December 2008: Training Manuals launched - A volume of 8 innovative Training Manuals for the Employed, Empowered project has been compiled and launched. The materials, ranging from basic life skills, IT, business and entrepreneurship skills to small scale farming, have been developed as part of a concept for informal adult education used as a strong tool for empowering marginalised groups. The two main editors, Mr Ivan Stojilović, International Aid Network and Mr Vladimir Ivankovic, EBCL Serbia, were supported by Mr Dragan Djukić, National Employment Service, Republic of Serbia and Ms Tatjana Bakračlić, Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia in the promotion of the initiative to the general public. More related news on Employed, Empowered.

20-21 December 2008: Joint History Project - Local Teacher Training Workshop, Prishtina - the first local teacher training workshop for the albanian language edition, took place in Prishtina over 2 days in December 2008. The workshop was attended by 24 history teachers from surrounding areas, outside the city. The workshop was facilitated by Two of the teachers who attended the Training of Trainers workshop in June 2008 and they presented a model lesson to the participants on how to use the workbooks in class.

5-7 December 2008: Joint History Project – A weekend of activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian language edition of the Joint History Project workbooks was presented on Friday, December 5, in Sarajevo in a press conference organised by the CDRSEE in cooperation with Mediacenter, Sarajevo. The press conference was the start of a weekend of JHP related activities in Bosnia and was followed by the third Teacher Training conference, which took place in Banja Luka on Saturday and Sunday December 6-7. For full article, click here.

1-2 December 2008: CDRSEE Board Member, Mr. Costa Carras, in his capacity as one of the two coordinators of the Greek-Turkish Forum, was invited as a panelist to the VII International Seminar on Security and Defence in the Mediterranean, which took place at the Pedralbes Palace, in Barcelona, Spain.Mr. Carras was a member of Working Committee A: Greek-Turkish Relations. The speakers examined the current relationship between Greeks and Turks, particularly in relation to Cyprus. The original presentation raised a great deal of interest and wide discussion, which has been taken into account in the final version of the paper. For more details and conclusions, click here to download the paper presented by Mr. Carras at the VII International Seminar on Security and Defence in the Mediterranean.

29-30 November 2008: Local Teacher Training Workshop for the Joint History Project held in Rijeka, Croatia. The first of three Croatian local teacher training workshops gathered 5 teacher trainers, 3 of whom were also trainers at the first conference in Zagreb, while the remaining 2 were participants from Rijeka, at the initial event. Click here to read more.

21-23 of November 2008: Ohrid Regional Conference - Joint History Project. A Regional Conference gathering history teachers from all over the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as from the region (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus and Kosovo) was held in Ohrid in November 2008. Click here to read more.

10 November 2008: CDRSEE takes part in a symposium in Vienna. The Executive Director of the CDRSEE was invited to speak by The Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) and the Center for European Integration Strategies (CEIS), on the occasion of a symposium on the theme “Dealing with the past and reconciliation processes in the Western Balkans”. Specifically, Mr. Sebek discussed the chances of reconciliation in the region within the context of EU integration. For full article, click here.

04 November 2008: Nenad Sebek speaks at the American College of Thessaloniki. Mr. Sebek, for his journalistic experience and in his capacity as executive Director of the CDRSEE, was invited to speak at ACT about the Balkans in E.U. integration. He discussed the main issues regarding E.U. enlargement to the Southeast European countries, as well as current developments and future challenges in the region. The speech was followed by open floor questions by an interested audience of students from various majors.

27-28 October 2008: CDRSEE at Ethnobarometer workshop in Istanbul, Turkey. Ethnobarometer, an independent, international research network of social scientists and experts providing reports on contemporary European inter-ethnic relations, migration flows and integration, invited CDRSEE to take part in the first workshop of its project “Minorities, regional stability and security in Southeast Europe” in Istanbul. To read more, click here.

10-11 October 2008: Training of Trainers Conference for the Turkish and Greek Language Edition of the JHP in Cyprus.  The Training of Trainers Conference for the Turkish and Greek Language Edition of the JHP took place in Nicosia from 10 - 11 October 2008 and was organised jointly by the CDRSEE and the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research. International trainers from Greece, Turkey and Croatia trained teachers from both communities in Cyprus in a very successful and constructive event.

9 October 2008: Turkish and Greek language JHP workbooks launched. On Thursday, October 9, the CDRSEE and its partner organization in Cyprus, the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research marked the launch of the Turkish and Greek language editions of the Joint History Project workbooks with a well attended press conference that highlighted the potential of the JHP as a tool for reconciliation and debate over history.

 4-5 October 2008: Two teacher training workshops are held in Bitola,  fYR of Macedonia. The last two Workshops for the Albanian and Macedonian language edition of the JHP workbooks were held on the 18th and 19th of October, in Bitola. They gathered a total of 34 teachers, primarily from the central and Eastern part of the country, Skopje, Stip, Kumanovo, Strumica, Veles, Kavadarci, Kocani, Gevgelija and Kriva Palanka.  To read more, click here.

4-5 October 2008: Two teacher training workshops are held in Struga, next to the beautiful Ohrid lake, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The first two Workshops, one each for the Macedonian and Albanian-speaking community for the two respective language editions of the JHP workbooks, were held on the 4th and 5th of October, in Struga. The workshops gathered a total of 25 teachers, the majority of whom were primarily from the Western part of the country, Tetovo, Gostivar, Kicevo, Struga, Ohrid and Bitola. To read more, click here.

20-21 September 2008: Training of Trainers Conference in Zagreb. Training activities were initiated in Croatia with the holding of the Training of Trainers Conference in Zagreb, at hotel Antunovic. The event gathered four trainers from the team of CDRSEE international trainers, and two local trainers, selected by our partners. The team of international trainers introduced the JHP, the overall project, the Workbooks, as well as the methodology of interactive, participative teaching to participants. To read more, click here.

26 August 2008: CDRSEE at European Forum Alpach 2008. From 14 to 30 August 2008, the forum explored the issue of how perception and interpretation lead to diagnostics that in turn have an impact on decision-making. The general topic of ‘Perception and Decision’ was discussed by a variety of scientific disciplines and was presided upon by Dr. Erhard Busek. The event offers an opportunity to enter into discussion with renowned personalities. To read more, click here.

July 2008 - Joint History Project Teacher Training successfully completed in Albania. After kicking off with the training of trainers’ workshop in Tirana in December 2007, 5 local teacher training workshops have successfully taken place in 5 different locations across Albania, between January and July 2008.  Working with local project partners and the local project editor for Albania, the workshops involved teachers from all over the country.  The Albanian Language edition of the Workbooks has been used for a training of trainers’ workshop in Pristina and will be used for further teacher training activities in Kosovo.  They have also been used for training activities in the fYR of Macedonia. The JHP has been congratulated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Albania for its work in the country. To download the Albanian language edition of the workbooks free, please click here.

13 July 2008 - CDRSEE rocks EXIT! What do you take with you if you are performing at one of Europe’s most happening, funky, energetic and diverse music festivals?  A guitar…?  Groupies and roadies…?….a list of the most ridiculous backstage demands you can think up?  ….well, if you are the CDRSEE, you take sticky syrupy pastries! Click here for the full story and more photographs.

8 July 2008: CDRSEE to present Joint History Project at the EXIT festival in Novi Sad on July 13th. Participating in Southeast Europe’s most exciting festival, the CDRSEE will be presenting a dramatic interpretation of the Joint History Project on the Agora stage at the Exit Festival, followed by a talk, question time and sticky pastries. For further information please click here.

2-3 July 2008: CDRSEE at the final conference for the “European Young Journalist Award”. The Center’s executive director, Nenad Sebek, was invited to speak at the closing conference for the European Young Journalist Award, which took place in Ljubliana on 2-3 July and was organised jointly by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement and the European Youth Press Association. The conference allowed for a productive debate between 400 young journalists on topics such as mobility in the ‘enlarged Europe’, identity issues, or cultural interaction, with representatives from media and politics as well as researchers and specialists on EU-related topics. Following the conference, Mr. Jan Truszczyński, Deputy Director-General of DG Enlargement presented all national winners with an award.

June 2008 - Local teacher training workshops start in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following the training of trainers’ workshop in Sarajevo, the first local teacher training workshop took place in Jajce. Four further local training workshops are planned for July. To download the Bosnian language edition of the workbooks free, please click here.

21 - 22 June 2008: First Local Teacher Training Workshop for the Bosnian Language Edition of the JHP Workbooks. Jajce, Bosnia Herzegovina was host to the first local teacher training Workshop for the Bosnian language edition, gathering over twenty history teachers from the country. The Workshop was led by local language editor and teacher trainer Enes Milak as well as by professors of history and teacher trainers Munib Efendić and Mirko Ljubez. Professors Efendić and Ljubez were first introduced to the JHP at the Training of Trainers Conference held in April 2008 in Sarajevo. Click here to read the whole article.

14 - 15 June 2008: First JHP Training Activity takes place in Kosovo. With project partners, the Kosovo Education Center (KEC), the Joint History Project took its first steps in Kosovo on June 14th and 15th with a training of trainers’ workshop in Pristina.  Click here to read the whole article.

12 June 2008: CDRSEE invited to share expertise at international peace building conference. Demonstrating the capacity of our developed project methodologies to be applicable to situations outside of Southeast Europe, the CDRSEE presented ideas, models and experiences at an international event on peace building in Dublin.  Click here to read the whole article.

2 - 3 June, 2008: CDRSEE at the International conference "Migration in and from Southeast Europe". Recognising the importance of the topic of migration, particularly for the region of Southeast Europe, and as one of the organisations working in this field, the CDRSEE was invited to participate and present one of its projects, at the International Conference: ‘Migration in and from Southeast Europe’, held in Sofia, Bulgaria.   Project Coordinator Biljana Meskovska gave a speech on the CDRSEE’s project ‘Employed Empowered’ currently being implemented as an initiative for the re-integration of displaced persons into a legal existence in Serbia. The Conference organised primarily by the Center for European Refugees, Migration and Ethnic Studies (CERMES) with the support of the Federal Ministry of Science and Research of the Republic of Austria, invited independent researchers, scholars, as well as representatives of governmental and nongovernmental organisations from throughout SEE, to speak about migration patters in the region.

29 May 2008: Bled history conference. Recognised as an innovator in the field of educational methodology and approaches to the past, the CDRSEE participated in a conference organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Education and Sports, under the auspices of Slovenia’s first EU Presidency. Click here to read the whole article.

19 May 2008: French Secretary of State in Charge of EU affairs blogs about the significance of the CDRSEE’s work. Mr. Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Secretaire d’Etat charge des Affairs europeennes, who has been deeply involved in the Franco-German shared history project has recognised the importance of the CDRSEE’s Joint History Project and has shared his thoughts about it on his website. Please click here for a link to his blog.

17 – 18 May 2008: First Training of Trainers Conference for the Macedonian Language Edition of the JHP Workbooks in cooperation with local partner FOSIM. Gathering nineteen history teachers from throughout the country, the Conference held at Hotel Continental in Skopje marked the beginning of training activities for the Macedonian Language edition of the JHP Workbooks. Click here to read the whole article.

13 – 14 May 2008: CDRSEE takes part in conference on culture, hosted by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the auspices of Slovenia’s presidency of the EU, the CDRSEE was invited to participate in the International Conference  “New Paradigms, New Models – Culture in the EU External Relations” in Ljubljana, 13–14 May 2008. Once again demonstrating innovation and pioneering work in the field of civil society, the CDRSEE took part in debates contributing to the body of knowledge on the subject of cultures and EU enlargement.

18 – 20 April 2008: First Training of Trainers Conference for the Bosnian Language Edition of the JHP Workbooks. Overcoming the previous political setbacks to the BiH phases of the JHP, a group of dedicated teachers, trainers and CDRSEE staff successfully carried out a positive, constructive and beneficial Training of Trainers’ conference in Sarajevo. Click here to read the whole article.

17 – 18 April 2008: CDRSEE takes part in CSO consultation process with the European Commission. The CDRSEE was invited to participate and moderate in two days of discussion, consultation and knowledge sharing at the European Commission on 17th and 18th April 2008.  A keynote speech by George Soros opened the event and set the tone for the importance of civil society involvement in the enlargement process. EU Commissioner for Integration and Enlargement, Dr Ollie Rehn spoke as did EU Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik, DG Enlargement’s Deputy Director Jan Truszczynski, other EU officials and CSO figures.  The scope of the event was to work towards enlarging Europe as a joint institutional-civil society endeavour.

19 March 2008: Grant signing ceremony between the CDRSEE and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The CDRSEE was delighted to participate as the honoured guests of the Embassy of Japan in Croatia, in a signing ceremony to mark the Japanese financial support of the JHP. Officially marking the start of the grant period and setting the tone for a fruitful cooperation, the Ambassador of Japan and the Executive Director of the CDRSEE undertook the ceremony in Zagreb on March 19th. The grant will cover some of the teacher training activities in Croatia and the CDRSEE looks forward to an interesting and productive cooperation. Click here to see images from this event.

15-16 March 2008: Third Teacher Training Workshop for the Albanian Language version of the JHP Workbooks. Following the success of Teacher Training Workshops in Tirana and Elbasan, 34 Teachers from the greater Saranda area where introduced to the JHP and had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with new teaching methodologies and ways to improve in-class interaction with students. The Teacher Training Workshops are sponsored by the United States Institute for Peace, Irish Aid , the Central European Initiative and Dr. Peter Mahringer Fonds. For more information on the JHP and for a free download of the Albanian Language edition please click here

25th February 2008: A Southeast European Baklava and Coffee Party:  the JHP makes a memorable impression in the European Parliament. With an entertaining and colourful presentation, the CDRSEE was hosted by the European Parliament’s Delegation for Southeast Europe to present the JHP and engage in 2 hours of discussion on February 25th. Click here to read the whole article.

23-24 February 2008: Second Teacher Training Workshop for the Albanian Language version of the JHP Workbooks. The second Teacher Training Workshop for the Albanian Language version of the JHP Workbooks took place in Elbasan, Albania, on February 23 and 24. Twenty teachers from the greater Elbasan area had the opportunity to be introduced to the Workbooks and examined methodologies for their use in class. The Teacher Training Workshops are sponsored by the United States Institute for Peace, Irish Aid and the Central European Initiative. For more information on the JHP and for a free download of the Albanian Language edition please click here.

9th February 2008: Employed, empowered press conference in Surcin, Belgrade. Continuing its successes in highlighting and addressing issues of  severe poverty and unemployment among people affected by displacement in Serbia, the latest phase of ‘Employed, Empowered’ involved a press conference in Surcin as well as an informal meeting between refugees, media personnel and representatives of the local public authorities.  Click here to read the whole article on www.employed-empowered.net.

January 21st 2008: Successful start to the new year as the Joint History Project book is launched at a press conference in Skopje. On January 21st, 2008 the Macedonian together with the Albanian language edition of the 4 history Workbooks was launched in Skopje. The press conference was a joint initiative of the CDRSEE and its local partner, FOSIM. Click here to read the whole article.