YES 2011: A world without borders – a European dream?
For the latest update on YES 2011, please see the official website. You can also find useful information on the Facebook site.
General description
The Young Europeans’ Seminar (YES) gathers around 400 European students aged 15 to 18 at the end of
their intra-European exchange year. This event is an opportunity for the students from different religious,
political, social and cultural backgrounds to develop their identity as responsible European citizens. During
the exchange experience, all students cross geographical, cultural and personal borders. At YES 2011 , we
will give the students a chance to share and reflect upon their experiences in order to enlarge their
European perspective, but also to encourage the students to take leadership as active and responsible
citizens in an interdependent world.
As the world becomes more interdependent, the map is redrawn and we will take a look at the history and
future of Europe in order to discuss the possibilities of a borderless world. The topic of the YES 2011 is “A
World without Borders – A European Dream?”
The YES 2011 is organized by more than 80 volunteers from Youth For Understanding (YFU). YFU is a
network of non-profit, non-religious and apolitical partner organizations, working in the field of global
intercultural youth exchange. The seminar was led by YFU Denmark, YFU Turkey and YFU Germany and took place from the 1st to 5th of July 2011 in Werbellinsee, Germany.
A World without borders - A European Dream?
Borders enclose and separate us. Sometimes we draw the line, but quite often others have already decided
for us where the line is. We assign tremendous significance to these borders and we would like to dedicate
the YES 2011 to empower students to face the borders in their lives and give the opportunity to explore the
concept of European Identity.
By discussing the topic “Borders”, the participants will have the chance to become aware of their own
borders and limitations and how to deal with them in life. During the YES 2011, the students will explore
the topic regarding the following three concepts: personal, cultural and geographical borders. In addition to
this, we will enable them to discuss, whether a world without borders is a shared dream for the future.
Goals of the YES 2011
The participants of the YES 2011 met to share and discuss their understanding of the borders with
other students from all over Europe, in order for them to better understand why borders exist and what
borders they have already crossed during their exchange. The seminar aimed at helping the participants in:
- exploring personal borders and limits – awareness of own strengths/weaknesses,
challenges/opportunities.
- understanding of cultural borders beyond geographical borders - cultures as independent from
national/geographical borders.
- raising awareness of how cultural borders influence the personal
borders.
- understanding that some borders need to be crossed while others are necessary.
Activities of the YES 2011
The participants had the chance to discover how people, power and culture interact and as a
consequence affect us as individuals and the world we live in. We worked with these aspects through a
variety of workshops, plenary sessions, a simulation of a parliament as well as other activities addressing
the three subtopic areas:
Geographical Borders: Can you redraw the European map for a world without borders?
Looking at the map of the world as we know it, we find a world divided by geographical borders. We often
define people according to where they live and where they come from; therefore basically according to the
borders they live within. But why do we choose to draw borders? Are we aware of the historical and
political background of how these borders initially were drawn? Often, borders are the reason for conflict –
but why do people fight about the placement of a border? Is Europe still divided or is globalization changing
the way we see the world, and what role will Europe play on the global stage in the future? Geographical
borders are essential to understand the history and future of the European states and the possibilities of a
world without borders.
Socio-Cultural Borders: Do you believe in cultural borders after your exchange?
During our exchange year, we learn that we can be part of more than one culture at the same time. We live
in a foreign country and learn that culture often go beyond geographical borders. Culture is closely
connected to how we see ourselves as individuals, but also as Europeans. But is it possible to draw the
borders of our culture? How do these socio-cultural borders affect our hopes, dreams and visions for the
future? Does globalization lead to the end of socio-cultural borders and the beginning of a world without
borders?
Personal Borders: Can you draw your personal borders?
Most exchange students crossed their personal borders during their exchange year. How did this
experience affect you? Personal borders are clearly not as visible as geographical and socio-cultural
borders, so how can we define them? We need to understand how family, friends, culture and traditions
interact and help us draw personal borders in order to discuss if we can change our personal borders. Does
globalization affect where we draw our personal borders and should we change our personal borders in a
constantly changing world? Of course there is also a facebook page for the event.
YES 2011 took place in Werbellinsee, Germany, 1-5 July 2011.
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