WIYU

GENERAL INFORMATION

“World Independent Youth Union” organization (WIYU) is a self-governed, non-profit, non-governmental educational organization. WIYU was originated and is managed by the “Leadership management and conflict prevention” training courses alumni of Armenia. The Organization was formed in 1999 and is officially registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia in 2000.

Throughout 8 years of its existence WIYU has implemented a number of educational, benevolent and intercultural projects and activities, aimed at fostering values of democracy, humanism and global citizenship.

WIYU Contacts:

Raffi street 51/26, 0064,

Yerevan, Republic of Armenia

E-mail: admin@wiyu.org

MISSION OF WIYU

The mission of our Organization:
Development and promotion of a culture and mechanisms of dialogue and co-operation between the civil society through international activities, assistance of consolidation of the “culture of peace” in our region and in the world.

OBJECTIVES OF WIYU

* Promotion of a civil society at the national and regional level;
* Promotion of youth initiatives to improve society;
* Development of political and European awareness of Armenian youth;
* Promotion of youth involvement in political decision making.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

* Training courses and seminars for youngsters on increasing political awareness, European integration, leadership, organizational management;
* National Lead Agency of Global Youth Service Day in Armenia, 2001-2008
* Surveys and analysis;
* Facilitation of international dialogs, and assistance to Conflict Resolution.
* Foreign languages learning free courses
* National and International Dances learning public courses
* Art therapy using as a tool for working with disabled children

DETAILED FACT SHEET

Annual Projects
Through the course of the years a wide range of projects and activities have become annual due to gained popularity and their impact.

* "Book in one day" project
Year: 2006
Funding Source: Self-funded
Description of the Activity: “Book in 1 day” project, invited by Loesje International on 3rd of May 2006, on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day celebrated in the Entire world we have organized in Yerevan a creativity workshop for youngsters eager to practice techniques of creative writing and to express themselves freely on freedom of speech.

* "Educational tool: Tail and game therapies" Seminars
Year: 2006
Funding Source: American Councils for International Education
Description of the Activity: WIYU in cooperation with ACCELS, conducts series of "Educational tool: Tail and game therapies" seminars for students of Yerevan Pedagogical university. The main goal of the seminars is to deliver information concerning last developments of tail therapy and game therapy, practice used in Armenia. Seminar facilitators describe an educational framework for method selection, creation and adaptation.

* "European Citizenship" Training Courses
Year: Annual (2003-present)
Funding Source: Information acceptance is implemented by the Council of Europe
Description of the Activity: Every year WIYU, in cooperation with 5 secondary schools of Yerevan conducts series of "European Citizenship" training courses for students and teachers of civic education. The learning objective is to develop a sense of space and place in contemporary Europe, the skills required to be active agents for change and development, and the knowledge required to make informed choices within this context.

* Christmas Party for disabled children
Year: Annual
Funding Source: Self-funded
Description of the Activity: Starting 2001 WIYU members have been actively involved in making holiday celebrations for disabled children. Members of the organization prepare presents and a party for 50-70 disabled children. Members of the organization and our partner organizations facilitate various interactive, creative games, dances, competitions of drawings. The projects develop responsibility of NGO participants and promote their civic participation.

* "Career development" Serious of Seminars

Year: Annual
Funding Source: Varius
Description of the Activity: The goal of seminars is to provide young people with skills and techniques necessary for conquering a place in today’s labor market. During the seminar participants acquire theoretical knowledge and useful tips on successful interview, resume/CV/cover letter writing.

* "Youth Participation Intercultural Learning" Training Courses
Year: Annual (2005-present)
Funding Source: International Centre for Intercultural Research, Learning and Dialogue Description of the Activity: Every year WIYU, in cooperation with International Centre for Intercultural Research, Learning and Dialogue conducts training courses to support and promote youth participation in Youth in Action youth exchange projects; to reflect on the manifestations and relevance of issues such as identity, nationalism, Europe.

* "YOUTH Programme" information company
Year: Annual (2004-present)
Funding Source: SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus Recourse Centre (Warsaw, Poland)
Description of the Activity: The National Information Campaign started in Armenia on April, 2004 with the National Pool of Trainers of Armenia where we had a seminar on the YOUTH Programme. Also we have distributed the brochures that we have designed for the campaign, provided information about the initiatives in the framework of the Programme and links to proper web sites.

Accomplished Projects

* Courses of English Language and American Culture

Year: 2001; 2006
Funding Source: Self-funded
Description of the Activity: The courses of English Language and American Culture were conducted for young people in cooperation with English Language Teachers Association (ELTA).

* Global Youth Service Day

Year: 2001 - 2003
Funding Source: Global Youth Service Day

Description of the Activity: In the framework of the GYSD annually were implemented 6-8 projects: seminars, public discussions, presentations. Projects were organized either in Yerevan, or in regions in cooperation with local NGOs.

* "World Fairy-Tails" TV programs

Year: 2006
Funding Source: Shoghakat TV Chanal
Description of the Activity: WIYU coordinated preparation of the 10 TV programs on fairy-tails of the national minorities of Armenia. Programs will be broadcasted at the beginning of 2007.

ï‚§ ”Leadership towards the future of Europe” CMS

Year: 2005
Funding Source: Polish National Agency
Description of the Activity: The aim of the Contact Making Seminar was to gather together leaders of the youth organizations from different European countries, interested in development of the youth cooperation.

* “Europe is for us - are we for Europe?” TC

Year: 2006
Funding Source: Polish National Agency
Description of the Activity: The main aim of training course was to build up a common understanding and international youth work strategy in the context of European Citizenship.

* “Encouraging cross-border communication through ICL” TC

Year: 2006
Funding Source: Estonian National Agency
Description of the Activity: The aim of the course was to support the youth workers and youth leaders from the Programme countries in extending their competencies to integrate ICL tool within their projects and practice.

* “From diversity to common understanding in Europe” Youth Exchange

Year: 2006
Funding Source: Polish National Agency
Description of the Activity: The idea was to bring young people from different European cultural and historical backgrounds and to organize a dialogue through sharing their national traditions and to create an opportunity to investigate each other’s cultural patterns through this dialogue as well as try to find out connections between these cultures.

* “Cultural Diversity and Minority Youth Participation” CMS

Year: 2006
Funding Source: UK National Agency
Description of the Activity: The main aim of the project was creating new partnership and working on new projects together.

* “Vilnius Orphan House N 3” European Volunteer Service

Year: 2006-2007
Funding Source: Lithuanian National Agency
Description of the Activity: To increase intercultural learning experience for young people encouraging their social integration, active participation, increasing their employability and giving them opportunities to show solidarity with other people.

* “Crimea the Land of Cultural Diversity” Youth Exchange

Year: 2007 (already approved)
Funding Source: UK National Agency
Description of the Activity: The exchange will be focus on the values of cultural diversity and the changing reality of immigration/emigration and minority communities in XXIst century Europe.

ï‚§ “Culture and Arts for Peace, Understanding and Friendship in Europe" Youth Exchange

Year: 2007 (already approved)
Funding Source: Latvian National Agency
Description of the Activity: The aim of the exchange is to value cultural diversity in today’s Europe and awareness of this fact amongst young people, which can effectively contribute to process of intercultural understanding and break stereotypes and prejudices which must lead the participants to the idea of peace and friendship.

Future Plans

Our future plans include continuation of implementation development, benevolent, educational and intercultural projects, organizing and running projects in the framework of Youth in Action. Our areas of interest are:

* Intercultural Learning;
* Human Rights;
* Environment protection;
* Conflict resolution;
* Regional cooperation.

We are open for collaboration with interested organizations and institutions.

Our Partners

WIYU has developed partnerships with a number of local and international organizations. Regular and effective collaboration with these organizations have enabled WIYU to enter new areas of activity and enlarge the organization’s capacity.

1. Austeja Friends (Lithuania)

2. American Councils for International Education

3. Atinati Association (Gerogia)

4. Academic Centre Of European Education and Information of Warsaw University (Poland)

5. Academy for Peace and Development (Georgia) APD

6. Department of National Minorities and Religious Issues, Government of Armenia

7. EGEA Trier (Germany)

8. Foundation for Research and Support of Indigenous Peoples of Crimea (Ukraine)

9. International Centre for Intercultural Research, Learning and Dialogue (ICIRLD) ICIRLD

10. Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues, Government of Armenia

11. Minorities of Europe (UK) MoE

12. National Pool of Trainers of Armenia (Armenia)

13. SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus Recourse Centre (Poland) "SALTO"

14. Shoghakat TV Chanal (Armenia) "Shoghakat"

15. Virumaa Youth Initiative (Estonia)

16. Youth Association Art Perspective (Romania)

17. YMCA/Latvia

18. Youth Union of “Public Movement Multinational Georgia” (Georgia)

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