Call for Prep Team: Summercamp: This oppressive system and our mental health

The Federation of Young European Greens is announcing an open call for members of the international Preparatory Team for its summer camp “This oppressive system and our mental health”, an international activity that will take place from 22-27 July in France, hosted by Les Jeunes Écologistes. Exact location to be confirmed. 

The summer camp will last 6 days and will bring together 50 young activists from all over Europe to explore how mental health problems affect oppressed people and activists. We will look at cases of repressed freedom of expression, right to protest and access to information in Europe, as issues that affect the engagement of young people in civic processes. We will then create space to learn about methods to address problems of mental health among young activists and people who face discrimination.

The aim of this activity is for young people to address the oppressive system we live in and identify threats posed to youth organisations and grassroots in Europe and how they affect oppressed people and their right to exercise political participation, as well as engage in creating solutions. This aim translates into three concrete objectives:

1. Learn about European cases of violation of the rights of expression, assembly and access to information and how they affect the mental health of oppressed people (i.e. LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, people from discriminated against and minority groups, etc.), activists and oppressed activists (e.g. Black Lives Matter, queer activists, etc.) 

2. Identify how mental health issues show up among activists and oppressed people today, and sharing solutions at the individual and community level

3. Reach a wider number of youth through the preparation and dissemination of a training workshop, as well as engaging material and resources to feed into an EU campaign on the politics of mental health.

We are looking for 5 people to join the international Preparatory Team and lead the preparation of the summer camp with the full support of FYEG’s Project Manager and a member of FYEG’s Executive Committee. Your responsibilities in this role will be: 

• Participation in a live prep team meeting in France (21-22 May, 2 full working days, weekend);

• Active participation in regular online meetings, research and design of workshops prior the event (May, June, July / 3-4h a week);

• Full preparation and implementation of the programme, and programme material; 

• Invitation of and communication with guests in accordance with the project aims;

• Selection of participants and communication with them prior the event;

• Taking care of practicalities and of the general well-being of the participants;

• Full participation during the entire event (22 - 27 July) and the meetings of the Preparatory Team before and after the event itself (21 & 28 July);

• Responsibility for project results to support FYEG’s campaign (until 1 month after the activity) in cooperation with the Mental Health Working Group.

Being a member of the Preparatory Team of FYEG’s summer camp will offer you:

• Working in a lively international environment with young activists and professionals;

• Improving your organisational, communication and trainer skills;

• Upskilling your experience with non-formal education methods and facilitating skills;

• Getting familiar with Green values and FYEG’s work;

• Extend your knowledge about mental health, oppressed people, and systemic issues linked to it;

• An unforgettable experience!

NOTE: Mental health is a personal and sensitive topic, on top of being a crucial political matter. The Preparatory Team is not expected to be prepared on the medical and psychological conditions linked to trauma. Its members will receive supervisory support by a mental health professional during the organisation and implementation of the activity. 

Practicalities:

Accommodation, food, working space, travel and visa costs for the preparatory team will be fully covered within reasonable limits and within Europe. For selection of travel means the condition is to combine the most economic and environmentally friendly way (lowest price + travel time + CO2 emissions).

COVID-19 DISCLAIMER: According to the internal guidelines adopted by FYEG for the organisation of its activities, Prep Team members will be required to be fully vaccinated and present a negative PCR test before joining the live Prep Team meeting and the summer camp itself. The FYEG’s Executive Committee and the FYEG’s Office will monitor the spreading of the virus closer to the activity, and provide additional instructions for members of the Preparatory Team and participants accordingly. 

If you are a team player interested in trying out your trainer skills, if you are willing to engage in an adventure of imagining new ways of doing politics - this project is for you!

DEADLINE for submitting your application online: Tuesday 26 April at Midnight CET.

APPLY HERE!

This event is one of the three main international activities organised as a part of the “The Politics of Mental Health” project supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. You can find more about the project here. 

A one-day summer school hosted as part of the summer camp is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of FYEG and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.