This European Liberal Forum (ELF) seminar will bring together young European liberal individuals from across Europe to provide capacity-building in practical skills and extend their knowledge about liberalism and its different focuses.

We live in an environment in which more and more extremist minds are taking over the debate on political issues that are challenging our societies. They use a certain vocabulary that speaks to a majority of the population, a simple vocabulary that everyone can understand.

We, as liberals, have good solutions to the complex challenges we are facing but we have trouble communicating them to the outside world, as they are as complex as the problem itself. In order to do so, we need to review the basics of Liberalism and to know how to sell a Liberal way of life to our fellow European citizens. We need to adapt our know-how, making our ideas more appealing to the majority of the population we are trying to reach. It is important that Liberals get the skills to dominate the debate against the populists and to promote our liberal ideas.

Young Liberals need to be equipped with the necessary practical skills and theoretical knowledge that will enable them to unlock their potential. As practical skills, finding the best arguments for a debate, holding a speech, writing resolutions and advocating for a liberal cause. As part of developing skills, political knowledge on 3 subtopics to Liberalism will be introduced: democracy, market economy and open societies.

The project will have an e-learning component through the 'My Academy' course on liberalism. 

An event organised by the European Liberal Forum with the support of LYMEC (European Liberal Youth) but also the NOVUM Institute, Academy of Liberalism and Stichting Internationaal Democratisch Initiatief (Stichting IDI).

Please apply by Monday, 9 August 2021 at 16 h CEST (Brussels time). Selected participants will be notified by mid-August the latest. Applications are now closed for this event! 

Applicants cannot be candidates at elections (at any level of governance) before, during and 12 months after the Skill Camp takes place. 

In case this requirements can't be fulfilled, a fee would apply even if the election is called after the Skill Camp. 

Programme

Schedule is in CEST - Brussels time

Friday, 10 September 2021

14:00 Arrival and check-in at the hotel

16:00 Welcome addresses

Dr. Šárka Prát, Board Member, ELF (Video speech)

Marina Sedlo, LYMEC Bureau

Sebastjan Pikl, Project Director, NOVUM

16:15  Objective-setting and get to know each other

Moderator: IMS Delegates

16:40   How to write and hold a speech

Moderator: Marten Porte, LYMEC Treasurer

17:40   Networking as a skill - young liberal multipliers

Moderator: Marina Sedlo, LYMEC Bureau

19:00  End of the first day

19:30  Dinner

Saturday, 11 September 2021

9:00    What Is Liberalism about? - Follow up 'My Academy' course (ELF)

Sven Gerst, Former Secretary General, IFLRY and PhD, King’s College

10:30   Coffee break

10:45      Liberalism tackling populists - democracy, market economy and open societies

Moderator: Sven Gerst, Former Secretary General, IFLRY and PhD, King’s College

12:30    Lunch break

13:30   Lobbying resolutions and advocating for liberalism

Gosse Vuijk, Trainer, Stichting IDI

15:30   Coffee break

15:45   Liberal principles in action - find the best arguments

Moderator: Sara von Bonsdorff, LYMEC Assistant

17:00   Concluding remarks and closing of the event

17:30   End of the second day

19:30   Dinner

END OF THE EVENT

Sunday, 12 September 2021

Travel back home

This seminar is free of charge for the participants (accommodation is included), and we offer a travel reimbursement of up to 180 Euros (including PCR tests if any) per person upon completion of the relevant form and presentation of required documents (tickets, invoices, boarding pass …). The event is taking place in Ljubljana, Slovenia.  

Due to COVID-19, we are constantly monitoring the situation and assessing the feasibility of the in-person event. For the time being, the event is set to take place in Ljubljana. In any case, do not book any travels before receiving an official confirmation that your application has been accepted. This won’t happen before mid-August. 

As all LYMEC events, this seminar also applies the rules of late cancellation and no show fees: Cancellation less than 2 weeks prior to the event leads to a late cancellation fee of 50 euro, and cancellation less than 48 hours prior to the event or not attending at all leads to a late cancellation fee of 75 euro.

Participants need to be minimum 18 years old at the start of the event (and not older than 35). Do not book any travels before receiving an official confirmation email from the LYMEC office. By registering for this event you agree to our updated privacy policy and understand that your personal data will be shared with the European Liberal Forum for administrative purposes, as well as with the hotel.

Do not book any travels before receiving an official confirmation that your application has been accepted.

Events organised by European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) may be audio- and video-recorded as well as web-streamed. A photographer and/or a cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may have access to the meeting room in order to take pictures and videos for communication and publication purposes. Videos and pictures taken by the photographer and/or cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may also be published on the LYMEC website and on related social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.). They may also be used in other media and means of communication in order to pass on information about the event and activities of LYMEC. The European Liberal Forum might also use the pictures, video or audio in their communications.

***Disclaimer: By registering for this event you give your permission for LYMEC and European Liberal Forum to use your picture in their promotional campaigns and materials and communication about the event. Please make clear in advance if you do not wish your picture to be used by LYMEC or ELF.***