Eurizons: European Tour for Global Responsibility
In August and September 2006, a group of 50 young people from 12 European countries engaged in a hitchhiking tour across Europe to campaign for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 8 European cities, Eurizons (a project of the Global Education Network of Young Europeans, or GLEN) is organising panel discussions, concerts, street theatre, and films. The goal of this participatory youth initiative is to promote the 8 MDGs as a common European responsibility, as well as to involve young Europeans in a dialogue about global development and to encourage their engagement.
Communication Strategies
Using what Eurizons describes as "a colourful and unconventional approach", this group of young hitchhikers headed across Europe with promotional materials in their backpacks and campaigning methods in mind as part of this effort to educate and mobilise Europeans on the MDGs. Organised by local teams and enriched by actions carried out by the hitchhikers, a series of 8 events in 8 cities was designed to inform people, engage them in discussions, and integrate culturally rich as well as entertaining educational activities. Please click here to read about each specific local stop on the tour. To cite only one example, the events in Bratislava, Slovakia specifically addressed children between 9 and 14 years of ag; the hitchhikers joined the children in 5 "playgrounds" featuring games about poverty (MDG #1), education (MDGs #2 and #3), health (MDGs #4, #5, #6), the environment (MDG #7), and global partnership (MDG #8). In addition, local Slovak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) presented their MDG activities.
The campaigning culminated in an advocacy event/celebration designed to reinforce the potential for partnership between policymakers and civil society (especially young people). After having hitchhiked for approximately 2465 km through 9 European countries, the young people arrived in Strasbourg on September 7 - to be welcomed by more than 15 Members of the European Parliament. (These Parliamentarians have personal partnerships with the hitchhikers from their countries, and have reportedly been following their progress along the way.) Throughout the Eurizons tour, the hitchhikers discussed Europe's responsibilities for reaching the MDGs with young civil society activists as well as people they met on the road. The results of these encounters were presented to the European Parliament in an Open Letter,summarising some of their experiences. The hitchhikers then invited the Parliamentarians to discuss what both politicians and young active European citizens must do in order to contribute to global development. This event was also designed to engage members of the general public through a procession, street theatre, a film screening, a solidarity picnic, an exposition in a park, and a music concert.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are being used as a supplementary tool to raise awareness about the MDGs and to promote action. For example, a page on the Eurizons website provides details about each of the 8 Goals. Ideas for taking action, an interactive blog, and links to various organisations are also available here.
The campaigning culminated in an advocacy event/celebration designed to reinforce the potential for partnership between policymakers and civil society (especially young people). After having hitchhiked for approximately 2465 km through 9 European countries, the young people arrived in Strasbourg on September 7 - to be welcomed by more than 15 Members of the European Parliament. (These Parliamentarians have personal partnerships with the hitchhikers from their countries, and have reportedly been following their progress along the way.) Throughout the Eurizons tour, the hitchhikers discussed Europe's responsibilities for reaching the MDGs with young civil society activists as well as people they met on the road. The results of these encounters were presented to the European Parliament in an Open Letter,summarising some of their experiences. The hitchhikers then invited the Parliamentarians to discuss what both politicians and young active European citizens must do in order to contribute to global development. This event was also designed to engage members of the general public through a procession, street theatre, a film screening, a solidarity picnic, an exposition in a park, and a music concert.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are being used as a supplementary tool to raise awareness about the MDGs and to promote action. For example, a page on the Eurizons website provides details about each of the 8 Goals. Ideas for taking action, an interactive blog, and links to various organisations are also available here.
Development Issues
Youth, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Key Points
According to Eurizons, approximately 88% of all Europeans have never heard of the MDGs.
One member of the hitchhiking team commented that each of the participants has contributed a unique cultural experience to the tour. Katharina from Germany explained, "Hitchhiking with a Latvian who is fluent in Russian is such an advantage traveling through the Baltic countries and Poland! I did not know that nearly everyone in Eastern Europe can communicate with each other this way and that some Slavic languages are so similar to each other. That's great!"
One member of the hitchhiking team commented that each of the participants has contributed a unique cultural experience to the tour. Katharina from Germany explained, "Hitchhiking with a Latvian who is fluent in Russian is such an advantage traveling through the Baltic countries and Poland! I did not know that nearly everyone in Eastern Europe can communicate with each other this way and that some Slavic languages are so similar to each other. That's great!"
Sources
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