STUDY SESSION
"BULLYING AND ISOLATION IN EDUCATION"
Understanding and developing Inclusive Social Policy to combat exclusion of LGBT students in Education
3rd to 10th April 2005
European Youth Center of Strasbourg, France
with support of:
  Directorate of Youth and Sport Council of Europe European Youth Fundation |
| Presentation | Application Form |
| Programme | Report |
| Practical and Financial Conditions | Photo-Gallery |
Candidates must fill in and send the application form by 10th February 2005.
Prep team: Beverly Craig, Darren Vella, Jasna Magic, Miriam Lexmann, Björn van Roozendaal
PRESENTATION
Exclusion, harassment, bullying and isolation of LGBT youth within educational systems is seldom addressed as subject to be combated by inclusive policies. Even though much work has been done on the issue of one's sexual orientation in the education setting still discrimination bully and harassment occurs. It is in during this period and education setting where pupils go through some of the most important phases of their life, (e.g. puberty and coming-out, identity formation etc) a setting which most of the time is not a safe one. This is in spite of much work which has been done by many national and international LGBT organisations.
During different previous events organised by the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO) it became clear that educational systems within European perspective are often areas in which LGBTs fall victims of exclusion and therefore special focus on this area is necessary. Although bullying may also have origins in ones ethnical, racial or religious background we want to specifically deepen into a subject of bullying and social exclusion based on sexual orientation, as based on our experience.
With all these factors in mind IGLYO decided to dedicate a study to bring out the issue of bullying and harassment specifically based on sexual orientation in relation to educational institutions. We want to expose the issue of isolation: a consequence of bullying and/or ones sexual orientation and provide the tools on how to develop better inclusive social policies on different levels. These policies which would in turn help in the fight against exclusion of LGBT students in educational institutions. By looking to the concrete consequences of bullying and harassment and giving some theoretical background as well as practical input we aim to help participants recognise bullying and isolation even if it is not happening directly to them.
In short, in spite of all the efforts nothing or very little has changed in relation to the issue. We wish to empower our participants and provide them with practical tools to confront or at least more efficiently tackle the issue in their own respective countries. Current projects should critically be discussed whereas for countries in which access to educational systems is unlikely to happen when it comes to LGBT issues, strategies should be developed. With this study session we aim to build the capacity of LGBT youth workers active and involved in educational systems in order to battle the daily problems these groups face.
The event will take place in close operation with the Council of Europes Directorate of Youth and Sport, which is also financially enabling IGLYO to organise this study session.
In this Application Form you will first find further background information about the study session. After that you will find the application form for the study session. We encourage everybody to spread this application form widely. The IGLYO team is looking forward to receive your applications!
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Background Information on the Study Session
Overall aim
To develop and share the knowledge and the skills of young LGBT activists, officers and youth workers that work with(in) educational settings and provide the participants with a kind of theoretical and practical background on how to deal with bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation in relation to education.
Objectives
- To define and explain terms such as: social exclusion, violence, harassment, bullying, hate crime, victimisation, abuse (all based on sexual orientation) and place them within the education context; with this we intend to strengthen the theoretical background on the issue of the participants;
- To study concrete forms of harassment and bullying (verbal, physical, psychological)
- To identify the origins of bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation within schools and to provide the participants with different approaches in using all the means available when dealing with the issue of harassment, bullying, social exclusion based on sexual orientation;
- To provide the participants with the useful information in how to recognise bullying and harassment even if it is not happening directly to them;
- To let participants exchange experience they have on the discrimination and bullying issues and the combating against it, as well as add a political note;
- To equip participants with the knowledge on educational settings, educational acts, National Equality Bodies and Charters of good practice such as codes of conduct and Welfare requirements within Educational Acts looking after rights of the child in schools, and the role of different political bodies in this. By this we intend to provide participants with basic information on where and how to lobby in this field;
- To empower and encourage participants to start building up projects such as GSAs (Gay Straight Alliance) that would bridge the gap and strive to eradicate the differences between LGBT and heterosexual youth daily reality in relation to education and thus discourage bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation.
Working methods
The working methods will be varied and interactive with an emphasis on small working groups. IGLYO expects a great deal of input of experience from participants themselves (peer-to-peer education). Applicants who would like to organise workshops connected to the subject of the conference are welcome to propose this to the preparatory team. The tools and resources developed during the conference will be made available to all organisations after the conference, so they can be multiplied in their local/regional/national/international youth communities. For this purpose a reporting team will be composed out of participants. Applicants whom would like to participate in this team are encouraged to inform the preparatory team on this.
Participants' profile
The course is aimed for IGLYO members, young LGBT activists, representatives of LGBT (youth) organisations and those with an general interest and passion for LGBT issues as part of Human Rights, persons who;
- Are between 18 and 27 years of age;
- Are interested in sharing experiences and committed to learn about the topic of the study session;
- Are able to work in English;
- Have some experience (even if little) related to the topic of the conference (we are looking for beginners as well as experts);
- Can act as multipliers within their own organisations and/or communities;
- Are committed to setting up follow-up activities after the conference;
- Are able to attend for the full duration of the activity.
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Practical and Financial Conditions
Working languages
The conference will be held in English. There will be no simultaneous translations provided.
Venue and dates
The conference will be held from 3rd - 10th of April 2005 in the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, further information will follow once the successful candidates have been selected and notified. All delegates are expected to be able to attend the duration of the conference. If you need to leave early or arrive late you must tell the prep team within this application otherwise you will risk losing your placement.
Participation Fee
Registration fee for the conference is 43 Euro. No exceptions will be made!
Accommodation and meals will be provided by the European Youth Centre and IGLYO for you throughout the week. Please fill in the application for travel reimbursement if you want to be eligible for reimbursement.
Payment will be made in cash at the end of the study session upon basis of presented receipts. Please remember that the maximum amount of reimbursement will be the amount stated in the application form. Changes in travel costs should always be discussed with the preparatory team. IGLYO highly recommends all participants to look for funding for their travel from external sources. Participants who come from disadvantaged areas will be given priority for reimbursements. In this respect the IGLYO team ask you wherever possible to check with other organisations/ funding groups/ charities/ NGOs etc for possible travel funds.
IGLYO can assist in offering you support through a letter for possible funders!!
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