Natalia Davydova, Viktorija Kaziuchits

A new project of a liberal society the “Third Way” was held between 2-nd and 10-th of May. The activity became a platform for self implementation and informal education of young and active people. 34 members from 15 European countries were gathered by the “Third Way” supported by the Directorate of Youth and Sport Council of Europe in order to have this unique study session on human rights held.

“Be the Change You Want to See in the World”- the famous words of Mahatma Gandhi became a motto of the international training for young people which took place in Strasbourg.

The main point of the affair became the education for youngsters in the sphere of basics of strategic planning for human rights projects formation and development. Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Macedonia, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Romania and representatives of other countries were working over new ideas elaboration for 9 days.

This informal education targeted understanding the importance of human rights and its defense in modern world. The stress was made on how to live in a new and diverse society of the 21-st century.

Knowledge, skills and attitudes - these 3 components became the base for informal education. The important aspect of it was an exchange of experience between young men which (in the opinion of the author of the book “Compass”- main guide describing the principles of such education) helps to create the atmosphere of trust and work out own opinion about the importance of human rights protection.

The peculiarity of the affair was attention towards Belarusian themes, which many of the projects were carried out with; for instance: international cultural festivals and educational web-resources creation. Some international projects were represented too like for example the society providing help to single mothers- an activity initiated by participants from Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Macedonia.

“Often single mothers can’t even imagine that state can protect their rights and ways to do that”- this was the explanation of the joint activity in Strasbourg by Irina Davydova, participant from Ukraine, “our aim is make them understand it.

” Interest was attracted to educational projects of Belarusian youngsters, such as a web service with opportunities in the sphere of education, initiated by Vitali Biryukov (coordinator of the project “The School of journalistic” and website Moladz.org) and Ruslan Akulenka.

As it was commented by Nadine Lyamouri , the educational advisor: “This is a unique project European Union has never held before”. Its peculiarity is that it consists of several parts. The first workshop took place in Strasbourg. Later all the members of the project will pass through training on a special electronic platform where they will be able to get consultancy of skillful specialists on all the questions connected with the implementation of their own projects.

Anna Baranovskaya director of the workshop promised to help civil activists in all possible ways. All results will be summarized in spring 2011.

Leader of the “Third Way” society Pavel Marozau is convinced that one of the main peculiarities of the affair this time was that real results were achieved. Indeed many young people not only got a chance for communication and informal education but also a guarantee that their projects would have chances for implementation.

Photos by Igor Kuley