On August 23-27, 2021 the 12th International Youth Camp "Dialogue" was held on the basis of the ethnographic park-museum "ETNOMIR" in the Kaluga Region. The project was held for the 12th time and brought together 100 participants on its site – representatives of youth and ethno-cultural organizations from different regions of the Russian Federation, from the signatory states of the European Cultural Convention and states-participants of the Commonwealth of Independent States actively involved in the implementation of projects in the field of building intercultural dialogue among young people.
The International Youth Camp "Dialogue" is a part of the Action Plan for 2021 of the Framework Program on cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe in the field of youth policy.
The purpose of the camp in 2021 was to improve the quality and relevance of the work of youth organizations in the field of promoting intercultural dialogue and peace as well as countering discrimination and exclusion in the society, by revising and updating goals of intercultural dialogue in a global context marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis.
Tasks:
- To study principles and approaches of intercultural learning and its role in the projects and activities of youth organizations,
- To increase the participants' intercultural competence and other competencies that facilitate the development and implementation of projects in the field of intercultural dialogue,
- To identify and address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth and building intercultural dialogue,
- To examine the impact of the climate and environmental crisis on global peace and dialogue and include them in future dialogue activities as a contribution to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
- To analyze current challenges in promoting intercultural dialogue and combating discrimination and exclusion in the society and develop possible responses through youth projects,
- To facilitate the formation of a community of youth activists who promote ideas of intercultural dialogue, peace and human dignity.
The work of the camp in 2021 was directly linked to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG 10 (reducing inequalities within and between countries) and SDG 16 (promoting a peaceful and open society).
Members:
The Camp participants were 100 people (60 participants from the Russian Federation and 40 participants from foreign countries) – leaders of youth and ethno-cultural organizations, leaders of youth projects, youth workers, representatives of youth self-government bodies, representatives of student unions, representatives of the volunteer movement, specialists of state municipal institutions, young professionals and researchers whose activities are directly related to the development of intercultural dialogue.
Results:
During the camp participants studied principles on which intercultural dialogue and learning are built, got acquainted with intercultural competencies, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and discussed how young people can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and how building intercultural dialogue contributes to this. Participants identified modern challenges that stand in the way of building intercultural dialogue, explored contradictions and dilemmas that arise in relation to various human rights, the infringement of which leads to inequality, and also discussed possible ways to overcome them, considered strategies for communicating young people with government institutions and developed rules for effective communication with them. Workshops were also organized for camp participants to develop skills and approaches in the field of intercultural dialogue: "Human Rights and Human Dignity", "Inequality and Discrimination", "Conflict Transformation", "NO HATE: Countering Hate Speech Offline and Online", "Work online in the context of COVID-19: features of work on the topic of intercultural dialogue", "Critical thinking", "Identity and stereotypes". As a result of the camp participants developed and presented their own intercultural projects such as, for example, the Youth Peace Camps project to involve youth from conflict zones in dialogue, manual for working with youth with special needs – what to consider and how to involve, vocabulary and checklist "Inclusive person", the Solve "Global warming" application aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and the "ECO-challenge" educational project aimed at promoting sustainable consumption and production. There were also workshops such as "Fundamentals of Cybersecurity" – an educational project for various age groups, "Happy Family" – a project for the prevention of domestic violence, "Women's freedom of action" – an online platform (information about study opportunities, internships, work, mobility), work with local communities (support groups, work with stereotypes), business platform – start-ups and employment for young women.
