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Edition December 2000

Meeting of the intercontinental Bureau

The first week in October, the Intercontinental Bureau met in Nsawam, Ghana. The reason for this venue is of course the fact that our general assembly will be held in Ghana in July 2001. During the days before this meeting, the African Bureau met at the same place. This enabled some of our African delegates to join the ICB meeting. These were the people present at the meeting: Johan Cottyn (International Chaplain), Olivier Heyen (President), Sebastiaan Van Dijk (Vice-president Euro-conference), Zénon Manirakiza (Vice-president Afro-conference), Zeger Van Besien (Secretary General) Guests were Victor Quaye-Foli, Fr. Robert Hagan, Francis Andoh (CYO Ghana staff), Jennifer Boyce (Secretary Afro-Conference), Mary Diergaardt (Afro-Bureau delegate Namibia) Kurt Van der Herten (President Euro-conference) and Judy Figland (President Afro-conference) were excused.

First a report of the regions: it is still difficult to have a clear view over the functioning of all our organisations, sometimes it only depends on casual meetings of persons or visits to the Fimcap office. In Africa, the main difficulties are due to war situations and difficult communications. The European organisations are facing financial difficulties due to a lack of subventions, and show hesitation towards Eastern European organisations, where they see a lot of possibilities, but where it is also clear that a lot of money will be needed to ease full participation in European activities. We feel that we should put more energy in the Asian region, and we will make up an inventory of all the contacts that we have and had with the existing and the possible organisations in the past and present years. We also discussed the membership fee system, because we think that it is now no longer adapted to reality. We need to reconsider the criteria at the G. A., and use an objective tool to define the fee for each organisation (like gross national product or the "Health and Development index"), in relation to the benefits an organisation can get from Fimcap, and based on "intra-Fimcap solidarity".

Looking back on the different activities:
World Camp: The World Camp was generally evaluated as a very good project. Points of attention were defined for a possible next edition. In our mailing for the G.A., we will however ask all organisations to consider hosting a world camp in 2003. Chiro Philippines already showed some interest.
World Youth Days
We feel that it is very important to have an official representation for Fimcap at the forum. Also the Fimcap evening for all Fimcap members present was a very good idea. Still, there were a lot of participants of Fimcap organisations who were not there as Fimcap-member. For the next edition, we should make sure that our activity is included in the official programme, so that everybody who is interested can come (and find us).

Looking in the future...
Chaplain’s meeting
The next intercontinental project will be a meeting for chaplains from 7-13 May, in Rome, where all the national chaplains (or spiritual/ecclesiastical assistant) of the Fimcap-organisations will be invited. The theme will be: "Being a national youth chaplain today".
General Assembly
Of course, the preparation of the general assembly was also on the agenda. It will be held at the Presbyterian Women’s centre from 23 to 28 July 2001. We dealt with some practical arrangements, and did a first brainstorm of the study-theme ("Young people protagonists of peace").

Fimcap promotion
The Fimcap Europe e-media group developed a schedule to design a good Fimcap - website.
We also started updating the promotional folders/leaflets.

We thank the CYO of Ghana for their warmth and hospitality, and their willingness to host the Intercontinental Bureau.

Zeger Van Besien.

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Partnership Namibia Switzerland

Autumn holidays in Namibia: Blauring/Jungwacht met Bloukring en Jongwag!
After a 12 hour-flight and a stop in Johannesburg, we arrived in Windhoek. Another 800 kilometres to get in Ondangwa, in the North of Namibia, where we met our friend Xaveria who took us to her Eumbo, after crossing a desert of sand. We stayed there for a couple of days to relax, to discover the daily-life realities of our host family.
A visit to the national park Etoscha gave us the opportunity to take some extraordinary pictures of Namibia’s beautiful fauna.

We went back to Windhoek, the last destination of our journey, where we met five of our friends of the work group "Namibia", to talk about the partnership between the two organisations initiated 16 years ago. The partnership had suffered a lot lately because of communication problems, lack of mutual information and some misunderstandings.
After a long deliberation to determine our aims and our wishes, we met 6 leaders of Bloukring/Jongwag who have already been in Switzerland and one person to conduct the discussion. (Berni Affolter of interteam). All past problems have been discussed and clarified in an open and friendly atmosphere. The problems were due to the geographical distance and the cultural differences. The meeting that started with feelings of frustration opened on the hope that the partnership might go on and made us optimistic for the future. We agreed on different questions: about the way to communicate, the structure of the mutual visits, and on the financial aspects of the partnership as well. Group leaders from Namibia are to come to Switzerland in summer 2001. The Swiss work group on Namibia will start again its activities with a lot of new motivation.

Karin Hägler and Christine Voght

Excerpts from the Swiss newsletter "Idee" November 2000

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Burundi

The youth jubilee on the day of Christ the King on the 26th of November in Gitega in de the diocese of Bujumbura is one of the multiple activities of the Catholic Church the Chiro movement participated in during this jubilee year.
Although peace is signed away by armed gangs who are not willing to hand in their weapons, nor to negotiate, going on killing innocents, plundering houses and killing the cattle, burning down community infrastructures in some provinces of the country, the Chiro Movement activities are going on in the parishes, even in those where insecurity is very high, and after the armed gangs left the villages, the Chiro groups take up again their daily activities.
I would like to inform you that our National office is open, that the mailing should be sent to the national office of Chiro Burundi BP 118 Gitega, except of course for the electronic mail or fax, which can be sent to us through the well-known ways.

Very warm greetings from

Antoine Cishahayo
National leader
Chiro Burundi

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Chiro Philippines

After two weeks, I am getting used to the heat, to the tropical rain showers and even to the enigmatic answers I get on my questions.
I’ve met a lot of people... idealistic people from the co-operation to the development, the victims of the sex industry, young girls exploited in factories, the slum inhabitants...my head is full of questions. Why and how? So many things you cannot get used to.

I have to leave Manila, a dirty town, far away from the noisy traffic, from the poverty I cannot get used to.. That’s how I get in touch with Chiro Philippines.
A jeep driving on bad roads is bringing me away from Manila. I am sitting at the back, next to Edgar Montiano, the national leader of Chiro Philippines. He tells me in a very open way about the origin of the Chiro movement in the Philippines, imported 50 years ago by the Flemish missionaries of Scheuten. He tells me about Father Gerry, the Flemish chaplain of Chiro Philippines, about the 26 Chiro groups, about the hundreds of Chiro members who meet every Sunday. I notice his smile on his face and see that he is impatient to show me everything.

I am brought to a place in the tropical woods. A kind of camp house hosts young people and the leaders of a Chiro group from Manila. A kind of training camp. How to diversify games, conduct songs, to have fun...that’s the whole programme.

Friday evening: Las Piñas, a suburb of Manila. They celebrate mass. The language, Tagalog, which is spoken on this Island of the Philippines, is for me worse than Chinese. After the celebration, the Chiro group has a meeting. About sixty children come together, some of them are still wearing their school uniform. They play funny group games and do a theatre activity that is really appreciated by all. Young and old people all together are playing a Gospel story with a lot of creativity.

My impressions of Chiro Philippines are of course very positive. So many people committing themselves, not only in Chiro, but also in the parish. But in spite of the vitality of the leaders, Chiro copes with many problems. Some groups are merely surviving, others disappear. The children are not interested anymore in such a kind of activity. They’d rather play video games or watch TV...

Miet Timmers

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ZAK Malta in the year 2000

Malta organised a big feast at the end of the summer for all youth organisations. It was a week full of activities, from drama and sports events to mass and prayer workshops. Every youth organisation put up a stand with information on the organisation and organised some kind of activity for the young people. ZAK of course was on the forefront of this feast. The various groups that ZAK had gathered took up the theme: "A trip with a direction - The Direction to peace and justice". Each group chose a workshop and everyday throughout the week a different group organised a 30 minute workshop. The names of the workshops varied from ‘Alcatraz’ to ‘Understanding each other’. Young people participating in those shops entered an area which was transformed into a railway station (do not forget that there are no trains in Malta, so this was rather impressive). Each participant took a ticket and went into a train wagon to take a trip. The trip was the workshop itself and during the trip youngsters became more aware of the situations of injustice around the world. The enthusiasm was unforgettable and the workshops were always full of people.

Yet this was not the only highlight of the event. A small group of ZAK members, this time a few members from different parishes, took up the task to transform a hall usually used to exhibit goods for sale, and to change it into a modern chapel. Yellow and blue, lit columns and alcoves gave the chapel a very warm atmosphere which invited hundreds of youths to participate in prayer workshops and mass which were celebrated everyday during this feast.

This spirit continued well after this memorable event which was held in August. In November the group met again to celebrate the feast of Christ the King. A three hour program was prepared. This time ZAK was together with two other youth organisations. 800 people participated in this event where they sang, danced on music of a life band, took part in workshops which focused on ‘The Eucharist - A gift from Christ’, and above all, they prayed together. There was a real collaboration between the three organisations, so that this unity marks the start of this millennium.

Myriam Teuma
ZAK Malta

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Language course programme for 2001

The languages courses which figured for many years in the Directorate of Youth and Sport programme, permitted a large number of youth leaders and trainers to improve their linguistic skills in order to develop their national youth activities. This programme has achieved a lively success with numerous candidates each year, and that it has always been positively evaluated by both the participants and the youth organisations.

Nevertheless, in 2001, the Directorate of Youth and sport of the Council of Europe will discontinue its programme of language courses for youth workers and youth leaders. The political reorientation of the Council of Europe according to objectives and priorities, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will take the decision to interrupt the language course programme for 2001 and to use the resources from this programme for the priority activities in question, in particular human rights education.

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Ciao a tutti!

An impression of a language course participant!

Ukraine, Finland, Romania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Albania, Belgium and Italy. 17 different countries, 17 cultures, 17 languages and 17 different organisations who had the same goals during the period from the 10th to the 30th of September 2000: Italy and to get to know each other by taking part in a language course in Turin. This course was organised by the European Youth Foundation and I represented Fimcap there.

After a 14 hour trip to arrive in Turin, the warm sun and the pleasant atmosphere on the square in front of the railway station gave me the feeling that I am on holiday.
My first concern was to find the bus N° 55, to reach the house where I would stay for three weeks. I bought a bus ticket, and carrying a heavy rucksack, I started to look for the right bus stop. Unfortunately I didn’t find it and after some vain trials to make me understand, I decided to take a taxi.
I arrived At the "Villa Giuseppe", on a little hill, with a wonderful sight on Turin. The welcome was very friendly and I was immediately invited to have lunch!

The next day I met the 20 other participants and trainers, and we sympathised quite quickly. Some activities in these three weeks: learn Italian, a visit of a voluntary project, lots of ice-creams, a wine harvest at a wine grower’s, taste wine (of course!), a pleasant meal with an Italian family, eat pasta, organise an international evening where everybody presented his/her own country or organisation, go to a theatre play, to a film, some concerts of classical music, hang about in shop streets and galleries, visit some museums, to enjoy the landscape and realise after two weeks that there are mountains at the other side of Turin! Just some key-words to give you an idea of the big programme.

I have learned a lot in three weeks, not only the Italian language and to find the bus N° 55, but also the realities of the other countries and the way of working of the other organisations. Now I am back in Belgium and I miss my course fellows a lot. We send each other nearly daily Emails and I have the impression that I have found 19 new friends!

Kristel Nijskens
Chiro Flanders

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EuroClass

A project of FDF Denmark

As mentioned in Link already, FDF will start with their project of EuroClass, to which leaders from the European Fellowship and the European Organisations of Fimcap are invited. With the support from the European Community, the project is now planned to start on 16th August 2001.

EuroClass is a leader training project for young European adults at the age of 18-25. The training, consisting of four elements, lasts for 9 months and takes place at an Adult training school in Denmark. The four elements:

1. Teaching: about voluntary leadership, the life of the organisation, the meaning of a civilian society, European cultural history, leadership based on values, project management, languages.
2. The informal being together at school. In addition to the teaching there are also more informal get-together thus providing special possibilities of getting to know others’ points of view and experiences.
3. Practical training in another country. Midway the leaders will stay with host organisations, to. Each organisation will accommodate two persons. Our reasons to plan so are manifold. We want the participants to carry out a special assignment which will enable them to show competence in a more practical way. They will also get interesting information about the functioning of other organisations. The host organisations will be members of either the European Fellowship or FIMCAP Europe.
4. The evaluation part after the practical training is the finishing touch.

Because of external funding FDF can offer EuroClass at a very low price. In general leaders from eastern Europe will have to pay less ( estimated 135 EUR) than leaders from western Europe (estimated 1350 EUR) The price will cover all expenses concerning the stay at Silkeborg Folk High School except pocket money. It also covers travel expenses in Denmark and in the country of practice.

In general there will be no expenses for an organisation sending a leader to EuroClass. To host a leader during the practical training, you will have to provide accommodation. Food and pocket money are included in the overall budget.
Those organisations will also have to cover their guests’ travel expenses, etc., during the stay.

Deadlines and inscription
Application material will be send out 1 February 2001 to the national headquarters of your organisation.
Deadline for applying is 15 May.
Organisations that wishes to host 2-3 leaders in practical stage should apply till 1 March at the latest.

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Julsoe

A national camp of FDF Denmark in the year 2001

This is an invitation to a national camp organised by FDF from Tuesday, July 3rd to Thursday July 12th 2001. Probably more than 12,000 participants will be present at this camp, and FDF invites 15-18 year-old participants from Fimcap partners as well. All participants live in tents, and all international guests will stay with a Danish host.

The days will be filled with various activities inside and outside the campsite. Throughout the day all activities are in one way related to a frame, a myth. The accidental meeting between six FDF members and a mysterious man, Alexander, forms the beginning of the myth, including riddles and life-and-death suspense. You will be engulfed in a mysterious story that takes place in the past, the present and the future. The original population, the ‘People of Peace’, is about to be wiped out by a mysterious Void that will extinguish everyone on its way. People will lose there memories - without anyone noticing...

If you are interested: the expenses for the whole stay are DKK 1,250.00. Please contact your international working group, or Steen Jonsson Agger, steen_otto@fdf.dk.

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