The countries in Europe are confronted with the human tragedies of refugees and asylum seekers, due to different social, economic and political challenges, including war and persecution.
The YMCA had a strong role in working with refugees and asylum seekers in the past. The YMCA was an advisor of the UNHCR; YMCA Europe had the EMRAS Working Group in the 1970/1980’s (European Migrants; Refugees and Asylum Seekers); YMCA volunteers worked in refugee shelters like Traiskirchen in Austria, etc..
Today several of our YMCA’s in Europe have developed programmes and activities for and with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers within their national- and local contexts.
We think that this provides us with an opportunity to bring this expertise together so that we can learn from each other.
Further developing and extending this work will be relevant for all of our movements and communities in Europe. The current situation asks for a response and action.
Therefore YMCA of The Netherlands and YMCA Europe invite you for a Conference about the work of the YMCA for and with refugees and asylum seekers. This Conference will be held 11 – 13 March 2016 at the Ernst Sillem Hoeve, the Conference Center and Hotel of YMCA of The Netherlands.
This conference is relevant for those YMCA’s in Europe already working with refugees and asylum seekers as well as YMCA’s who are interested or have plans for starting up projects and activities.
The aims of the conference are:
- Exchange of experiences. Identifying good practices; obstacles; training aspects etc.
- Developing new initiatives and new co-operation in YMCA work for refugees and asylum seekers on all YMCA levels in Europe
- Discussing follow-up actions within the framework of YMCA Europe.
We plan to have a variety of inputs from different YMCA’s and to organise workshops about relevant themes and practical issues.
The Ernst Sillem Hoeve (www.esh.nl) is located near the village of Den Dolder (close to Utrecht) at about 50 minutes by train from Schiphol Airport.
We kindly invite you to participate in this conference by submitting the filled in registration form to YMCA Europe before 24th of February 2016. Please identify in the registration form if you are willing to enable a colleague from a less priviliged YMCA to participate in the conference by sending us an extra donation.
Draft programe
Travel information
