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Peace Work in  Ex-Yugoslavia
Coordinating and Networking Seminar
Wustrow, Germany
19 - 22 October 1995



Invitation to Representatives of Groups and Organisations
involved in Voluntary Peace Work in Former Yugoslavia


In October 1993 and 1994 representatives of peace groups, peace services and
other organisations involved in voluntary work in Slovenia, Croatia,
Serbia/Montenegro and Macedonia met with their partner organisations
from Germany, France and the Netherlands in order to evaluate their cooperation
and coordinate efforts. The sharing between groups which since the beginning
of the war in former Yugoslavia have shouldered much of the burden to work
with the victims of the war, was extremely useful and fruitful. It happened
in an atmosphere of critical cooperation and respectful listening to different
perspectives and experiences.

When we met last year, we believed that after a period of small openings
another encounter of this sort would not be necessary any more. We knew that
our efforts would be necessary and important still in 1995, but we believed
that cooperation and coordination could continue on a bilateral basis.The
last months have showed that we will have to develop long term perspectives,
also for our work with volunteers. Many of our organisations have meanwhile
begun to change their programmes.

This year again, we will be in the position to invite representatives of
organisations and groups working with refugees and war affected population
or for human rights. Preferance will be given to those who involve local
as well as international volunteers, sending, receiving or training these
volunteers. We will try to keep a regional as well as gender balance in the
meeting. The aims are:
providing a safe space for personal sharing among activists
evaluating the projects planned in 1994
looking into problems of voluntary work with refugees
encouraging a critical evaluation of international cooperation in this field
sharing on future projects
The meeting will take place in Wustrow (District Luechow-Dannenberg), Germany,
halfway between Hamburg and Hannover. Host is the Bildungs- und
Begegnungsstaette fuer gewaltfreie Aktion (Centre for Training and Networking
in Nonviolent Action), which has been involved in recruitment and training
of volunteers for a variety of different projects. Day of arrival is scheduled
to be Thursday, 19 October 1995; day of departure is Sunday, 22 October 1995
in the late afternoon (if more suitable for your travel arrangements, you may
come a day earlier or leave on Monday). If you wish to come one or two days
earlier, we may arrange a public workshop on your activities and/or your
organisation.

 The agenda of the meeting will include:
Getting to know each other
Presentation of projects and organisations
Evaluation of cooperation since October 1994
From short term to long term volunteers
Recruitment of volunteers and training
Crisis management and short term humanitarian assistance
Financial basis of our work
Other related topics that you might want to include into the agenda
Last year, it has been suggested to share the advance preparation of the
meeting better. Therefore, we ask you to inform us about any contribution
that you are able and willing to make. We will form a coordination group
for the meeting which is responsable for the agenda and consists of
representatives from different organisations. The meeting will take place
in English language. We do not want to exclude participants who are not able
to communicate in English and, therefore as a group take responsability to
organise translation for those who need it. We will meet in an atmosphere of
listening to each other, however, allowing for a critical and open exchange
of ideas and experiences. Accomodation will be simple, but comfortable (bring
along a sleeping-bag, please). Vegetarian food will be prepared together.

Participation for representatives of groups from former Yugoslavia is free.
We are in the position to assist a few of you with travel expenses, after
previous agreement. Our resources this year are, however, more limited than
in 1993. We hope that many of you will be able to obtain local support for
joining us. A health insurance for the duration of the meeting will be booked
for you, if necessary. Please, inform us in advance if you need assistance
for getting a visa.

Participants from Western Europe pay a symbolic fee of DM 100,- on our
account Nr.6001333 at KSK Wustrow (BLZ 258 513 35) together with their written
application.If you can contribute more to the enormous expenses of this
seminar, this will be welcome and help us a lot. Financial problems should
not be an obstacle to participation.We also hope that a number of ex-volunteers
will share their perspective with us.

Application should include the following information: name and full personal
address, date and place of birth, nationalty, passport number, organisation
and function therein, wether financial assistance is needed and the approximate
amount, if German health insurance is needed, fields of experience, suggestions
for the programme. Your application should reach us until 20 September 1995.

For any question, please feel free to contact me.




Hagen Berndt
Kirchstr.14
D-29462 Wustrow
Germany
Tel. +49-5843-507
Fax  +49-5843-1405 (att.Hagen)
h.berndt@oln.comlink.apc.org