UNITED E-News – July/August 2016

Dear Colleagues,

For the summer months we’ve just a short E-News for you, with the latest updates from our #LifeSeekers campaign and a reminder to submit your nominations for the upcoming UNITED conference, as well as some interesting news from our network organisations.

Over the summer, UNITED will continue to coordinate the #LifeSeekers campaign. If you have not already signed up as a supporter of the campaign, please do so at www.lifeseekers.org. We also request your support for the Thunderclap campaign to promote the campaign, which you can join at this link. Through the Thunderclap app, a joint message will be sent on social media to mark International Youth Day on 12 August. Please join the Thunderclap at this link, and share with your friends, colleagues and your organisation’s social media followers. If you want to know more about how the Thunderclap works, you can read our introduction to it here.

Thanks for all your support, and we wish you all a very pleasant summer.

Best greetings and stay UNITED!

News from UNITED

Reminder: Nominations still open for UNITED network conference near Ohrid, MK The UNITED network conference “Living Together: Transform a divided past into our common future” will take place from 26-31 October near Ohrid, MK. The deadline for applications is 15 August. Read more …

Join the #LifeSeekers campaign From June until September, UNITED is coordinating the #LifeSeekers campaign in partnership with the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum. #LifeSeekers is a campaign for a new approach to problems facing young people in Europe today. We want policy-makers to take positive action to solve these problems and to stop blaming migrants and refugees. Whether or not we are asylum-seekers, we are all Life Seekers, who want the freedom and power to shape our own futures. Read more … **Это возможно читать о кампании и в русском языке. Кликните сюда!**

News from the Network

	Alliance against antigypsyism launches A new group of organisations working in the Roma rights sphere was launched on 5 July. Read more …
	MRG publishes annual report on minority rights UNITED network organisation Minority Rights Group International (MRG) has today published its flagship annual report on the situation faced by members of minority and marginalised groups around the world. Read more …
	EESC prize 2016 focuses on migrant integration The EESC 2016 prize will reward initiatives carried out by civil society organisations and/or individuals and aimed at improving migrants’ lives and fostering their integration in society. Deadline for applications is 9 September. Read more …
	XminY offer grants for local actions Dutch-based fund XminY is offering grants to grassroots organisations to coordinate direct actions aimed at fighting for a fair, democratic, sustainable and tolerant world. Projects that are supported by XminusY can take place on a broad variety of topics. But more important then the topic, is that the people involved take action themselves to change their own society. Read more …
	Sharing Perspectives Foundation launches refugee education project European Refuge(es) is SPF’s new virtual exchange programme to be implemented in the spring semester of 2017. The aim of this programme is to bring together refugee and European youth across Europe to discuss what it means to be a european citizen. Jointly they develop a counter narrative to combat stigmatisation and foster mutual understanding. Read more … [pdf]

What’s Next?

We will continue to promote the #LifeSeekers campaign online over the summer, as well as at various summer festivals. Make sure you follow UNITED on social media for full updates. We are also continuing our work planning for the October conference in Ohrid, MK. Make sure you nominate for the conference by 15 August! Finally, we are planning for the upcoming 9 November International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism Campaign. Look out for the official announcement of the campaign after the summer.