Case Study Trip in the Baltic States
- "Ethnic Minorities: Problems and Attitude of Youth Towards Them"
Separatism is one of the key factors that have substantial influence
for the stability, integrity and continuity of any regime. The notion
of separatism is most often associated with the issues of ethnic minorities
and their integration into social political and cultural life of the
state. Maintaining of the national identity while integrating into the
regime seems to be the major concern of all the ethnic minorities. This is
particularly interesting as well as important for the three Baltic states for
they are at the edge of a very similar process - integration into the European
Union. It seems that Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians face the same problems
of cultural, social and political integration into the EU as do the
ethnic minorities during the process of their integration into the polity
and society of the Baltic's. The process of successful and beneficial
ethnic integration in the Baltic countries is substantially hindered
by the historically based stereotypes and hostilities. Young people of
the Baltic's are considered as the ones who will construct and implement the
model of the auspicious ethnic integration, for they are considerably less
affected by the relicts of the past and their attitudes are more open minded
than those of the old generation.
Aims Of The Project
1. Two week's case study trip for the students from different
European countries concerning ethnic minorities problems in the Baltic
states in the autumn of 1997.
2. Objective evaluation and definition of the differences concerning
the ethnic minorities problems in the Baltic states as well as presentation
of these themes to the students of European universities.
3. Drawing of the Baltic youth organizations and European students
into the ethnic minorities problems solution process as well as construction
of the possible models of the ethnic minorities integration into regime.
Objectives Of The Project
1. To enter into relations with the related student organizations
in the Baltic states (AEGEE-Riga,
AEGEE-Tartu).
2. To organise a co-ordinating meeting in Riga or Kaunas.
3. To form working groups in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for:
a) program preparation,
b) budget formation,
4. To find macerates (funds).
5. To inform the students of the European countries about the
possibility to get aquatinted with the problems of ethnic minorities in the
Baltic states and to chose 30 the most suitable students for the participation
in the project.
6. To construct the survey questionnaires and conduct the survey
in the biggest universities of Lithuania (during the project the participants
will be aquatinted with the results of this survey).
7. To inform the representatives of the ethnic minorities as well
as the academic community about the project and prepare advertising material
of the event.
8. To enter into relations with representatives of mass media
9. To resolve the problems concerning transportation, lodging,
food and leisure.
Realisation Of The Project
AEGEE members make efforts to help to develop democracy in the
transitional societies, therefore, was created a new AEGEE-Europe project "Case
Study Trips". The main goal of this program is to get aquatinted
European students with the problems existing in the transitional states, and present
the students' way of thinking, their attitudes not with the help of
mass media, but during the process of first-hand communication. Up to now
the CST projects were organised in Albania, Yugoslavia and the Ukraine.
There are to be organised CST's in Moldavia, Central Europe and Asia. The earlier
organised CS Trips have motivated our organisation to prepare similar
project in the Baltic states. The project will take place in Latvia, Lithuania and
Estonia in September of 1997. 35 students from different European countries will
participate in the CST. During the project the lecturers will present social, cultural
and political problems of ethnic minorities in the Baltic states. There are
foreseen meetings with the representatives of youth organisations for it is
important to know the attitudes of future leaders towards the ethnic
minorities. There will be organised forums and debates concerning
the transitional period. The results of the project will be summarised
in a book, which will be presented to the public and the governmental
institutions. The copies will be available for every interested
international organisation or institution. These measures must help to resolve
the existing problems. In addition, the participants of the project
will be acquainted with the culture and famous places of Lithuania, Latvia
and Estonia.
Preliminary Program
September 17
Arrival to Kaunas
Sightseeing in Kaunas
Opening dinner at the municipality. Acquaintance of participants
September 18
9 00 Breakfast
10 00 Plenary meeting. Introduction of the issues
11 00 Coffee break
11 15 Meeting with the rector of the Vytautas Magnus University
11 45 Lecture on the history of the ethnic minorities in Lithuania
13 30 Lunch
14 30 Lecture on maintaining of national identity among ethnic minorities
16 30 Meeting with the representatives of the ethnic minorities and human
rights organisations
18 30 Dinner
19 30 Informal meeting at the student club "Trestas"
September 19
9 00 Breakfast
10 00 Plenary meeting
10 30 Departure to Vilnius
12 00 Arrival to Vilnius. Visit to the Old Town
14 00 Lunch at the parliament
15 00 Visit to Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas)
16 00 Press conference
17 00 Visit to Vilnius University
17 30 Lecture at Vilnius University
19 00 Working groups
20 00 Dinner
September 20
9 00 Breakfast
10 00 Plenary meeting
10 30 Departure to Ignalina
12 00 Visit to Ignalina atomic power plant
14 00 Lunch
15 00 Departure to Klaipeda
17 30 Visit to the Hill of Crosses
21 00 Arrival to Klaipeda.
21 10 Dinner
September 21
9 00 Breakfast
10 00 Plenary meeting
10 30 Lecture
12 00 Coffee break
12 15 Debates with the representatives of Lithuanian youth organisations
and students of Klaipeda
14 00 Lunch
15 00 Working groups and summary of visit in Lithuania
17 00 Departure to Riga
21 00 Arrival to Riga
21 10 Dinner
September 23
Breakfast
Sightseeing in Riga
Plenary meeting
Lecture on ethnic minorities integration perspectives
Discussion
Lunch
Meeting with the rector of the Riga University
Forum with the representatives of Latvian youth organisations
Dinner
September 23
Breakfast
Plenary meeting
Visit to Latvian Parliament
Lecture "Development of living conditions of national minorities
in Baltic states"
Discussion
Lunch
Meeting with the representatives of Latvian ethnic minorities
and students of Riga
Working groups
Dinner
Informal meeting
September 24
Breakfast
Departure to Tartu
Arrival to Tartu. Visit to Old Town
Dinner
September 25
Breakfast
Plenary meeting
Meeting with the rector of the Tartu University
Coffee break
Lecture " Availability of higher education for minorities"
Discussion
Lunch
Forum with the representatives of Estonian youth organisations and students
of Tartu Dinner Informal debates
September 26
Breakfast
Arrival to Narva
Lecture on the ethnic minorities problems in the North-eastern
regions of Estonia
Discussion
Lunch
Meeting with the representatives of the Estonian ethnic minorities
and students of Narva
Working groups
Departure to Lahemaa national park
Arrival to Lahemaa national park
Dinner
September 27
Breakfast
Plenary meeting. Presentation of results in working groups
Visit to Lahemaa national park
Lunch
Departure to Tallinn
Arrival to Tallinn
Dinner
September 28
Breakfast
Plenary meeting
Visit to Estonian Parliament
Lecture on attitude of European countries toward Baltic's security
Discussion
Lunch
Final discussion and summary of results
Parting dinner
September 29
Breakfast
Departure to Kaunas
End of the program
Expected Results
1. Immediate acquaintance of the participants with the social,
cultural, political and economical situation of the ethnic minorities in
the Baltic states.
2. Acquaintance with the economical, political, cultural and social
development of the Baltic states.
3. Preparation of the conception concerning further cooperation
in resolving ethnic minorities problems.
4. Defining specific patterns according to which youth organizations
may contribute to resolving ethnic minorities problems.
5. Singling out of the democratisation processes which most substantially
induce tolerance toward the ethnic minorities.
6. Evaluation of the significance of young generation in integrating
ethnic minorities into the developing open society.
7. Preparation of the result summary book, where would be reflected
the course and conclusions of the project.
8. Circulation of the result summary book among the Baltic youth
organisations as well as among all AEGEE antennas in 180 Universities
of Europe.
9. Supplying with the informational material about the situation
of ethnic minorities in the Baltic states human rights working group of
AEGEE-Europe.
Contact person:
Tim Sattler
