THE EUROPEAN FRIENDSHIP TRAIN 2005
The Youth Festival of Cultures
PROJECT PHILOSOPHY
ORGANIZATION
INFORMAL PROGRAMME
COLLATERAL EVENTS
DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROJECT
PARTICIPATIONS AND
PATRONAGES IN THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS
FINANCING
IDEA AND CO-ORDINATION
ORGANIZING SECRETARIAT
- The project plans the
co-ordination among the European Railways Companies of an itinerary along
the north-south axis, with connections with all the Countries not directly
crossed by the main train. It will be held from the 2nd to the 12th of
May, 2005.
- The travellers will be
groups of pupils and students under 16 and their companions (teachers), as
representatives of schools from all the European Countries. Each
group will consist of six pupils and one adult.
- On board, each group will
carry A SIGN OF FRIENDSHIP, a painting on fabric 3 x 1 mt. long
regarding Peace, Friendship, youth interests , which at the arrival
will be carried through the city .
- The main journey will start
from Finland and arrive in Bari on May 6th, after crossed areas
which are very sensible to the presence of Saint Nicholas, patron of Bari,
and here arriving in time for His annual celebrations and the
"Feast of Europe".
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Rovaniemi, Finland - The Regional Museum of Lapland Artikum (photo in the brochure edited by the Rovaniemen seudun matkailun
yhteismarkkinointi |
The
main percurrence will be organized into the following stages:
- train ROVANIEMI
/ Helsinki ;
- boat to Stockholm (Sweden);
- train STOCKHOLM / Helsingborg
- train HELSINGBORG / Copenhagen (Denmark);
- train COPENHAGEN / Hamburg / Hannover / Fulda /
Frankfurt / Basel (Switzerland);
- train BASEL / Milan;
- train MILAN /Rome
- train ROME / Bari.
The representatives of each Nation will arrive in the
intermediate railway stations and then proceede along the main percurrence.
The slow transfer through
geographical areas so far from each other will give the young travellers the
opportunity to appreciate the dimension and the extraordinary variety of the
European continent, by constituting a European unifying moment; it
represents a great occasion of socialization among the pupils and students of
so many Countries and different languages, letting join an important event
which will certainly be kept in the memory of all the participants and make
pupils from almost all European Countries and the families get accointed with
an area which is geographically peripheral but historically and culturally
central.
The project includes the first
European Youth Cultures' Festival, which will host in Bari artistic
expressions from some of the participant Countries.
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Rovaniemi - The Cultural Centre (A.Aalto) |
Thought as
a potential cultural north-south axis, already in its first attempt the
"European Friendship Train" has been able to stimulate and facilitate
exchanges among the schools of the participant Countries with the contribution
of the productive realities in the world of Arts and Culture. Not far from the
just ended first experience, there is a great ferment of contacts among the
single participants and the schools, which are discovering important planning
premises. Schools live very intensively the perspectives of the European
unity and cannot but accept with enthusiasm, as we have already verified,
any possible proposal which lets the youth put forward the spontaneous wish to
be together.
The
extraordinary reactions of all the participants, the great satisfaction
testified particularly by the local families which hosted for a few days
children and students and finally the attention which the newspapers of a few
Europeans Countries paid to the project, represent a total confirmation of how
such a project may become in the time an important unifying way, linking to the
European Community also those Countries which don't (yet) belong to it, in the
acknowledgment that besides the political and economical choices there is a
whole Continent which owes its richness to the cultural, historical and ethnic
multiplicity.
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Bari - St. Nicholas Basilica (photo by Nicola Amanto and Sergio Leonardi)
The
Finnish group "VISKURIT" from the Veteli Music School, before the
performance on May 9th, 2000 in a crouded St. Nicholas' Square
In each school the six representatives may be chosen also by entering the international literary competition to be chosen between "From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus between mith and reality" and "So many Countries, Peoples, Histories, Cultures...one Europe!"; such works will be sent to the Organizers in Bari by March 30th, 2005, in order to proceed with the final choice of the international winners who will be awarded prizes during the manifestation. Along with the literary works, the multimedia competition “Young people in Europe and their free time : the towns answer” may be entered, with a free choice of supports, such as photography, CD and DVD;
- an
international "adoption" of monuments and sites of particular
historical, architectural and/or natural interest is promoted; the adoption
projects (with drawings, pictures, movies and a written report) will be sent to
the organizers by March 30th, 2005;, in order to make a brochure and
bring the list of monuments and sithes to be saved to the attention of the
Authorities. A document will be signed by all the participants. The sites may
be located also outside the home town;
- start of
contacts among the schools, also in order to make ready for hospitality.
The reception
in Bari will be organized in collaboration with the local Authorities and the
direct contribution of the local schools, as most pupils will be hosted by
their new Italian friends.
The Finnish group
"Viskurit" while performing in the beautiful st. Nicholas' Basilica
As the arrival of the train coincides
with St. Nicholas' celebrations, the participants will be offered to live
intensively all the programme, which is not fully religious.
A great
attention will be given into promoting the knowledge of the historical and
natural heritage and sightseeing programmes will be included, with the
distribution of informative brochures and books. In collaboration with the
Tourist Boards, specific offers will be addressed to the relatives of the
participant pupils who like to join the programme.
A YOUTH
FESTIVAL
OF CULTURES will let the young travellers catch the presence of such a
numerous European group and appreciate time by time the various artistic
experiences (music, theatre, visual arts) coming from some of the participant
Countries.
The Feast of
Europe at Castel del Monte will be a great occasion for a highly significant
programme, open to the collaboration by the Italian Offices of the European
Commission and Parliament, the local schools and the Institutions more directly
interested.
Bari
: the old town and St. Nicholas Basilica
May 2nd : in the morning the bells of St.Nicholas’ Basilica and the local pupils will greet the departure of the first travellers
May 4th : arrival in Italy and transfer to Rome, where we shall meet the President of Italy
May 5th : a day of visits in Rome;
May 6th – arrival in Bari
May 7th:
in the morning : sightseeing of the old town of Bari
in the afternoon: experience exchange, meetings, debates having the theme : “ Religious and Ethnic Tolerance” . in the evening : young people will take part in the historical “Procession of Saint Nicholas” in Bari
May 8th:
in the morning – visit to Alberobello; experience exchange meetings, debates on the theme of drugs:
in the afternoon : workshop: “The young people and the social protection”.
In the evening : The Youth Festival of Cultures : Intercultural welcome party: music and poetry.
May 9th: “The Feast of Europe” at Castel del Monte:
- 09.30 : introduction of the pupils arrived from the European Countries, at the presence of the National and local Authorities, the representatives of the Embassies in Rome and the Apulian pupils ;
- folk dances;
- performances by the artists arrived from different European Countries;
- the “round dance of Europe”;
- the “montgolfier of Europe”;
- in the afternoon: visit to Ruvo and Trani and a party offered to all the European students;
- 22.00 : a fireworks competition above the seaside in Bari.
May 10th: The European Students’ Day
- 8.30 : St. Nicholas’ Square: meeting of all the European students; the “Friendship Procession” across the old town to Mercantile Square;
- 9.30 : awarding of prizes to the winners of the International competitions; performances by the artists arrived from different European Countries;
in the afternoon : workshops “Communitary Services for adolescents and Young People”
debates on “the impact of globalization on the young people”
in the evening : The Youth Festival of Cultures : dance and theatre
May 11th:
Free programme
May 12th
: back home
Castel del Monte, a part of UNESCO's heritage, has already hosted this
year the Feast of Europe on May 9th
Such a number of pupils from all over Europe suggests many cultural events, to
be addressed especially to the world of the adults, so that childhood may be
better understood and protected. At the moment, the following events have been
thought:
- an Art exhibition,
in collaboration with local galleries, by authors who look at childhood with
specific attention; possible meetings with the authors;
- a Photo
exhibition, with pictures coming from all the towns where the groups will be
travelling from. It will deal with the adoption of monuments and natural site
which deserve to be saved and/or restored. They will be brought to the
international attention and a common document will be signed by all the
participants.
At its fifth
edition, the project is enriched by the subtitle "The Youth Cultures'
Festival" and time by time will offer the opportunity to meet different
artistic expressions from various Countries.
Extremely
useful will be the collaboration by the European Embassies, which will be
invited to bring to the dates of the project those initiatives at the stage of
planning. For instance, the presence of the Finnish violinists in Italy had
been already planned and the "Friendship Train" has represented a
positive occasion.
The
Finnish group VISKURIT at Castel del Monte - Andria
A documentary will put on record the construction
of communication bridges among the groups of children from so many
different cultures.
The literary works and the "Sign of Friendship" paintings will become
part of the project heritage.
All the material will then be put on CD and transferred on Internet, as a
message addressed to those who have taken part to the programme or wish to join
it in the future.
A CD with
a movie based on the first editions of the project has lately been published
and may be asked to the organizers.
Some moments of wonderful relax in the deep blue of the sea at the white
Polignano, about 25 km. from Bari.
PARTICIPATIONS
AND PATRONAGES IN THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS
At the
date of the present report, the following Institutions have been involved in
the project:
- The Finnish
Ministry of Education - Opetusministeriö
- The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
Ulkoasiainministeriö
- The Finnish National Board of Education -
Opetushallitus
- The Finnish National Commission for UNESCO
- The European Secondary Heads Association - ESHA
- The Finnish Radio-Television Network - YLE
- The Museum of Finnish Architecture -
Rakennustaiteen Museo, Helsinki
- The Italian Cultural Institute in Helsinki
- The Italian Embassy in Finland
- The Building Information Centre -
Rakennustietosäätio, Helsinki
- The Finnish team for "Lasten Tehdas",
within the European programme Kaleidoscope
- The Finnish Railways - VR Yhtymä Oy
- The Finnish Federation of Youth Organizations -
Suomen Nuorisonseurojen Liitto
- The Arts Centre for Children and Young People -
Annantalo, Helsinki
- The Embassy of Finland in Rome
- The Embassy of Cyprus in Rome
- The Embassy of Spain in Rome
- The Embassy of Lithuania in Rome
- The Embassy of Ucraina in Rome
- The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Rome
- The Embassy of Norway in Rome
- The Embassy of Romania in Rome
- The Ministry of Education of Macedonia - The Pedagogical Institute of
Macedonia
- The Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs
- The Ministry of National Education of Turkey
- The Apulian Regional Board for the Artistic,
Environmental, Architectural and Historical Heritage;
- The Saint Nicholas' Basilica - Bari
- The Italian Office of the European Commission;
- The Italian Office of the European Parliament;
- The "Nicolò Piccinni" Foundation - Bari
- The University of Bari
- The Province of Bari
The High Patronage by the President of Italy
Presidenza Consiglio dei Ministri -
Presidency of the Cabinet
Ministero dei Beni ed Attività Culturali - Ministry of Culture
Ministero della Solidarietà Sociale - Ministry of Social Solidarity
Ministero dei Trasporti - Ministry of Transports
Presidenza Giunta Regionale di Puglia - Presidency of Apulian Region
Sovrintendenza Scolastica di Puglia - Apulian School Superintendence
Comune di Bologna - Municipality of Bologna
The costs of organization consist of two different parts:
- the first one considers the participation of the
national representatives and regards each State, so that the references will be
the local Ministries; each Railways Company will be asked to support the
journey to Milan of the national group, and so the Airways for the flight back;
- the second one considers the general
organization, the accomodation and the local programmes; the European cultural
financing programmes will be joined and a request of contribution will be
addressed to the Representatives in Italy of the European Parliament and
Commission, to the local Authorities and to public and private Boards and
Institutions which might accept the programme. The local programme is,
however, free of charge for the foreign participants.
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Alberobello
, capital of the "trulli" |
Arch. Eugenio Lombardi - chairman of the
"Laboratorio Urbano" Research Centre, Bari
Centro di ricerca Laboratorio Urbano - The
European Urban Workshop - c/o arch. Lombardi - vico I Domenico Renna,
11 - 70057 PALESE-Bari, Italy
tel./fax : + 39 080
5304652 GSM: + 39 348
9004725 E-mail:
urbanworkshop@tin.it
Bari, September 20th,
2005
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