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WSCF-Europe Cookbook: Call for contributions
What is the taste of your childhood? What dishes remind you of your home and home country? What do you cook when you feel homesick or want to celebrate your traditions?

WSCF-Europe needs your recipe suggestions for the WSCF-Europe Cookbook. If you have a recipe you would like to share with us, here’s what we need from you:
- A recipe for an appetizer, main dish or dessert;
- A photo of the dish, preferably (but not compulsory) from when you cooked it;
- A photo and/or description of the food culture in your country/Student Christian Movement (SCM);
- Translation in your language of the following words: “Enjoy your meal”, “delicious”;
- A short prayer (optional).
If you have plenty of ideas and want to share more than just one recipe,

please do not hesitate do so. Send us your contribution by emailing it to

communications@wscf-europe.org or links@wscf-europe.org.
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May 10th, 2020 1:50 am | Continue Reading
MOZAIK 39: Together Against Youth Extremism

The 39th issue of our ecumenical journal MOZAIK has now been published! The new issue focuses on the topic of youth extremism, its causes, manifestations and consequences. As it is the tradition for MOZAIK, the new issue tries to bring together reflections from our previous training sessions, namely our Ecumenical Leadership Training in Kobuleti, Georgia, and our training on combating youth extremism, which took place in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Among the contributors to this new issue, we count: Khattar Abou Diab, Franco-Lebanese political scientist, geopolitical consultant and specialist in Islam and the Middle-East; Slava Mezhdoyan, youth worker, informal education trainer and president of Umbrella, a youth-focused Georgian NGO; and many others! All contributions are supplemented by carefully-crafted graphics, that artistically portray the different meanings and messages that the new MOZAIK is analysing. Enjoy your reading!

The latest issue can be found on Issuu: https://issuu.com/wscfeurope/docs/mozaik39_issuu_version.

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April 1st, 2020 12:47 am | Continue Reading
Katerina Mavroeidi

KATERINA MAVROEIDI

Outreach Coordinator

outreach@wscf-europe.org

“I am Katerina and I am the Outreach Coordinator of WSCF-Europe. I manage the social media, and I participate in the creation of campaigns and other creative tasks. I currently study Foreign Languages and Literature at the University of Milan, but my interests also involve drawing, travelling and everything that needs some creativity. I see my values reflected in WSCF -Europe’s vision, so I am really thankful to be part of the team.”

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March 29th, 2020 9:25 pm | Continue Reading
Júlia Alexandra Pőcze

JULIA ALEXANDRA POCZE

Programme Coordinator

programs2@wscf-europe.org

“My name is Julia and I was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. For the past three and a half years, I have been living in Germany, in the small Bavarian town Passau, where I am studying Law, specializing in public international law and international economic law. I have been brought up in the Lutheran faith, actively participating in the congregation alongside my parents, but it was not until I started university that my faith became especially important to me. I joined a local Student Christian Movement (SCM), that I have grown to regard as my second family, and where I have been enthusiastically attending and organizing events for the past years.

My SCM and other international projects provided me with invaluable experiences that ultimately motivated me to apply to become a Programme Coordinator for WSCF-Europe. As part of the European Regional Committee, I hope to achieve two things: create opportunities for other young people, similar to those that shaped me as a person, so that they can broaden their horizons and meet new people and cultures while doing so. Secondly, I hope to bring faith closer to my generation and enable a progressive, constructive interfaith dialogue.”

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March 29th, 2020 8:55 pm | Continue Reading
Shoghakat Muradyan

SHOGHAKAT MURADYAN

Treasurer

treasurer@wscf-europe.org

“I am Shoghakat, and I am 24 years old. I am from Armenia, and I am a former student of Marketing and Trade. Previously, I was a Chariperson and Board Member of the Armenian Student Christian Movement, which created my connection with WSCF, back in 2013, when I attended my first international youth program in Romania. Since then, my movement became a member of WSCF, I had the opportunity to participate in many conferences and training sessions of the organization, and I had life-changing experiences and gained understanding of the importance of Christian youth in nowadays society.

Now I am delighted to be chosen as Treasurer of WSCF-Europe, which I am sure will be another imporant attempt to share my knowledge and support with ERC. Most importantly, I will be involved in budget preparations and financial management, sharing budgeting reports and ensuring the stability and improvement of WSCF-Europe.”

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March 29th, 2020 8:22 pm | Continue Reading
CANCELLED: Study Session ‘Confessing Church today: combating right wing populism as Christians’

We regret to inform you that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and restrictions, we have had to cancel our study session “Confessing church today: combating right-wing populism as Christians”. We are currently looking at the possibility of rescheduling this event for some time in the future.

For the last decade, right wing populism has been gaining visibility all around Europe, and the existence and relevance of this can no longer be denied – it is already part of the institutional bodies in many European countries. Our lives are affected by right wing populism, daily discussions about this phenomenon are omnipresent.

But do we actually know what we are discussing? Do we actively seek ways to interact with it and take the discussion to a higher level? Does our Christian identity influence our perception and how? Are we ready to challenge right wing populism? Probably not yet, but we, at WSCF-Europe and the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, are ready to accept the challenge with you and work on innovative approaches.

The aim of the Study Session is to empower young Europeans…
… to understand the idea behind and the methods used by right wing populism.
… to interact with it from an individual and church perspective.
… to learn from each other.
… to grow to act as multipliers.

During the training we will…
… get to know different realities from all across Europe.
… discover new ways to address this issue.
… explore the Christian perspective on right wing populism.
… gain insights from a local organization active in the field.
… use innovative and informal methods when speaking about difficult topics.
… prepare each other for taking the discussion to our individual backgrounds.

You should apply if…
… you are eager to gain an understanding of what right wing populism is.
… you are keen to work with an international group on ways to challenge yourself.
… you are ready to share your experience and learn from each other.
… you are curious about how to make a difference.
… you are 18-35 years young.

The meeting
… is held by WSCF-Europe and the Council of Europe Youth Department.
… will take place in Budapest on May 4-8, 2020.
… has a participation fee of 50€, accommodation, food and travel being covered.
… requires at least 90% attendance commitment from you.

The application deadline is March 15, 2020 (extended). Please apply through by completing this form.

If you have any questions, please contact study-session@wscf-europe.org.

Could I ask you to add this note to the call for applications for the Study Session?

Please note: Due to the Coronavirus situation activities at the Council of Europe’s European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest are suspended for March and April. The current activity in this call is not affected for the moment, but depending on how the situation evolves, further activities may be postponed or cancelled. The organisers will make sure that all applicants are duly informed and restrictions are applied.

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February 20th, 2020 4:49 pm | Continue Reading
2019 – Year in Review

As 2019 comes to an end, the WSCF-Europe team reflects on all the activities undertaken over the past 12 months. It’s been a busy year, which brought about a lot of change, including new activities, new ideas and topics for discussion, and a new European Regional Committee (ERC). Here’s what we’ve been up to in 2019!

1 – ERC and Staff Meeting

25-28^th April; Malente, Germany.

We started the year with a meeting for our European Regional Committee and staff, which took place between 25-28^th April, in Malente, Germany. The aim of the meeting was to discuss issues facing the region and to plan activities for the rest of the year. The team also discussed ways of strengthening the relationship of WSCF-Europe with our affiliated and associated Student Christian Movements (SCMs), and ways of improving our fundraising and communications. The meeting was funded through the Erasmus Plus Programme of the European Union.

2 – Lingua Franca Leadership Training

14-19^th May; Kobuleti, Georgia

The first event of the year was our Lingua Franca Leadership Training, which took place between 14-19^th May, in Kobuleti, Georgia. This was the first edition of the Lingua Franca Programme, which first started in 1991, after a break of a few years, so we were really pleased to be able to host this event in 2019. The theme of the training was “Shared future, shared responsibilities: Empowering a new generation of Europeans”, and the focus was on developing leadership, language, ecumenical and inter-cultural skills. The event was made possible by funding received from Otto per Mille Valdese.

3 – National Scoping Study on Youth Extremism

February-July.

The key topic addressed through most of our events in 2019 was that of youth extremism, and in particular how to identify and challenge youth extremism leading to violence. To set the ground for the events that we organised later on in the year, from February to July, we undertook a scoping study to help us understand the various types of extremism that movements and young people, from across the SCMs we are working with, are witnessing or are faced with. This involved having conversations with our SCMs, experts in the field and other key stakeholders, running surveys to get their views, and encouraging young people to reflect on youth extremism in their country and local community. This activity was funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.

4 -European Regional Assembly

3^rd-8^th October; Copenhagen, Denmark.

Between 3^rd-8^th October, delegates of SCMs from across Europe, WSCF-Europe committee and staff members, and WSCF-Europe partners and Senior Friends, have all gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the 2019 European Regional Assembly. The Assembly is the highest decision-making body of WSCF Europe, and gathers bi-annually. The Assembly discussed issued facing the Federation and plans for the future, and voted on a number of amendments to the WSCF-Europe By-Laws and the new ERC members. The Assembly was funded by the European Commission, and supported by our local partners, YMCA Denmark.

5- Training Session “Challenge it: Exploring approaches & innovation for combating youth extremism”

2^nd-6^th November; Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Continuing work on the topic of youth extremism, young people from across Europe have gathered between 2^nd and 6^th November, in Utrecht, the Netherlands, for the training session “Challenge it: Exploring approaches & innovation for combating youth extremism”. The training addressed questions, such as: ‘What is extremism?’, ‘What are the reasons behind it?’, and ‘What is the role of young people in combating it?’, through interactive activities and discussions. The training session was funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.

6 – Workshop “The Anatomy of Extremism: Identifying the problem – a first step toward solving it”

30^th November; Kiev, Ukraine.

On 30th November, WSCF Europe former Campaigns Coordinator and dear friend, Pavlina Manavska, delivered a workshop, titled “The Anatomy of Extremism: Identifying the problem – a first step towards solving it”, which focused on the topic of combating extremism leading to violence. The workshop was organised in Kiev, Ukraine, in collaboration with SCM Ukraine, and was part of the wider WSCF Europe 2019 campaign on youth extremism, funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.

In 2019, we also continued to publish our MOZAIK ecumenical journal, with the latest release being published in August and focusing on diversity and inclusion from a European youth perspective.

We want to thank all our Student Christian Movements, supports, friends, participants, volunteers, and donors for helping us achieve all of these things! We look forward to seeing you all at the WSCF General Assembly and at our Study Session in 2020!

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December 31st, 2019 7:16 pm | Continue Reading
WSCF GA 2020: Call for Stewards

Dear friends of WSCF,

As we are hosting the General Assembly (GA) of WSCF in Berlin, in June 2020, we invite you to apply for the Steward Program.

What is the General Assembly?

The General Assembly of WSCF happens every 4 years, bringing together delegates of 120 movements, coming from 94 countries. In 2020, the General Assembly will gather under the theme “Rejoice in Hope” (Romans 12:12): Young People Journeying Together Towards Justice and Peace”.

Guided by the theme, the delegates will reflect on the issues and challenges faced by young people in the areas of climate justice, religious extremism, racism, unemployment, building inclusive communities, and will share stories of hope and actions from all over the world. The GA will also discuss the present situation of the Ecumenical Movement and the future of the Federation. Besides this structural work, we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the federation. The GA will be held in Berlin, Germany, between 4th and 12th June 2020. For more information about the GA, please visit the WSCF website.

What is the Steward Program?

The Steward Program gives an opportunity to young members of Student Christian Movements (SCMs) to be part of the GA, see the work behind the scenes, and gain important knowledge and experience in hosting an international, intercultural ecumenical event. A young, dynamic and diverse group of people will come together from 1st to 13th June, in Berlin, to support the organizing committee in all the duties before, during and after the GA. The group will intensively work to overcome prejudices and to create an unique atmosphere of friendship, beyond the boundaries of denomination or nationality. The tasks of the Stewards can include: assisting with local travel, social media, documentation, administration, translating, taking care of guests and delegates, technology, meeting rooms, accompanying excursions, helping with any practicalities. The work will be intense, diverse and probably exhausting – but also an unique experience and the beginning of an ecumenical, intercultural journey.

Finances

WSCF will be responsible for all costs, such as travel costs, accommodation and boarding. However, financial contributions from the participants or their sending institutions (churches, SCMs etc.) are very welcome.

Criteria

The group of Stewards should be a young and vibrant group, so applicants should be between 18 and 30 years old. As the official languages of WSCF are English, French and Spanish, the ideal Steward speaks multiple languages (also other languages are of interest, especially German for local communication). The Steward program is not just an investment in strong individuals, but also in healthy long-lasting relationships for WSCF, so people involved with WSCF or its member movements are prioritized. For this reason, please also send us an endorsement letter from your sending institution, highlighting your contributions to WSCF, in your movement and church, and what qualities you would be bringing to the Steward Program. We are looking for people who are passionate about intercultural exchange, ecumenism, willingness to work with a team ,and learn constantly from and with each other.

Applications are accepted until 20th January 2020. To apply, please fill-in this application form and send the endorsement letter from your institution to chair@wscf-europe.org. Please, also send us the contact details of someone from your SCM Board, in case we need to ask for further information.

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December 23rd, 2019 10:29 pm | Continue Reading
ERA 2019 in review
Between 3^rd and 8^th October, delegates of Student Christian Movements (SCMs) from across Europe, WSCF Europe committee and staff members, and WSCF Europe partners and Senior Friends, have all gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the 2019 European Regional Assembly. The Assembly is the highest decision-making body of WSCF Europe, and gathers bi-annually. The last Assembly took place in 2017, in Prosperous, Ireland.

The Assembly discussed and voted on the future of the Federation, including: voting on a number of amendments to the WSCF Europe By-Laws, voting the new European Regional Committee (ERC), who will lead on the activity of the organisation for the next two years; and discussing topics and activities that WSCF Europe could explore over the next two years.

The Assembly was happy to elect a new ERC composed by both old and new WSCF Europe members. The new Committee is formed by:
- Chair – Christiane Gebauer
- Vice-chair – Stina Ekholm Tysk
- Fundraising Coordinator – Noora Mattila
- Links Coordinator – Luise Klein
- Global Networking Coordinator – Hoi Tung Natalie
- Exco Members – Marta Sappe Griot and Paudie Holly
There are a number of vacant positions in the new European Regional Committee, for which SCM members are encouraged to apply. These are: Treasurer, Programme Coordinators (x2) and Campaigns Coordinator.

Apart from performing the main functions of the Assembly, attendees have also participated in a series of sessions focused on improving the dialogue and connections between WSCF Europe and different affiliated and associated SCMs, but also between SCMs themselves. The delegates discussed how to improve communication between WSCF Europe and SCMs, how to work closely to organise events and run campaigns, and what kind of support they would like WSCF Europe to offer to the movements. They also joined a number of workshops, on topics such as climate change, social action, and theology and interfaith dialogue.

The host movement, YMCA Denmark, also invited the delegates to a local event – a discussion on ‘Christianity in Denmark’. The panel of the discussion was formed by Zuzana Babicova, former WSCF Europe Chair, Rasmus Jensen, from the Grundtvigsk Forum, and Mikkel Gabriel Christoffersen, from the Danmarks Kristelige Gymnasiastbevægelse.

Additionally, the delegates heard from a number of representatives of WSCF partner organisations, including: Torsten Morten, from the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe, Joy Eva Bohol, from the World Council of Churches, and Angelita Tomaselli, from the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe. They discussed the activity of the organisations they were representing over the next year, opportunities for young people to get involved, and opportunities for partnerships.

Overall, the Assembly was successful in setting the ground for WSCF Europe’s activity in the next few years. We are thankful to our donors, the European Commission, for the funding granted, which allowed us to organise this event.
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November 17th, 2019 2:24 pm | Continue Reading
Call for Treasurer
We are looking for a new Treasurer to join our European Regional Committee (ERC) and support the work of WSCF-Europe!

The ERC is the Board leading the work of WSCF-Europe across all the different organisational and thematic areas of the Federation in the Europe region. It is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to the work and life of WSCF-Europe. Together, they work with partners and attend events and meetings on behalf of the region; they head preparatory committees for events and lead campaigns; they listen to the European Regional Assembly and implement the work suggested.

Following our latest European Regional Assembly, which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 3rd-8th October 2019, the position of Treasurer has remained vacant. We are, therefore, reaching out to our Student Christian Movements to find new candidates interested in fulfilling this role for the upcoming four years (with the option to step down after two years), until the next European Regional Assembly.

The Treasurer role involves the following responsibilities:
- Managing the finances of WSCF-Europe, in a sustainable manner.
- Preparing and managing the annual budget of WSCF-Europe.
- Ensuring WSCF-Europe accounts are professionally audited.
- Ensuring office bookkeeping and cash management are completed to a high standard.
- Meeting with partners and donors.
- Helping to write budgets for funding applications and financial reports to donors.
- Actively engaging with the rest of the ERC.
We are particularly looking for candidates who:

Essential
- Are endorsed by their local or national Student Christian Movement.
- Have a passion for implementing the WSCF-Europe mission and vision.
- Are team players.
- Have a communicative level of English.
- Are able to commit to the following time demands (estimated):
- Can attend and actively participate in committee meetings and related work (3-5 hours monthly).
- Can attend and actively participate in two in-person ERC meetings (2 long weekends per year).
- Are available to dedicate 1-2 hours weekly to the specific role (email communication, calls, active finance work).
Desirable
- Have attended or organized a WSCF-Europe regional event.
- Have experience delivering educational youth activities, at the national or international level.
- Have an interest or experience in managing finances.
Please note that this role involves a four-year commitment, with the option to step down after two years. To apply for this role, please fill-in this short application form. The deadline for applications is 31st December 2019 (extended). If you have any questions about this role, please contact Christiane Gebauer, WSCF-Europe Chair, at chair@wscf-europe.org.
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October 13th, 2019 9:27 pm | Continue Reading