The Second Revision Event in Portugal is coming soon. It will take place in Setubal between 5 and 7 of December, gathering participants from 6 European countries – Portugal, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Albania and Bulgaria. During the “Right and Wrong Side of the Wall” Forum we will explore what every day life was under authoriatarian regimes, the forms of repression, ostracism and persecution employed by the regimes of the past, and we will hear the memories of contemporaries and witnesses of these periods from different countries. In light of the past events, we will also reflect, discuss and debate on the future of the EU and the society we would like to live in tomorrow.
We are also launching the International “Tell Your Story” Contest for young people, which will give the winners the opportunities to visit a partner country, participate in the international event there, present their work publicly in front of a wide audience, and meet young people from all over Europe.
There are several ways in which you can participate in the activities of the project:
Ways to Participate in the Project:
If you are a young person, engaging as a volunteer in the organisation of the international event is a great way for you to actively participate in society, expand your knowledge, gain new competencies, improve your foreign language skills, and meet new people. We are recruiting volunteers to help us with the following tasks:
- Organisation and implementation of the event
- Welcoming and accompanying the international participants during the event
- Organising youth activities for the young people from the other EU countries
- Communication, presentations and dissemination activities.
We will recruit between 10 and 15 volunteers, who will be awarded a certificate of participation in the organisation of the event, detailing their mission and the skills acquired.
The Right and Wrong Side of the Wall(s) Forum will take place between 5 and 7 of December in Setubal. Our team, collaborators and local partners are working to finalize the official programme, which will be published shortly on our website. Attending the Forum will give you the opportunity to:
- Learn more about what life in Portugal and Europe was like in the recent past
- Understand better the impact authoritarian regimes had on people’s lives
- Get to know more about important events in Portugal and other European Countries and how they shaped our present society
- Meet people from 6 European Countries, make new connections and learn about their culture and lifestyles
- Learn what policies and instruments for youth will the European Union implement in the next years
- Learn what Portugal and the other EU countries are doing for young people
- Learn what action your municipality and the other participating cities are taking to empower young people
- Get to know young people from other European countries, as well as their challenges and dreams
- Express your opinion on the future of Europe and the society you want to live in
- Engage in a constructive debate with decision makers on the challenges young people face and how your needs can be best adressed by our society.
While the event is primarily dedicated to young people, the forum is open to participants of all ages. Subscribing to the event in advance is however strongly recommended, as it will allow us to make sure that there is an available seat for you, and that you are included in the non-formal activities too(if you subscribe to them).
Only a couple of generations ago, life in Portugal (as well as in many European countries) was nothing like today. The 20th century put to the test our grandparents in many ways. They lived through times when individual freedoms and civic rights were restricted, economic oportunity and purchase power were limited, the access to quality social services, healthcare, and education was unequal, the impartial and fair functioning of the state was impaired etc.
The life experiences of the previous generations are of great importance to us. They are key for our understanding of how and why our society today is the way it is – with its challenges and achievements. We live the benefits of the victories our predecessors won. We also face the consequences of their failures. Getting to know their stories will unlock the capacity in us to build a better future. Greater awareness of our past and present will empower us to make better choices and avoid pitfalls those before us have fallen into.
There is invaluable knowledge right where you are, in the memories of the persons closest to you. With the “Tell Your Story” Contest we ask you to go get it and share it with the rest of us. All you need to do is first get curious about your elderly family members, neighbors, teachers etc., and then simply ask them to tell you the story of their life. You can then submit the story to us before January 31, 2020 in whatever creative form you like – an essay, picture, video, multimedia presentation, painting etc. – your imagination is the limit.
An independent jury will then select 4 winners, each of whom will present their work at one of the international events to be organised in the partner countries – Italy, Poland, Romania and Albania.
Even if you do not win an award, we will publish your story in all countries participating in the project.
In order to participate in the contest, you need to fulfill the following criteria:
- You are a legal Portugese citizen or resident
- Your age is between 14 and 24 years old
- You are located in the Great Lisbon area
- If you are under 18 y. o., your parents/legal guardians have given you permission to participate in the contest.
The winners will be announced on February 5 of 2020.
How to Get involved in the project:
You can get involved in any of the described above project activities through filling the form below. Once we receive your request, we will get touch with you to verify your identity and that you fulfill the criteria for your chosen activity(ies). If you are under 18 y.o., we will ask you to connect us with your parents/legal guardians in order to make sure they allow you to participate in the project. Once these steps are accomplished, we will send you the relevant information and registration forms for the activity(ies) you selected.
If you want to engage as a volunteer, we will send you a form for you to select what missions and tasks you would like to participate in. Once your mission defined, you will receive writen instructions on your tasks, and we will also schedule a timetable for face-to face instruction and coaching.
If you choose to attend the event, you will receive from us a form in which you will select at which activities you will be present. Thisway, we will make sure that you have a seat and are counted in all activities which require preparation(language support, catering etc.).
If you take on the challenge to participate in the contest, you will be given the option of either submitting your work online or physically to us. You will also receive a form for you to tell us which event/country would you like to visit in case you receive an award. In case your work is selected, our team will get in touch with you to start the preparation for the international events by 5 of February 2020.
The Revision project is funded under the Europe for Citizens Programme, Strand 2 Measure 2.2 ‘Networks of Towns‘. The project was developed by Association Redefine as part of our cooperation with Municipality of Haybes, France and the Via Charlemagne Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.
The initiative gathers local authorities from 6 European countries with the objective of encouraging young people to actively participate in the shaping of the future of the EU, through raising awareness of Europe’s violent past, the challenge the recent raise of extreme political movements represent for European society and the importance of the core values the EU is built upon for the future of Europe.
In order to reach our objectives, six joint international events will be organized, guiding participants to reflect on the way political and social phenomena has affected the destiny of millions citizens in the past, as well as how the political choices we make today will shape our future.
Numerous media campaigns, challenges and contests will be also launched as part of the initiative, in order to engage decision makers, citizens and youngsters in a constructive discussion on the memories of the past and the future of the European Union.
For more information about the Revision project, please click here.
