella coordination mechanism for several youth organisations horizontally across sectors in connection to the different policy areas and horizontal actions of the EUSBSR.
The Strategic Partners of the Erasmus+ project (KA 205) and other associated partners will meet physically and virtually several times per year to discuss the progress and further steps of the project.
There will be at least one Multiplier Event per year to inform external stakeholders about the progress of the project and showcase the Intellectual Outputs.
In addition, young people will have a safe space to come up with concrete actions and project ideas to allow for increased participation of youth in society. This will contribute to the development of sustainable policies for future generations and the creation of future experts with the cohesion and stability of our Baltic Sea Region at heart!

On 2nd and 3rd December 2019, our Europe for Citizens project partners travelled to Gdansk, Poland, to visit us and engage in a conversation centring around the theme of Solidarity.

What is the Connect Europe project about? This project aims to connect citizens and civil society representatives with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The European values are threatened with increased populism and nationalism around Europe. We want to raise awareness about the EU charter and discuss our fundamental rights as citizens of the EU. It is essential for all the partners in this project to counter these right-wing movements and instead promote a visionary and factual based discussion. In this project, we aim to take a different approach when it comes to communicating EU issues. Our strategic point of departure is starting a conversation about the common, cross-border challenges that will create a fora where common solutions can be discussed in a constructive manner. The topic of a common future is the starting point for citizens-to-citizens dialogue. This will move the discussion from a pro- or against the EU towards a more visionary, value- and fact-based discussion.

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In a tour of the city we learned of the hardships, battles and historical events that had taken place in this war-tormemded city – historically a place for outside forces to claim with little disregard for the existing population. But also, a city that should come to play a profound role in the healing of Europe and fall of the communist regime.

The key to this story we found at the old shipyard. Today a peaceful sight and build in its place, the European Solidarity Center, a museum, but in earlier days a centre of deadly worker struggles, a fight for justice and – in the end – the birthplace of free trade unions in Poland. Sparks may have flown here but as it turned out, the same sparks that sprung from the suffering of suppressed workers lighted the fire of democracy and foresaw the end of communism.  

Solidarity

The European charter for fundamental rights has a chapter especially suited to converse about in this historical place, Chapter IV, Solidarity and especially Article 28:

Article 28

Right of collective bargaining and action
Workers and employers, or their respective organisations, have, in accordance with Community law and national laws and practices, the right to negotiate and conclude collective agreements at the appropriate levels and, in cases of conflicts of interest, to take collective action to defend their interests, including strike action.

Solidarity was also the name of the first free trade union in Polen, Solidarność, who’s leader, Lech Wałęsa, was later elected for president and awarded the Nobel Peace Price. But in the beginning, it was a social movement that trough civil resistance worked to ensure social change and workers rights.

A place for solidarity

European solidarity centre today houses the story of the struggles of Solidarność and the Polish struggle for democracy. This special day it also housed us, a school class of youngster who was to learn about the story as well as debating amongst themself what the idea of solidarity meant for them.

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When asked to reflect upon the meaning of solidarity the students came up with many responses – it’s about teamwork, coming together, acceptance. But also, it is about power and action. The power of the many was not lost on the youth who was inspired by the stories of the past.

As Jacek Koltan, deputy director of European Solidarity Center puts it, one of the most important demands today is the need for physical spaces where we can create a sense of community and debates the struggles of today. The issues we face, such as climate changes and social division, is those of great complexity that we need to come together around if we are to find sustainable solutions.

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Perhaps that is also what we need today. New spaces to reflect on our shared interest. Together we stand, divided we fall.​

See more in the video from Gdansk here: