During the Summer Academy, five groups composed of six participants from different countries will be created. Each group will develop a project on a chosen topic. The groups are trained in project management, intercultural teamwork and leadership/communication/media skills during the Summer Academy. Back in their home countries, the participants continue planning their group projects. Then, the group members meet again for the presentation of their event in the countries of Southeast Europe in late Winter / early Spring. Monitored and funded by the Programme partners, these group projects aim at transmitting the knowledge acquired during the first part of the Programme to a wider public and at laying the groundwork for sustainable cooperation in the region.

Examples

LDP 2006/2007: Project ‘European Path’, Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina, March 2007

The group, composed of LDP participants from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Germany, Macedonia and Denmark, produced a brochure presenting different views on European integration. The participants interviewed policy-makers and NGO representatives in their countries about the integration of their respective countries into the EU. The printed brochure was presented in a one-day conference in Trebinje on ‘The Economy of the EU’ to students and NGO representatives.
Brochure EU Path | Poster Conference

LDP 2007/2008: Project ‘Kosoview’, Pristina, Kosovo, March 2008

This group sought to raise awareness of the EU and its actions after the declaration of independence of Kosovo by producing a documentary film, creating a website and organising a conference on the ‘EU Mission in Kosovo - Views from inside and outside’. For the film, the group members interviewed young people in their countries (United States, Turkey, Austria, Kosovo and Belgium) about their views on Kosovo and the EU. By combining these views from the film with the official views of the high-level speakers on the discussion panel, like Pieter Feith, EU Special Representative for Kosovo, the event attracted crowds of people and was covered by almost all Kosovar media.
Agenda of the Panel Discussion | Film: Kosoview

LDP 2008/2009: Project ‘EU & U’, Skopje, FYROM, March 2009

With the ambitious aim to present the relationships towards the EU in a ‘plastic and entertaining way’ and reaching a wide audience, the group prepared a movie showing the views and expectations of young people coming from different countries (candidate countries, EU member states, and countries which currently are far away from Europe). The participants also interviewed politicians and EU representatives in Macedonia, on the same questions: benefits of EU membership, expectations, challenges and most painful handicap of being outside of the EU. The result is a double comparison: differences between young people coming from different countries; and a clear difference in the approach of youth and politicians towards the EU. At the end of the movie, there is no explicit conclusion: it is up to the audience to make its own opinion! Copies of the movie were spread in schools and universities.

LDP 2009/2010: Project Regional Cooperation in SEE “Balkans Beyond Borders”, Belgrade, Serbia, March 2010

Balkans Beyond Borders (BBB) is an online short film competition on the subject of regional cooperation in the Balkans. It was created by six LDP participants from Greece, Serbia, Romania, Poland and Macedonia. The aim of this project was to get a better grasp of how young people understand cooperation in their region, but also to deepen young people’s understanding of their neighbours and the importance of regional cooperation for the future development of their countries. In a very innovative way BBB gave a chance to young artist in the Balkans to express their views and ideas about current and potential ways of cooperation between their countries. 10 best movies were presented on the final event organized in Belgrade in March 2010. The best movie was awarded with the participation in the finals of the International Film Festival of Naoussa. BBB team also become the first LDP Alumni initiative when representatives of several LDP generations decided to work together and continue with the project by registering the organization. For more information about the BBB project and future activities: www.balkansbeyondborders.eu/. All LDP Alumni members are invited to become part of the BBB initiative.

LDP 2010/2011: Project ‘Communicating the EU to the Youth in SEE Countries’, Tirana, Albania, March 2011

With the aim of promoting comprehensive communication of the EU to young people, the six group members prepared a comparative analysis of efforts undertaken by the governments of Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia in communicating the EU to young people. The results of the research were summarized in a publication which answered questions related to states’ EU communication strategies, the representation of the topic in each educational system, and the coherence of youth action plans with the EU Strategy for Youth. The round table was held in Tirana with government officials, interested academia and members of (youth) NGOs participating in the discussion. This event was used as an opportunity to promote the publication and advocate for the recommendations.