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 "Youth Action for Peace (YAP) is an international movement which aims
for societies of justice, peace and human solidarity. It struggles against the
different forms of violence, exploitation, injustice and exclusion; against
networks of ideological, religious, sexist, political, cultural and economic
oppression and imbalance of natural surroundings. It supports all those, women
or men, who want to take their destiny into their own hands so as to organise
collectively a responsible and liberating society." ( Preamble of the
Constitution )
YAP was born after the First World War (in 1923) in France and Germany, under
the name Christian Movement for Peace (until 1994), in order to work towards
peace and reconciliation between countries formerly at war, particularly with
the younger generations. Over the years the movement has always retained its
original vocation of striving to avoid conflict by helping young people to get
to know each other, but it has also moved with the times. Thus since the Second
World War YAP has taken on other basic aims according to changing contexts. In
particular, the movement has increasingly focused upon the combat against social
exclusion and the support of people in their struggle for freedom and
self-determination.
YAP is an international youth movement, with branches mainly in Europe and
associated groups and partner organisations elsewhere world-wide.
WHAT ACTIVITIES DOES YAP RUN?
There are three main types of activities carried out by YAP :
Volunteer exchanges
The central activity of the movement involves the exchanging of volunteers
between different countries. Each year, thousands of young people take part in
workcamps, (short-term voluntary service projects), in order to support local
activities on peace, justice, social action, community development and
environmental protection. Longer-term voluntary service exchanges are also
organised for a smaller, but increasing, number of young people.
Seminars and training
YAP organises seminars in order to develop new projects and new working areas.
The aim is to discuss and exchange ideas and working methods on topics such as
youthwork, intercultural learning, East-West dialogue, racism, social exclusion
and specific situations in various countries. Training courses are organised for
YAP workcamp leaders and project co-ordinators, so as to permanently improve the
professional level of its activities.
Peace and Development Education
YAP tries to raise awareness on issues such as global interdependance,
development, human rights and self-determination. Such work has recently focused
upon areas such as Palestine, Western Sahara, East Timor and Namibia. Among the
tools used for peace and development education are seminars, meetings, cultural
events and thematic workcamps.
YAP publishes a newsletter called "International INFO". This
newsletter spreads information about the international activities as well as
about the branches and their activities.
HOW IS YAP STRUCTURED?
Youth Action for Peace is an international federation of autonomous national
branches and associated groups, striving together to attain common goals. In
order to function democratically and efficiently, a structure based upon four
bodies has been developed:
* the International Congress
* the Directors Committee (General Assembly)
* the Steering Committee (Board)
* the International Secretariat
The aims of the YAP international structure are to define and maintain the
movement’s aims and priorities and then to co-ordinate the activities of the
branches and associated groups, encouraging exchanges between them, as well as
to stimulate the founding of new branches and work with other partners
world-wide.
WHO DOES YAP WORK WITH ?
YAP is member of a number of international and European bodies such as:
* The European Youth Forum
* CCIVS (Coordination Committee of International Voluntary Service)
* EBCO (European Bureau of Conscientious Objection)
* AVSO (Association of Voluntary Service Organisations)
YAP works with and carries out activities supported by:
* The European Commission (through Youth for Europe, European Voluntary Service
and other programmes related to its aims)
* The Council of Europe (European Youth Foundation and European Youth Centers)
* National and local partners worldwide
Through its membership in CCIVS it has consultative status with UNESCO.
YAP AROUND THE WORLD
YAP has several branches in Western Europe (in France, Germany,
Great Britain, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland). Since the fall of the wall, the
movement includes some eastern European countries, with branches in Hungary and
Latvia, and associated groups in Romania and Russia. Opening up on the world, in
particular the Middle East and Latin America, study visits have led to the
inclusion of branches in Mexico and Palestine, an associated group in Algeria,
and partners in other countries. Through contacts with partner organisations
world-wide, YAP volunteers can be found in countries such as Armenia, Austria,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, India,
Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Russia, Slovakia, Togo,
Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, the USA and Zimbabwe.
YAP ITALIA
Youth Action for Peace Italia has been present in the country
since the beginning of the Sixties. It has officially been established as a
national organisation since 1971, and has been a branch of YAP (formerly CMP)
since 1973. Its first volunteers took part in work-camps after the flood of
Florence. Since then Italian volunteers have been participating in international
voluntary service projects around the world and have thus been in contact with
the international structure of the organization.
Formerly known as Christian Movement for Peace (CMP) Italia, the organization
organises international work-camps, seminars, study trips and language courses
that educate young people to peace, dialogue and solidarity through projects of
voluntary action and social and cultural development.
The aim of the activities, besides the realisation of the projects, is to
contribute to the creation of a multicultural society based on dialogue between
different people. YAP Italia aims to work at local and global levels.
It believe that the presence in international camps of volunteers coming from
various countries and social backgrounds brings us closer to this goal; thus,
allowing local or isolated communities to get in touch with different cultures,
and to learn and have dialogue with them.
Yap Italia want to promote solidarity in a constructive way, not free assistance:
practical help can be useful to overcome emergencies, but we prefer to provide
tools and methods that can be used in order to build the future.
- Youth Action for Peace International Secretariat
Address:
3, Avenue du Parc Royal
1020 Bruxelles
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 478 94 10
Fax: +32 2 478 94 32
Web site: http://www.yap.org
E-Mail: info@yap.org
- Youth
Action for Peace Italia
Address:
Via Marco Dino Rossi, 12/c
00173 - Roma
Italy
Phone: +39 06.72.10.120
Fax: +39 06.72.20.194
Web site: http://www.yap.it
E-Mail: yap@yap.it
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