Report ATLANTIS VIII “Youth across the borders: Principles and Values for stronger communities” La Massana (Andorra) 1st‐8th July 2012 Organized by With the support of In the frame of INDEX Summary 1 Objectives and Contents 3 1.1 Purpose of the meeting 3 1.2 The support of the European Youth Foundation 5 1.3 General Objectives 6 1.4 Specific Objectives and Contents 6 1.5 Workshops and Methodology 7 (Gender and Sustainable Development; IHL and Principles &Values; Migration and Intercultural Dialogue; Human Rights and Environment; Leadership Skills; YABC) 1.6 Sharing Best Practices 21 1.7 Special Sessions 29 (IFRC Strategy on Violence Prevention, Mitigation and Response; Healthy Lifestyle Promotion; Som.nit project; Club 25 and Blood Donation; Raid Cross) Photography Contest and the Spanish Red Cross campaign 'It's your 1.8 33 responsibility. It's our responsibility'. 1.9 Side Events 34 Organization and Logistics 36 2.1 General Overview 36 2.2 Participants 37 2.3 Facilities and Equipment 38 2.4 Logistics and Staff 38 2.5 Excursion 39 2.6 Visibility 40 41 Evaluation 3.1 Evaluation from the CCM 41 3.2 Evaluation from Participants 43 Follow-up 48 Photos Annexes SUMMARY The Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean (CCM), in partnership with the Andorran Red Cross, organized the eighth edition of the Mediterranean Youth Camp Atlantis, with the support of the IFRC MENA Zone and the European Youth Foundation, the fund established in 1972 by the Council of Europe to provide support for youth activities in the European context. The Atlantis Youth Camp aims to be a melting-pot for cross cultural exchange and dialogue, a valuable opportunity to share experiences beyond the borders and build the capacity of young Red Cross/Red Crescent volunteers. This event gathered the Mediterranean Red Cross and Red Crescent Youth around a common focus: the Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles 1 (Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality) and Values (the protection of life, health and human dignity; the respect for the human being; non discrimination; mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace among people; service delivered by volunteers) as a basis of youth behaviour for the benefit of communities across the region. The eighth edition of Atlantis was held at l’Aldosa de la Massana, Andorra, from the 1st to the 8th of July 2012. The camp was attended by 87 participants, comprised of 42 volunteers representing 19 National Societies (Algeria, Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, France, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey) and 14 international facilitators and speakers from the IFRC P&V Department, the CCM and the RC/RC National Societies of Andorra, Egypt, Lebanon, Italy, Spain and Tunisia. Furthermore, there were 31 persons among staff members and volunteers from the Andorran Red Cross and the CCM. For the above mentioned, the 2012 edition of the Youth Camp Atlantis stands as the one with the highest rate of participation so far, as a total of 20 Mediterranean National Societies attended the event. The agenda included six thematic workshops: two in English (“Gender and Sustainable Development” and “Migration and Intercultural Dialogue”), two in French (“International Humanitarian Law and Principles and Values” and “Human Rights and Environment”) and two more both in English and in French (“YABC – Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change” and “Leadership Skills”). The methodology of work was comprised of mainly interactive and practical activities, with the addition of some very useful theoretical lessons. The evaluation of Atlantis VIII has been extremely positive. Participants 2 concluded that their overall expectations were met and the percentage of participants considering the general content of the training as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ was 98%. OBJECTIVES AND CONTENTS 1.1 Purpose of the meeting Atlantis is a meeting of the Mediterranean Red Cross and Red Crescent Youth which has consolidated as a referential meeting point for intercultural dialogue and exchange of experiences in the region. Since the Mediterranean Youth Camp was first conceived during the Mediterranean Conference held in Cairo in 2004, eight Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have hosted Atlantis: the Italian Red Cross, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the Red Cross of Serbia, the Moroccan Red Crescent, the French Red Cross, the Tunisian Red Crescent and, in 3 its latest edition, the Andorran Red Cross. The Atlantis Youth Camp is being displayed in the framework of Strategy 2020 of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which aims at a better fulfilling of the potential of the Red Cross/Red Crescent at all levels, and at developing sustainable approaches in addressing three key areas: disasters, health risks and social exclusion, and a culture of non- violence and peace. Crucially, IFRC Strategy 2020 highlights that coping with increasing humanitarian needs also requires a change in mind-sets and attitudes on how we live, and on how we relate to each other. Moreover the Atlantis Youth Camp wants to fulfil the vision of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as defined by its Constitution (Article 4, version 2007): inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world. Moreover, the 11th RC/RC Mediterranean Conference emphasized the need to mobilize human resources, especially young people, as actor of behavioural change to strengthen the dialogue with governments and to promote humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy so as to change mentalities towards a more encompassing social inclusion of those who are the most vulnerable. The mission of the CCM is to facilitate the follow up on the resolutions of the Mediterranean Conference, specifically as regards the Dubrovnik Declaration stemming from the last Conference held in Croatia in 2010 and which tackles priorities such as the role of youth; environment and climate change; the social effects of the world economic crisis; providing assistance and protection to migrants: all interrelated areas in which youth play a fundamental role. Amongst the Declaration's most remarkable points are: 4 - “the principle of respecting diversity, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and cooperation between the National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent who have different histories, cultures and ways of functioning” - “the need to mobilize human resources, especially young people as actors of behavioural change”; - the commitment to “reinforce the role and the action of youth as the key factor in social change and development”; - the commitment to “secure respect through diversity and social inclusion within our Movement in order to set an example for others in the domain of humanitarian action”; - the need to “promote specific programmes which favour the social inclusion of young people and which reduce risks related to marginalization and social and health calamities”. By building the capacity of young people to establish networks, engage in intercultural dialogue and use technical tools, the Atlantis Youth Camp has been designed as the key tool to deliver the strategic lines above mentioned and aid Mediterranean National Societies in the implementation of the recommendations of the Dubrovnik Declaration for the benefit of the most vulnerable. Atlantis VIII is meant to make participants more active volunteers as they will be further motivated, organized and supported. Young people contribute with their time and skills regularly in the delivery of services, in resource mobilization, in administrative, governance or advisory functions. National Societies, as well as the CCM are committed to improve quality, standards, capacities and volunteer retention by creating a welcoming and socially inclusive environment. This environment means providing volunteers with training, supervision, and regular evaluation. This will enable us to operate on the much greater scale that is necessary to meet the needs and the vulnerabilities constantly arising in communities. 1.2 The support of the European Youth Foundation 5 The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is a fund established in 1972 by the Council of Europe to provide financial support for European youth activities. Its purpose is to encourage co-operation among young people in Europe by providing financial support to those European youth activities which serve the promotion of peace, understanding and co-operation in a spirit of respect for the Council of Europe's fundamental values such as human rights, democracy, tolerance and solidarity. In occasion of its 40th anniversary, the EYF still supports Youth activities with the purpose of encouraging the promotion of peace, mutual understanding and co-operation in a spirit of respect among young people in Europe. On the 1st of October 2011 the CCM applied for a grant in the framework of the category A of the projects supported: an international youth meeting, which can take the form of a seminar, conference, workshop, camp, festival, etc. On the 9th of December 2011, the Programming Committee on Youth decided to allocate the grant for the implementation of the Mediterranean Youth