Isaac Blake to represent UK at the European Youth Centre in Budapest, December 2018

Through the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe (CoE), Isaac Blake is representing the Romani Cultural and Arts Company and the UK at the ‘Putren Le Jakha! – Open Your Eyes! – International Youth Conference, Budapest’ Hungary, which will take place at the European Youth Centre in Budapest, from 9-14 December 2018.

Organisers – Phiren Amenca

Phiren Amenca is a network of Roma and non-Roma volunteers and voluntary service organisations creating opportunities for non-formal education, dialogue and engagement, in order to challenge stereotypes and racism.

Each Autumn, Phiren Amenca, with its partners, hosts a one week seminar  to bring together Roma and non-Roma youth workers, young leaders, activists and multipliers in order to exchange experiences; knowledge on Roma history, anti gypsyism, discrimination, identity and culture, as well as youth engagement and Roma initiatives in Europe.

The seminar aims to raise awareness of local activism to challenge anti gypsyism and to develop advocacy skills of young people in order to support their local communities. They also develop recommendations to increase the involvement of Roma youth and Roma youth organisations in National Integration Strategies.

The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is a fund established in 1972 by the Council of Europe to provide financial and educational support for European youth activities. Only youth NGOs from Council of Europe member states, as well as the European Cultural Convention Signatories: Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Holy See, can apply to the Foundation. It is a division in the Youth Department of the Council of Europe’s Directorate of Democratic Participation, Directorate General of Democracy.

Isaac Blake; Director of the Romani Cultural & Arts Company, is proud to be attending this event and represent Wales/UK and the charity. Isaac says “It is so vital to get the right people around the table to judge the progress of such important and far-reaching strategies. We have to move forward together. Now!”