CDRSEE :: Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe

News

May 2012 Education Capacity Building Tour in Albania and Serbia. In cooperation with Education Forum from Serbia and the Center for Democratic Education from Albania, Professor Lorin Anderson from the University of South Carolina gave a series of talks at the University of Tirana, the University of Durrës and the University of Belgrade on the revision of Bloom's Taxonomy and the new dynamic teaching methodology tool which he is developing together with the CDRSEE and an international team of education experts. This talented, multi-faceted group will ultimately publish a manual that will provide teachers with the latest research on teaching methods and ideas on how these methods can be used in their classrooms. Present at these talks were the State Secretary from the Ministry of Education and Science in Serbia Ms Tünde Kovàcs-Cerovic, the Director of the Institute for Educational Development Ms Tidita Abdurrahmani from Albania, PHD students, professors and educators.

14 May 2012 – European Union Enlargement Process. CDRSEE board member Dušan Reljić has co-authored a research paper on the hiatus in the European Union Enlargement Process. Together with the co-authors, Andrea Despot and Günter Seufert, he argues that in the wake of Croatia's EU accession in mid-2013, it is probable that the Union's enlargement process towards Turkey and the Western Balkans will initially grind to a halt, possibly for a decade or more. How can the EU nonetheless safeguard its position as the driving force behind conflict transformation in the Western Balkan states, and how can it prevent European influence in Turkey, an increasingly important player on the international stage, from dwindling? It should ensure candidates' integration within as many EU policy areas as possible prior to accession, so that the stabilising and democratising effects of the EU's enlargement policy remain intact. For the full text of the analysis, please click here: http://www.swp-berlin.org. The paper is also available in Turkish and Bosnian / Croatian / Montenegrin / Serbian language.

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6 May 2012 – International Expectations Following Elections in Serbia. CDRSEE Board member Dusan Reljic participated in a panel at the Media Centre in Belgrade on election night May 6th to discuss the expectations of the international community regarding Serbia's future EU membership and the difficult economic and political changes it will need to pursue. The discussions were moderated by CDRSEE Executive Director Nenad Sebek.

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Projects - The Recycle Monster

The Recycle Monster: Don't Show it, Throw it!

The CDRSEE has been long committed to the development and strengthening of civil society throughout the region, and is delighted to be in a position to jointly develop and implement a project such as this one.

With environmental challenges topping the global agenda, the CDRSEE feels that there is no better way to make a difference than to start here at home. Educating the city’s youth, tomorrow’s active citizens, on one of the most important aspects of environmental protection, i.e. recycling, is paramount to bringing Thessaloniki to the forefront of Southeast European Civil Society.

OUR PROJECT
”Don’t Throw it, Show it!” is a joint project of the CDRSEE and the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT).

The management team is made up of the 9 students and the professor of the Civil Society (POL 335) class at ACT, with the input of the Project Managers of the CDRSEE.

Our aim is to promote the values and principles of sustainable development in Thessaloniki through the involvement of the city’s youth. This highly educational project was created by young people for young people, aiming directly to respond to the needs of the group it is addressed to.

THE GOALS of our project are to:

Encourage environmentally and socially responsible behavior in the next generation of Thessaloniki’s citizens;
Educate Thessaloniki’s youth, and through them, Thessaloniki’s citizens, on the importance and methods of recycling as a step in creating sustainable environment; and to
Foster environmental sentiment and action among the students of Thessaloniki through participation in a recycled art competition.

ACTIVITIES

Large scale Recycling Awareness-raising campaign in schools and on line.
Educational campaign: from November 2009 to May 2010 in schools. Children will be taught about recycling through an artistic endeavour: creating art out of recyclable materials. All of the works of art will be entered into a competition / exhibition, to be judged by local artists.
Recycled Art Exhibition & Competition: a high profile and interactive recycled Art Exhibition is planned to take place over 2 days in Aristotle Square on 8-9 May 2010.
Post-event activities: The winning pieces of art will be exhibited after the event in relevant and highly visited locations. The website will remain and results will be disseminated

OUR EVENT: THE ART EXHIBITION
On 8-9 May 2010 an exhibit of all of the works of art entered into the competition by children and students will take place; a ‘recycling dance’ which will be repeated many times throughout the day; presentation of prizes for the art pieces in each category (awarded by a jury of local artists) and stands with information and advice. The relevant units of the Municipality (such as environment, cleanliness, education) will be invited to participate in the event.

OUR PARTNER
The American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) is the higher education division of Anatolia, a not-for-profit educational institution that dates back to 1886. ACT is an independent American college chartered by the State of Massachusetts in the United States and accredited by NEASC, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Through its educational, cultural, professional and service activities, ACT seeks to contribute actively to the wider communities of Greece and Southeast Europe.