Since 2005, FORUM has organised several (inter)national journeys for young adults with different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. The purpose of this project is to discover the values of (partial) identities of youngsters, how these can be experienced and what they mean for their own personal and social ambitions. The participants are offered a space for intensive encounters, dialogue and debates. Furthermore, it forms a platform from which to explore possibilities for cooperation between young people from different cultural backgrounds. The project activities are inclusive and reflective on the participating youngsters’ cultural, religious and ethnic diversities. Showing respect for another person by listening to him or her, debating each other’s differences of opinion and vision freely and openly and yet, working together to build a cohesive, decent and peaceful society.
The project Connecting Identities includes several activities and different partners.
Connecting Identities UNITED (2009)
13-29 May 2009
In the spring of 2009 (16-23 May 2009) FORUM, Institute for Multicultural Development - in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Integration and several Dutch Embassies – organised a week of international encounter for European youth.
A selected group of young adults (32 persons) from 8 different countries joined each other in a week of dialogue on topics such as identity, social ambition, international political issues and social diplomacy. The participants came from Germany, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Indonesia and the Netherlands
During the programme, they had an open and frank conversation with His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange and Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima, and they met with the Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb. Connecting Identities United 2009 took place in Brussels (Belgium) and Rotterdam (the Netherlands).
Read the Travel report Connecting Identities United (2009)(English) >
Connecting Identities ISRAEL & de OCCUPIED TERRITORIES (2007)
9 – 14 June 2007
Dutch youth from different backgrounds travel through Middle East, parallel tot and in conjunction with the
visit of the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Maxime Verhagen.
During the programme, they had several meetings with students from Israel & the occupied territories, as well
as frank discussions with Mr. Verhagen.
Read the Travelreport Connecting Identities ISRAEL & de OCCUPIED TERRITORIES (2007)(Dutch) >
Connecting Identities TURKIJE (2007)
25 February - 4 March 2007
Connecting Identities in Turkije tijdens staatsbezoek
FORUM and Oranje Fonds organised a special students’ trip, parallel to the state visit of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands to the President of Turkey, Mr. Ahmed Necdet Sezer.
During the trip the students got the chanche to meet HRH Prince of Orange and HRH Princess Máxima during some programme parts. Among which a binational conference on Intercultural Dialogue and the Media in Ankara which the Prince and Princess attended.
Read the Travel report Connecting Identities TURKIJE (2007) (Dutch) >
Connecting Identities WRR (2005-2007)
Several weekends from 2005 to 2007
Summerschool
In the project Youth Leadership Summit, a large Group of youngsters came together for lessons on civil
Engagement and leadership. During this activity, FORUM cooperated with United World Colleges.
Identiteiten gezocht (“Wanted: Identities”)
During the project ‘Identities sought’, FORUM and the WRR (Scientific Council for Government Policy) invited young people to discuss their perceptions and personal or national identity.
Read the Travelreport Connecting Identities WRR (2005-2007)(Dutch) >
Connecting Identities MOROCCO (2005)
11-17 November 2005
Together with HRH the Prince of Orange and HRH Princess Máxima, a group of Dutch and Dutch-Moroccan youngsters travelled to Marrakech to be informed about the civil work of the Royal Couple on the field of microcredit and water. And to have intense discussions with Moroccan youth on identity, religion and society. The trip was sponsored by the Orange Fund.
Read the Travel report Connecting Identities MOROCCO (2005-2007) (Dutch) >