Youth on the Balkans
Fifth Anniversary Balkan Youth Festival
August 3-8, 2000, Gabrovo
YCIC Team, Gabrovo
No. 9/2000
From August 3 through 8, Gabrovo and the neighboring cities once again hosted Youth on the Balkans, the fifth anniversary Balkan Youth Festival. This year the participants and the organizers from the Gabrovo Youth Cultural and Information Center (YCIC) faced the challenges of the new Balkan and European realities.
For five days, more than 500 participants from Turkey, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Belgium, France and USA once again proved that their mission is to promote and establish the new progressive European trends on the Balkans. By their songs, dances and discussions, the young people demonstrated that there are no borders for their friendship and mutual understanding.
In his statement at the opening of the Festival, Bulgarian Vice-President Mr. Todor Kavaldzhiev greeted the young people from the Balkans and Europe and underlined their role and responsibility for the common future of the Balkan countries.
The audience at the festival evenings in Gabrovo, Sevlievo and Plachkovtsi enjoyed the performances of folk groups from: Strouga, Macedonia; Podgoritsa, Yugoslavia; Kariotisa, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey; Gabrovo. Other participants included: Tuesday Club, a jazz rock band from Thun, Switzerland; Hellstrings (Skopie, Macedonia); Pinocchio Vocal Studio (Giurgiu, Romania); Smiles Ballet (Gabrovo) and individual performs Alitsia Hadzhieva, Kristina Gougouchkova, Kotseto Kalki and many others.
The Merry Balkans Cartoon Exhibition, organized in partnership with the Humor of the Nations International Foundation and the House of Humor and Satire, Gabrovo, contributed to the variety of festival events.
The Partnership Now and in the Future round-table offered a discussion on the young people as partners for tolerance and understanding on the Balkans. The participants included NGO representatives, local authorities, student organizations and associations, as well as media representatives from Bulgaria and the neighboring Balkan countries. The final document adopted by the forum focused on the common belief of the participants that for the full involvement of the youth in public life it is vital to have communication skills, which requires a pro-active attitude on behalf of the young people, recognition of their unique and independent role, continuity of tradition, mutual respect and tolerance between cultures and communities. The participants proposed measures that need to be implemented at local, regional and national level.
The Balkan Youth Entrepreneurship Network (BYEN) laid the foundations for the active involvement of the Balkan youth in the social and economic reconstruction and development of the region. The participants in the 3rd Youth Business Forum, The Power of Partnership, formulated their role and willingness for participation in the final document of their forum. The participants in the business forum included young economists, managers, entrepreneurs, NGO and media representatives, local governments and national institutions from Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, France and USA. The participants discussed the challenges faced by businesses in the region. Mr. Joseph Lauder, director of Management Systems International Foundation, Bulgaria, presented the Competitiveness Development Initiative. His presentation generated a lot of interest and spurred many questions. Useful information was provided by NGOs that provide many services and opportunities to encourage entrepreneurship and partnership in business projects.
Apart from the games, dances and fun, the trips around Gabrovo and the visit of the Sokolski Monastery will be remembered with the workshop on the role of folklore as an ambassador of understanding, friendship and peace. The workshop was attended by representatives of the folk groups, guests and hosts. The issues discussed were related to the style and the type of the music and the dances, the similarities and the differences in the folk costumes, the traditions of the Balkan nations, the role of modern folk groups for the preservation of traditions, the civil behavior and the social activity of the youth in the folk groups.
YCIC s partners in the organization of the Fifth Anniversary Balkan Youth Festival were: Municipality of Gabrovo; Municipality of Sevlievo; Plachkovtsi Mayoralty; House of Humor and Satire; Emanuil Manolov House of Culture; AIESEC Bulgaria; Alma Mater University Radio of the Sofia University; Stara Planina Association; Academica Schools; National Scouts Organization, Gabrovo region.
The festival was supported financially by: Council of Europe s Youth Directorate; USAID s Local Government Initiative Program; MSI Foundation; Coca Cola Pleven Bottling Company; USIT Colors; Municipal Markets Corp.; Foundation for Local Government Reform; Sevko Corp.; Textilmash Corp.; FLAG Consortium; Gabrovo 21 Association; the European Commission Delegation to Bulgaria; Darik Radio; Svezhest Ltd.; Central Stara Planina Regional Association of Municipalities; Gabrovo Hotel.