Development Education Summer School 2008

76 participants, from 39 different countries met in Kontakt der Kontinenenten in the Netherlands, from June 22 to June 29, for the 10th edition of the Development Education Summer School.

This year, the Summer School has been co-organised by DEEEP (Development Education Exchange in Europe Project) and COS Netherlands, on the behalf of the Dutch Platform. Participants, together with the facilitators and candides reflected on “how to put global poverty and social exclusion on the political agenda, through development education, advocacy, campaigning”.

Participants were divided into working groups, according to their interests and experience: that’s why 5 working groups were set up. The issue was faced at local, national and European level. In addition to the working groups, participants could chose to follow some thematic sessions, presented by experts coming mainly from international organisations. Just like last year’s Summer School, participants could also attend Open Space and Audiovisual spaces, where they could present some documentaries, methodologies used, or simply network and share useful information.

In order to break the ice among participants, a cultural evening was also organised: with a glass of ouzo, or a piece of dried mango, or cheese from Latvia, meeting other participants was much more easy. Although fun has always been present during the entire week, participants have not only partied! They produced some interesting material with regards to the electoral process. For instance, working group 3, focusing on the European level, simulated a CONCORD Campaign for the next 2009 EU elections. The outcomes of all the working groups were presented the last day, during the last plenary session.

All the material is now available on DEEEP website www.deeep.org/summerschool2008.html.
The final evaluation and report of the summer school will also soon be available on the DEEEP website! For more information, contact Chiara Tripepi (DEEEP Information Officer): c.tripepi@deeep.org

Information provided by Chiara Tripepi, DEEEP Information Officer