The Protestant Academy Berlin, the Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe n-ost and the Cultural and Educational Centre ECUMENA from Minsk invite representatives from four countries to a European Dialogue in Belarus. The eight day Dialogue in Minsk and its surroundings raises awareness for a country, which in many parts of (Western-)Europe is rarely noticed and whose existence is blocked out by most of the media. What is the situation of this country, which was once one of the richest areas in Eastern Europe? How do young people experience the Belorussian reality? How do journalists and civil society actors conduct themselves in a setting with limited freedom and how does this influence everyday life? How does a country deal with a history that caused every fourth Belorussian to not survive the Second World War and the German occupation? How is the relationship between the state supporting Orthodox Church and the smaller Christian laymen groups, who perceive themselves as oppositional? How do the Belorussian government and the opposition understand the political role which Belarus should take in Europe in the future?

Aim of the Dialogue:

At the centre of the European Dialogue are encounters with numerous representatives from civil society, politics, church, state and private-owned media. The aim is to build up lively and sustainable European networks between different European actors, who engage in various ways for democratic development and the strengthening of European bonds. Representatives of NGOs and Churches shall develop and realize future-oriented projects through the encounter with Belorussian partners. By means of encounters with important politicians from the government and the opposition, representatives of Churches, civil society actors and representatives of international organisations journalists will have the possibility to overcome often stereotypical coverage and to report more differentiated in their media. The European Dialogue will take place in English.

Participants:

25 participants from Germany, Poland, Spain and Belarus, who belong to the following target group,

- journalists

- staff and volunteers of civil society organisations

- church representatives and church laypersons

who are up to 40 years in age,

who have an interest in intensifying contacts to Belarus and

who have a good knowledge of English:

The decision on the composition of the group will be taken on basis of the short application form as well as the quality of the project and coverage suggestions. The selected participants will be informed by the end of January, will then receive further information and can apply for a visa.