eYouWiNS 2008, titled People, Let’s Talk!, invites 150 participants to come to Novi Sad, Subotica and Indjija between 22nd and 29th August. Our aim for 2008 - European year of Intercultural dialogue was to raise the awareness, knowledge and skills of young participants about personal and cultural barriers, European citizenship, various cultures and living styles of European youth, conflict management and ways of successful communication. 

eYouWins 2008 - People, Let’s Talk! focused on real-life intercultural dialogue. The aim of the 3rd European Youth Week in Novi Sad was to get to know each other by hearing different opinions about important topics and questions. Exchanging the opinions and ideas has created an intercultural atmosphere where participants could learn the importance of cultural diversity and common thinking at the same time. Besides learning about each other’s cultures, cultural innovation through interactive communication was placed in the centre of discussions and actions.

Since eYouWins participants come from about 15-20 countries, it was a good occasion to learn from each other's cultural and social backgrounds in order to find a common field of co-operation. This learning experience was additionally amplified by multinational and multi religious surrounding of Novi Sad and Vojvodina. 

Intercultural learning is accepting the knowledge about the way we perceive others who are different. In the same time we learn about ourselves and our personality. It is learning about communication between friends and how do we make connection aiming to build the community. It is about how communities can inter-link to promote equality, solidarity and opportunity for all. It is about fostering respect and promoting dignity among cultures, especially where some are in the minority, while others are in the majority.

Is culture necessarily linked to a group of people, or does “individual culture” exist? Do cultures change? Why and how? How strong is the link between culture and actual behavior of individuals and groups? Can one have several cultural backgrounds? How does the encounter of cultural difference impact on us personally? Can we develop appreciation for these differences? Are there chances to be developed pluralistic forms of living together, in neighborhoods, cities and countries? Can different cultures co-exist, based on curiosity, mutual acceptance and respect? Which processes are necessary to reach this? What difficulties we will meet?

Some of these questions people face every day, some they seldom do. We invited young people from all over the world to search for answers and to ask new questions. Whether answers can be found we will know after this week. But one thing is certain: Friends will not make borders between each other. 

Borders, intolerance and prejudices often come as a consequence of ignorance and fears of everything unknown and different; thus, constant and active campaign of informing and educating people is essential in order to prevent these negative processes, and enable seeing the world with other people’s eyes, since we are the others to those others. Therefore, our objective was to encourage inter-cultural dialogue and enable young people to meet as many young people from other cultures and other nations as possible. This festival enabled the experience of meeting different cultures and becoming more open towards them.

eYouWins 2008  “People, Let’s Talk!” put a special emphasis on the concrete fields, activities and possibilities of developing skills of conflict management and successful communication as well as democratic youth participation and international youth co-operation. Special attention was devoted to regional thinking and co-operation.

The motto of 2008 - People, Let’s Talk!, was motivated by the prime importance that young people understand and value the significance of intercultural dialogue and to be able to better express themselves, find their places and roles in our ever globalizing world. 

Different methods were used to treat the topics. There were teambuilding games, plenary meetings, practice-oriented and interactive workshops, presentations, debates, artistic performances, multimedia practice, as well as daily group and final individual evaluations.

Synergy of three festival elements - People, let’s talk! (education), People, let’s create! (creativity) and People, let’s party! (fun) has lead to fulfilling project objectives. Educational part of eYouWins in 2008 offered the opportunity to young participants through interactive lectures and workshops to discover cultural diversity and develop personal skills and attitudes to realize innovative activities and practice intercultural dialogue and try to answer questions: 

• Why intercultural dialogue?

• What is it for?

• What are its conditions?

• Where does it happen?

• Who is responsible?

• How is it developed?

• Role for Council of Europe?

Participants had the opportunity to learn from internationally acknowledged experts and exchange ideas, opinions and acquire or develop practical skills for overcoming personal and cultural barriers in communication, about European citizenship, various cultures and living styles of European youth, conflict management and ways of successful communication. Several lectures and thematic meetings were arranged, where university professors, non-governmental activists, diplomats, politicians and scientists shared their views with the eYouWins participants. Every topic was introduced by an opening lecture given by qualified speakers. 

The main part of the thematic work of eYouWins 2008 was group work on different topics derived from the main theme. eYouWins 2008 had 6 different workshops which highlight the festival theme from various aspects, and the students were to attend one of these during the whole festival.

1. Cultural heritage and artistic innovation

We would like to explore the importance of preserving the national culture and heritage while focusing on the need for innovation in the changing life.

2. “Face your history – Turn to the future!”

Our world is full of tension because of historical and political offences and, consequently, prejudices. For the peaceful future, young people must be aware of the historical background of nations, and handle relationships with respect and openness.

3. Identity in Crisis? Global vs. local

The question of identity has become a hot issue within the world of integration, and globalizing world. This sub-topic aims at discovering the characteristics of the modern senses of identity in global and local context.

4. Inter-religious dialogue among young people

Just like history, religions are claimed to divide nations: religious oppositions cause tremendous amount of disasters. But what is the role of religion in our life? How can we see our heritage leading us on the path of peace?

5. Connect youth initiatives!

Europe is a vivid area of youth activities. Though, recent research pointed at the fact that young individuals often do not know about programmes/actions devoted to support them. We would like to give the field to youth NGOs and students to share their ideas and set up common projects within the European framework.

6. “Mediating culture” – Opportunities for student media

Student communities have an important role in the life of universities and cities. By the media that are managed by these young people, they can bring issues into the spotlight which interest them and are worthy to explore: these efforts have formulating power over the thinking of students and their approaches.

Practical skills, such as grant writing and multilateral project management and the methodology of intercultural learning and training was taught. Modern communication methods and techniques were mastered and practiced in the workshops. The participants were provided with information about the profile and projects of international organizations as the Council of Europe (CoE), European Youth Foundation (EYF) or International Visegrad Fund (IVF).

eYouWins 2008 functioned as an intercultural training and a cultural youth festival at the same time. There were concerts, exhibitions, dance, and theatre performances. Trips and excursions in the countryside have given glimpses on the cultural heritage of Serbia to the participants. 

People, Let’s Create! - eYouWins 2008 invited participants to record and direct short movies abut intercultural experience in Vojvodina by their mobile phones. Furthermore, city rally through the streets of Novi Sad and street performance designed to encourage direct personal involvement and active participation of all participants was a valuable experience.

As in former years, a special Country Show as well as country-specific parties have been organized. In these events participating countries will show parts of their cultural heritage and traditions.

People, Let's Party! - involved the activities aimed at participants, citizens and other visitors of Novi Sad. There were concerts, exhibitions, performances, and large parties in the open air organized and realized by students, more or less famous artists and music bands.

European Youth Week in Novi Sad was held between 22nd and 29th August 2008. Central activities were organized in Novi Sad, Subotica and Indjija. There were trips through Vojvodina. Accommodation was organized in students’ dormitories, and food in students’ cafeterias. All information regarding the Festival could be found at www.eyouwins.com. The organizer of the Festival was Creative Educational Centre Novi Sad in strategic alliance with the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad.