JOIN THE EUROPEAN YOUTH FESTIVAL IN GANJA!

Ganja city announces an open call for participants for the European Youth
Festival and available travel grants!
Ganja city is the second biggest city of Azerbaijan which has been selected the
European Youth Capital 2016 on 21st of November 2013 in Thessaloniki, Greece by the
European Youth Forum. From that day on Ganja city has successfully hosted and organized
local and international events, exhibitions and meetings in different European countries
The program of Ganja European Youth Capital 2016 is focused on 5 main priority
areas (Education, Volunteering, Active Participation, Social Cohesion, Youth Employment).
The mission of the program is to encrease the activity level of youth organizations, promote
the culture, history and rich values of Azerbaijan through different projects throughout the
year, and strengthen the intercultural dialogue.
On 29th of September 3rd of October 2016 Ganja city will organize the
European Youth Festival.
We invite all interested European citizens (including non-EU countries such as
Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bellarusia and Georgia) to attend the event and celebrate
the European Youth Festival together with the habitants of the city.
This is a unique opportunity and interesting experience for all foreign guests to travel
to the other end of Europe, get familiar with Azerbaijani culture and history, visit different
parts of Azerbaijan, have a trip to Caucaisan mountains, participate in the Festival, meet
official authorities of Europe, meet the culture of Caucasus and have nice time in
Azerbaijan.

When and where?

September 29th - October 3rd in Ganja city, Azerbaijan.

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What to do?
Day 1:
Your stay in Ganja city will start with welcoming the foreign guests and registration in hotels.
After lunch You will participate in the sessions The Role of young people in building a
peaceful European culture and/or Intercultural Learning and migration: is this new
challenge for young society?
After the workshops participants will join a welcoming party with the youth of the city.
Day 2:
This day is considered as the main Opening day therefore it will be full of activities.
Morning:
The day will start with opening ceremony of the festival. In the opening we are
expected the representatives of the European Youth Forum, Mayors of European Youth
Capitals and officials of the city of Ganja. Immediately after the opening some outdoor
activities such as bamperball, paintball, aquaskipper will be launched in the area of the
biggest park of Ganja city named Heydar Aliyev. These activities will continue all day and
will be open to everyone who has a desire to join.
Afternoon:
After lunch there will be a neeting of Mayors of European Youth Capitals with
participation of the President and

Secretary General of European Youth Forum. The

Mayors of EYCs will discuss strengthening the existing and future cooperation.
Later the participants will attend the fair of Youth Organizations where they will see the
activities organzied by the different youth institutions of Europe and Azerbaijan.
Evening:
There is an open air party in front of Youth House of Ganja city located in the same park.

Day 3:
Day 3 is related to the topic of Tourism. On this day the participants will attend Azerbaijan France Tourism Conference and later join the Opening of 1st international tourism festival of
Azerbaijan Regions. The day will be finished with a reception with attendance of
representatives of Ministries and Embassies.

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Day 4.
Day 4 will include sessions and discussions on the topic of European Youth Capitals. In the
first Workshop participants will discuss how a youth oriented city can change life of young
people.
After lunch You will participate in the city tour. You will see different touristic spots of Ganja
city: Imamzada Complex, Nizami monument and museum, the etnographic and
archeological museum Ganja Gates. Later You will travel to the most beautiful spot of
Azerbaijani nature Goy-Gol National Park located in the Caucasian mountains range.

Extra stay and activities:

Please note that participants who are willing to stay after the 4-days long stay will
need to travel their own stay and meal costs. The organizers only cover the 4 days
long stay in Ganja.
We encourage participants to continue their travel through Azerbaijan. They can explore the
city by their own or take a trip to different regions of the country. Here are some
recommended cities and towns to visit:
1) Shaki - a touristic and old town in the mountains of Caucasus. The town is located be
reached by a bus or taxi from Ganja city. The town kept its traditional spirit and
usually attracts may tourists.
2) Gabala - is a city located in the north part of Azerbaijan and closest to Shaki. Before
1991 the city was known as Kutkashen, but after Azerbaijan's independence the town
was renamed in honour of the much older city of Gabala, the former capital
of Caucasian Albania, the archaeological site of which is about 20 km southwest.
3) Lahij also an old town located in the mountains. Located km away from Ganja city.
Represents the traditional face of Azerbaijan.
4) Baku the capital of Azerbaijan. A modern and big city, located 450 km away from
Ganja. Is easy to reach by a bus (5 euros), train (9 euros) or a private taxi (30 euros).
Has many touristic spots, old town inside the city, beautiful panoramas and places to
see.
5) A tour around Azerbaijan.
6) A Caucasus tour.

How much it costs?

Provided by the organizers: The costs of the stay in a hotel, meals 3 times per day,
trips to mountains area, participation in workshops, transfer from the airport to hotels
in Ganja.
Organizers will provide participants with invitation letters, so the visas will be
received on the border at the airports. Meanwhile you don't need to find an Embassy
of Azerbaijan in your home country.
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Covered by participants: flight tickets, visa costs and expenses of extra stay.

Available travel grants:

There are several grants available for participants which will cover some costs of the travel:
1. Make a video about Ganja city. Feel free to use Your creativity. You can have a video
survey, an informational video about Ganja city by using videomaking (not important
to make a professional one).
2. Write an essay about Ganja and Azerbaijan. How you imagine the city, what is
interesting for you about Azerbaijani culture, why youd like to travel to Ganja city,
what would you like to see etc. You can also record all these points in a video as well.
3. Promote Ganja city in your city. You can make it through a small photo campaign,
survey, exhibition etc.
Include it in your application.
The best applications will receive a full (maximum 500 Euro) or half funding (50% of
travel costs which should not exceed 250 Euro) to travel to Ganja city.

How to get registered?

If you dont need any fundings to travel to Azerbaijan then please just fill the
application form.
If you are applying to travel grants then please fill out the application form and send a
short report on your activity (video link, photos from your activity) to the e-mail
aysun.zeynalova@gmail.com no later than August 31st!!!
All applicants are expected to send their application forms and passport scans.
All selected participants will be informed shortly after the deadline.
The detailed agenda of the trip will be sent after registration.

How to get to Ganja city?

There are several ways of getting to Ganja city.
1) Through Ganja International Airport. Turkish Airlines and Russian Airlines
(Aeroflot) operate to Ganja Internationa Airport almost every day of the week. The
airport is located close to the city. In this option the organizers will provide the
transfer from the airport to hotels.
2) Through Baku International Airport. Different European airlines operate to Baku
airport (WizzAir, Lufthansa, Tirkish Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Russian Airlines etc).
In this option participants will need to get to Ganja city by bus from International Bus
Station or trains from Baku Train Station.
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3) Through Gabala International Airport. Gabala is a city located 2 hours driving from
Ganja city. The low-cost airline Pegasus operates to Gabala Airport, where you can
find the cheapest tickets to Azerbaijan.

About the city.

Ganja city is the second biggest city of Azerbaijan which is located on the Western part of
the country. The city is considered as the treasure of Azerbaijan with its red-brick houses,
old plane trees, colorful carpets, delicious local wine, balmy tea, appetizing cuisine and the
warmth of Azerbaijani hospitality.
Ganja is an ancient city. According to the analysis carried out by the US Smithsonian
Institution on the age of Ganja city, the city has a story of more than 4000 years. The name
of the city Ganja is translated from the New Persian as ganj which means"treasure.
What to see in Ganja?
Every year the city attracts many tourists by its ancient historic monuments. The city has
been a birthplace for a great poet of Azerbaijan NizamiGanjavi. The mausoleum of
NizamiGanjavi, museum and the monument of his poems, the ancient Ganja gates built in
2008 on the basis of sketches of local master Ibrahim Osman oglu from 1063 will open You
the door to the ancient life of the city.
The 5th biggest park in the world is located in Ganja city with a territory of more than
440 hectares. The park contains in itself an Arch of Triumph in the park entrance and
entertainment center for children in the end of the park.
In the one of the streets in the city center You can find the Bottle House which was
made with bottles, seashells and river stones for the memory of the soldiers of the
WWII.
The ancient park in the city center Khan Bagi (XanBa) is a perfect place for having
a rest and a glass of tea in the silence of the ancient surrounding trees.
The Shah Abbas mosque located in city center, Chokekhamam located next to the
mosque, the old Albanian Church and the Orthodox Church will introduce to You the
multi-cultural spirit of the city.
Ganja is a unique treasury of natural reserves. Nine out of the eleven climatic types
existing in the world are found in Azerbaijan. The pearl of Azerbaijani nature lake
Goy-Gol located up in the giant Caucasian mountains will show the fascinating
beauty of Azerbaijani nature.
The culture of the city.
Ganja city is a multi-cultural city. The city has a big influence of Arabic, Persian, Turkish,
Russian and European cultures which always made the city a home for many different
ethnic groups. The city has been a birthplace for many great poets, philosophers,
musicians, writers, artists and rulers of Azerbaijan.

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Useful information

Visa:

Organizers will provide participants with invitation letters, so the visas will be received on the
border at the airports. Participants will not need to apply to Embassies of Azerbaijan
Republic.

Money:

The national currency of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijan manat (AZN).

1 USD = 1.61 AZN
1 EUR = 1.8 AZN

Weather:

The average weather in Ganja city in the end of April is between 20-30 degrees. The
weather in mountains area is a little colder than in the city itself. It would be useful to bring a
jacket and light clothes.
Please check the weather forecasts before your trip as well.
Useful links:
About the city:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganja,_Azerbaijan
http://www.ganja.az/
About Ganja EYC2016:
www.ganja2016.eu
About Azerbaijan (touristic informational web-sites):
http://azerbaijan.travel/
http://www.azerbaijan.com/

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