BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA - European Youth Summit

100 FOR THE NEXT 100 IN THE DANUBE REGION

4-8 June 2014, Sarajevo

Application deadline 20 April 2014

Today, Europe is facing serious challenges in various spheres, from the economy and unemployment to growing nationalism and enlargement fatigue in many European countries, to name but a few. As the next generation, European youth should be involved when these questions are brought up. The European Youth Summit “100 for the Next 100 in the Danube Region” will bring together 100 young leaders with various educational and professional backgrounds from the Danube Region and South East Europe. Instead of looking at the past and what happened 100 years ago, they will discuss the different facets of the challenges Europe is facing today and will face in the future. What has to change in order to make Europe future proof over the next century?

TOGETHER. FUTURE. EUROPE 
Why “100 for the Next 100” is unique
We believe that young people are a driving force towards change. “Together for the future of Europe” is our main motto. This is why we will mark the year 2014, the year of anniversaries, with a project that will gather young people in Sarajevo to show that we are looking towards the future, rather than living in the past. This project is our statement for the future we wish to have – together.

GOALS. RESULTS. IMPACT
What we want to achieve 
Our goal is to establish a network of young (future) leaders and policy makers who will find creative solutions to the challenges affecting Europe today. The participants of the summit will improve their skills in a variety of fields (public relations, leadership and media-related skills, lobbying and networking) and find a space to put those skills in practice. Invited experts, local and European politicians, scientists and artists, will deliver speeches and act as trainers and interlocutors to the younger generation in a series of working sessions on European questions. After the summit, a group of outstanding intellectuals will be equipped to broaden the debates on challenges they are facing today and to foster their own potentials for building a better society.

Participation and accommodation costs will be covered by the organizers.

http://www.alpbach.org/de/?post_type=vortrag&p=29210&preview=true

AUSTRIA - Vienna International Model United Nations

3-7 August 2014

Application deadline 30 June (31 May if you need visa)

Experience diplomacy at one of the most authentic United Nations simulation conferences with students from all over the world. The 20th anniversary VIMUN on the occasion of 35 years United Nations Office at Vienna.

A Model United Nations (MUN) is a meeting where students authentically simulate negotiations of specific committees and organs of the United Nations. Participants choose a country and research their chosen country's position regarding a specific topic. After preparation, they step into the shoes of diplomats and represent this country in a committee. They debate, convince, bring forward new solutions and solve a world conflict with their own resolution.

Why participate at MUNs?

Thousands of students actively take part in MUNs, debating either at training sessions at clubs or at international conferences that are organized all over the world.

The motivation for participation in MUNs is simple, yet very convincing:

• improve your negotiation and public speaking skills
• become a better team-worker and leader
• get an insight into an UN diplomat's work
• make practical use of your political knowledge
• meet and stay in touch with students from all around the world

! Financial support available

http://afa.at/vimun/index.html

LITHUANIA - Transparency International School on Integrity

7-13 July 2014, Vilnius, Lithuania

Application deadline 1 May 2014 (for scholarships)

Transparency International School on Integrity in Vilnius is state-of-the-art anti-corruption and accountability training for future leaders. The School exposes its participants to the latest developments in the field of anti-corruption and accountability and offers real opportunities to try and implement their ideas in practice.

Following a rigorous selection process, selected students spend 7 highly intensive days learning from leading anti-corruption and accountability professionals. The School seeks to create a peer-to-peer learning and integrity-building environment that links theory with practice and helps young leaders to acquire better skills in bring the anti-corruption message across.

School lectures, seminars, training and field trips provide School participants with a unique blend of international and local know-how, while also challenging the students to approach the subject from outside the box and offer novel, previously untested solutions. Since 2010, TI School has welcomed over 350 youth leaders from some 60 countries worldwide. 

http://transparencyschool.org/summer-school/

ONLINE Discussion on Child Poverty and the Post - 2015 Sustainable Development Goals

Child Poverty and the Post - 2015 Sustainable Development Goals 

24 March - 14 April 2014

Vast numbers of children worldwide continue to suffer from disproportionate levels of poverty, a problem that affects both developing and developed countries alike. A recent report from the World Bank estimates that 400 million children under the age of 13 are extremely poor. At the same time, economic crisis in the high income countries has seen child poverty increase in many, increasing the perception that children often bear the brunt of poverty. Poverty violates children’s rights, denies children and youth the opportunities they need to develop and thrive, and is especially unjust because children are not responsible and cannot be held responsible for their poverty.

Much remains to be defined within the new development agenda, but it seems likely that eradicating extreme poverty will form a central role of the new set of goals. Many consider child poverty a critical issue and yet, there has been little debate about how children, as a major group of the extreme poor, can be included as part of this worthwhile goal. To fill this gap, we are running an online discussion on child poverty. 

The discussion is co-moderated by the UN Major Group on Children and Youth, ODI and UNICEF.

http://www.worldwewant2015.org/inequalities

AZERBAIJAN - Baku World Science Forum 2014

BAKU WORLD SCIENCE FORUM 2014 

26-31 May 2014, Baku

After the huge success of “New Challenges in the European Area: International Baku Forum of Young Scientists” in May, 2013 which was a joint initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Young Scientists, Postgraduate and Masters Union (AYSPMU) with the organizational support of Eurodoc, the organizers decided to face a new challenge and organize the event to cover all the world – Baku World Science Forum.

Image source: http://www.unist.hr/Me%C4%91unarodnasuradnja/ERASMUS/Aktualno/tabid/794/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3663/Essay-contest.aspx

The purpose of Baku World Science Forum is to bring together young scientists and researchers interested in the constant search of the proper reply to the new challenges, adequate and professional dialogue as well as new experience and new ideas. The main topic of the Forum is “New Challenges in the World Science: Joint Approaches of Young Scientists”. Five following sessions will be held simultaneously:

• Technical Sciences: “Technical sciences as the basis of the modern innovation systems”
• Medicine, Biology and Chemistry: “Natural processes on the basis of a new technology creation”
• Ecology, Earth and Agriculture: “Interdisciplinary approach in earth, agrarian and environmental investigations”
• Economy and Sociology: “Economy and sociology as the combination of the successful development of the global society”
• History, Philosophy, Culture: “Problems of the social-humanitarian sciences in modern world”

More than 300 participants from about 100 countries are expected to take part in the Forum.

All the abstracts of the participants will be put together and presented as the e-book on the official website.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Only PhD students and/or graduates (and/or any other equivalent degree holders) not older than 40 are eligible to apply.
• Candidates from any country are welcome to apply. It is important to specify which country is represented regardless the citizenship.
• Language requirement: The official working language of the Baku World Science Forum is English. Therefore, candidates are required to be fluent in English.
• Availability for the entire pre-conference workshops and conference period. Each participant is required to take active part in the Baku World Science Forum and activities organized before and during the Forum.

Applicants must also have the following knowledge and skills:

• Keen interest to share personal experience and learn from the experience of others;
• Experience working in multicultural environment and tolerance;
• Strong research, public speaking and communication skills.

TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION

All travel, board and lodging expenses (EXCEPT FOR VISA) for the selected participants will be covered by the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Application deadline 15 April 2014

http://bakuworldscienceforum.com/application/call-for-applications/

Life at Cambridge

Hello everyone, 

I hope your applications for Aspire Academy and other wonderful projects are going great and that you have already started planning your wonderful summer. 

I thought some of you might be interested in more than a short holiday project though. If you are thinking about applying for a bachelor or master at one of the world's top universities, then I suggest you take a look at Jake's vlogs. He is a Computer Scientist at Cambridge and he shares his experience there on Youtube, Twitter & other channels. 

I found him accidentally on Youtube then subscribed to his channel instantly. 

Hope you like him too and find his videos useful and inspiring. 

Have a great weekend, 

A

PS: If you like my blog and you find the projects I promote useful, then LIKE World Youth - Aspire on Facebook and follow it on Twitter @wyaspire!

ROMANIA - Aspire High School 2014

ASPIRE HIGH SCHOOL 2014

Aspire High School has been created exactly for those like you – who are not afraid to constantly challenge themselves for the sake of bettering the world around them!

The first edition took place in July 2013. We had Harvard professors, notorious speakers and an amazing choice of participants – obviously, it was a huge success. The alumni club currently counts over 40 outstanding high school scholars from Central and South Eastern Europe.

Here at Aspire High School, we understand your needs and wishes. You want examples of success stories and someone to help you guide your steps. You came to us seeking for guidance in your never-ending attempt to become better and more successful and we offer you exactly that!

Top Harvard professors are here to enhance your view of the world. Can you imagine sharing the very same experience that Harvard students do, right here, on the old continent? Finding out all the secrets to becoming tomorrow’s leader, right from the #1 business school in the world?

But that’s not all. Did you ever think it was possible to meet CEOs and other prominent figures of the Romanian media? Moreover, did you ever consider how it would be to ask them what it was that made them who they are today – role models of success? 

Aspire High School promises you this experience.

Application deadline 30 April 2014

Application form available below. 

https://aspireforeducation.wufoo.eu/forms/application-form-aspire-high-school-2014/

http://www.aspireacademy.ro/

ROMANIA - Aspire Academy 2014

ASPIRE ACADEMY 2014

I've been waiting for this moment for weeks. Aspire Academy is one of the best projects I have ever attended and it represented the tipping point in my professional life. I warmly recommend it to you! 

Aspire Academy is Aspire Romania’s flagship program. Launched in 2011, the program will reach its 4th edition in 2014. Aspire has the mission of discovering, developing and connecting outstanding young leaders throughout a one-week summer school taking place every year in Romania, at Poiana Brasov. Aspire Academy is commonly referred to by its participants as a transformational experience, where they enjoy constant interaction and debate with some of Harvard’s top faculty and Eastern Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Classes at Aspire Academy are taught exclusively in English. Lectures are based on the Harvard case study method and they are typically interspersed with workshops and seminar-style sessions. The curriculum addresses three core areas: leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development.

Last year, a typical day at Aspire Academy comprised

• a morning lecture on leadership and the arts of communication e.g. prof. Steve Jarding on ‘What It Takes To be A Leader’ or prof. Holly Weeks on ‘Communication Strategies’;
• an afternoon inspirational speaker, typically a successful regional figure e.g. Mariana Gheorghe, CEO Petrom, Georgios Argentopoulos CEO Baneasa Developments, or Anca Harasim, Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania;
• an evening workshop on personal development, following the popular Harvard course on Authentic Leadership Development;
• an evening social program e.g. tango & leadership, social photography, theater workshops, teambuilding.

Fees

This year, we’re aiming to make our Aspire programs as financially affordable as ever.

Hence, both Aspire Academy and Aspire High School will incur a fee of EUR 290 and the Aspire Professional Workshop will incur a fee of EUR 100. 

One thing you need to know is that our selection will be entirely needs-blind! That is to say, you first apply, receive your offer, if you are a good match for Aspire programs, and only afterwards will you be able to let us know whether you need financial aid.

If you are one of the ones we are looking for, then you will be there this summer, regardless of your financial situation!

Application deadline 7 May 2014

http://www.aspireacademy.ro/

Application form https://aspireforeducation.wufoo.eu/forms/application-form-aspire-academy-2014/ 

RELATED POSTS - ASPIRE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
                                  - MEET RAUL & HIS LEGO CAR (younger than most of the participants, Raul inspired us with his achievements and personality) 

Meet RAUL and his LEGO CAR

How cool is Raul!!

I had the chance to meet him on my birthday, at a programme for the alumni of Aspire Academy. He inspired a whole class of students with his achievements and proved to us that if you really want something, then nothing is impossible. 

I invite you to get tons of inspiration and enjoy the video! 

And if you keep an eye on the blog, I will soon tell you more about the logo in this post. I promise to be great. 

http://mashable.com/2014/03/31/raul-oaida-inventing-inspiration/