eYouWiNS 2009 invited 120 participants to come to Novi Sad, between 17th and 24th August. Our aim for 2009 - European year of Innovation and creativity was to foster creativity and innovation in diverse and multicultural environment, take benefit from “the intersection” between cultures, attitudes, religions, knowledge and skills of young participants and as a result to gain high number of new combinations of ideas and create innovative tools for intercultural dialogue.

The European Year of Creativity and Innovation allowed us to look at concepts of creativity and innovation from different angles, and inspired us to apply them to the great challenge, such as intercultural dialogue. Tackling this complex challenge required new knowledge as well as new approaches to combining existing knowledge and finding holistic solutions and creating innovative tools. We proudly present this year topic of European Youth Week in Novi Sad: 

“Innovate to Integrate”

In the face of evidence that diversity and multicultural environments can stimulate creativity, the aim of eYouWins 2009 – European Year of Creativity and Innovation – was to foster the creative and innovative potential in all participants and at the same time to promote intercultural dialogue and youth cooperation at international level. The overall objectives of eYouWins 2009 were to raise awareness among young people of the importance of creativity and innovation as key competences for personal, social and economic development and assist in turning the increasing multiculturalism of European societies into an asset for creativity, innovation and growth. 

In order to address different needs of participants and to fulfill project goals in an innovative way, program of the eYouWins 2009 was structured as a combination of three elements - People, let’s innovate! (education), People, let’s create! (creativity) and People, let’s party! (fun). eYouWins has created synergy of these elements encouraging creativity and innovation among young people, focusing on real-life, intercultural dialogue, exploring cultural diversity and developing personal skills and attitudes. Creative workshops have included creative-problem-solving techniques such as mind mapping, brainstorming, six thinking hats (de Bono lateral thinking) and creative problem solving process.

The objectives of eYouWins 2009 were:

• To promote creative and innovative approaches in intercultural dialogue and help youth in Europe to acquire the competences necessary for intercultural dialogue; overcoming personal and cultural barriers; understanding  European citizenship and various cultures and life styles of European youth;

• To organize international event that will provide the opportunity for young people to meet, talk and discuss various issues and problems, developing new ideas and creative communication as innovative tools for intercultural dialogue. 

• To create innovative tools for intercultural dialogue and communication

• To celebrate creativity and innovation and to raise awareness and develop skills and competences that enable people to embrace change as an opportunity, to remain receptive to new ideas and to respect and appreciate the values of others; 

European Youth Week in Novi Sad was held between 17th and 24th August 2009. Central activities have been organized in Novi Sad but there were also trips through Vojvodina. Accommodation and food has been organized in students’ dormitories, and 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.