GENERAL INFORMATION

The project “Mobile Roma Books” is a youth exchange organized within the framework of
Youth In Action Programme (Nr2017- 3-TR01-KA105-048556), with the financial support of the
European Commission, that will be implemented in Mediterranean Roma Association Federation /
Mersin /Turkey, between 2 April - 10 April 2018.

Our Project Summary;

Title of the Project: “Mobile Roma Books"
Place: Mersin - Turkey
Dates: 2 April – 10 April 2018
Participants: 5 participants + 1 Leader ( 18-30 age ) total = 35 Participants
Type of Project: Erasmus + Youth Action ( Youth Exchange Program Countries)
Participants Countries: Bulgaria (4+1), Slovenia (5+1), Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (5+1)1, Spain (5+1), Romania (5+1) and Turkey (5+1).

The Roma, the majority of whom are EU citizens, constitute the largest "ethnic minority"
group of the EU with apopulation of 10-12 million across Europe with the biggest number
living in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Spain. In Turkey they live all over the country and
most known in Trakya, Çanakkale, Edirne, Tekirdag, Mersin, İzmir and İstanbul.

Biggest challenges that the Roma are facing in their everyday life are: Unemployment,
poverty, lack of education, lack of acceptance by the society which creates obstacles for
integration and employment in public organizations. Roma are discriminated against and their
rights are violated on daily basis by their neighbors, friends, colleagues and peers.

This project aims to help in understanding the history, cultural structure, difficulties and
injustices of the Roma people in Europe. The project aims to develop the knowledge and
understanding of youth participants about active European citizenship around the values of
Europe but also build skills of interpreting real (mostly untold) stories from the Roma realities
to other youth in Europe.

This event aims to raise awareness and initiate critical thinking at young European citizens
about Anti-Gypsyism and its historical roots in Europe. The project activities will be
organized by using a very creative method of Living Library. It should bring to light the
context of real situations with the Roma in different EU countries. With a strong dimension of
empowerment, participants will be supported to become mediators, role models, facilitators
and multiplayers in their communities.

1 To be coordinated with RV Albania

1
We believe that the event will help the sending organizations to apply the new knowledge to
teach other youngsters by applying the same methodology in their respective countries.

Objectives

 To develop the skills of youth leaders and multipliers to apply Living Library as non-
formal educational method in their work with young people;
 To raise the awareness about discrimination and Antigypsyism and their negative
consequences to Roma young people that led them to social exclusion;
 To exchange and share realities about the marginalization and social exclusion faced
by Roma young people from different European countries;
 To promote tolerance and respect for human rights;
 To initiate/organize youth projects in other localities that will additionally raise
awareness and provide space for Roma youth integration in the society;

Output of the project:

 Advocacy Public Event organized by participants;
 A Roma Advocacy platform established for raising awareness;
platform will be established;
 Local campaigns will be organized in 6 countries using the Living Library
methodology for non-formal education;
 All participants should receive youth pass certificate;
 About 200 people activists, students, representatives of organizations and institutions,
media and local people to attend the Public Event;
 A notebook of impressions shared with all partners for memories and inspiration;

Tickets can start to be purchased from 25 February, only after you receive confirmation from
organizers!

YOUTH EXCHANGE

 For the project, each partner will send 5 participants (18 – 30 years) + 1 group leader
(no age limits)
 The national groups should have: 3males + 3 females (1 Leader.)
 The event will be organized in English language. The participants should have at least
basic understanding of English.
 Please select the participants in due time and send us their data by e-mail until 15
February 2018. If there is no response by this date, the organizer will have to accept
applications from other applicants.
 For communication prior and after the exchange, we have a Facebook group under the
name of “Mersin Mobile Roma Books”

2
Arrival is on 2 April,
 From your town to İstanbul airport (Atatürk or Sabiha Gökçen airport) to Adana
airport. The organizers will pick you up at Adana airport.

Departure is on 10 April
 Please note that the organizers will not provide any additional accommodation outside
the dates of the training course! If you wish to travel on other dates than the dates of
the training, please contact the organizers for approval before purchasing your tickets!
 Please plan your trip carefully: in case your travel dates are different than the ones
above mentioned, the organizers might not be able to reimburse you!!
 The participants will be picked-up by the organizers in the airport in Adana and taken
to the hotel at arrival day and back to the airport for departures.

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT
 The reimbursements will be proceeded 50% during the activity and 50% after the event based
on the info-pack rules and rules of the Turkey National Agency and only upon sending
original proofs (flight boarding passes);
 Reimbursement of travel costs will only be done upon full attendance of the project and
presentation of the original travel tickets with boarding passes, receipts, invoices. Also,
according to Turkısh National Agency regulations and Turkısh accounts rules and tax code,
we need the proof of payment - if you pay in cash, then you have to send us the receipt for that
payment and if you pay by credit card/bank transfer we need the account extract/credit card
slip/bank statement.

The documents should be sent in original to the following address:

Akdeniz Roman Dernekleri Federasyonu
Mahmudiye Mahallesi Zeytinlibahçe Caddesi No : 58/A
Akdeniz/MERSİN/TURKEY

Any wishes to stay shorter or longer should be consulted with organizers prior any booking!

Reimbursement will be done in EUR, regardless of the currency indicated on the ticket and
receipt/invoice. Any tickets purchased in a local currency other than EUR, will then be converted and
calculated according to the exchange rate of the month when the ticket/s were purchased, as stated in
the official European Commission web-site at http://ec.europa.eu/budget/inforeuro/.

Please check the table below with the information on the travel budget limits for roundtrip! If
travel costs exceed the amount budgeted in the project, the organizers will only be able to reimburse
participants maximum travel costs indicated in the travel budget. Participants are therefore strongly
advised to book their tickets well in advance.

Travel costs for EXCHANGE

Country Distance km Travel costs for one participant in Euro (
Max)
Romania 500 - 1999 km 275 Euro
Spain 3000 - 3999 km 530 Euro
Slovenia 2000 - 2999 km 360 Euro
Bulgaria 500 - 1999 km 275 Euro
Macedonia 500 - 1999 km 275 Euro

3
Notice1: Participants are kindly asked to organize their transport in most economical way and by using
low-cost flights and promotional options.
Notice 2: 5 Eur per participant will be deducted for the travel Adana Airport – Mersin Hotel and back
Mersin Hotel – Adana Airport.

The visa costs will not be covered.

ACCOMODATION AND FOOD

 You will be accommodated in rooms of 2/3 participants of same gender in a hotel in

Mersin/Turkey.
 The accommodation will be located in the city center and is a fairly safe place.
 The accommodation place will be provided very soon as our organisation is trying to contract
a hotel prepared to be quest for all the activities and intercultural events as the agenda!
 Bathrooms and toilets are available in each room. Bed lines are provided by the hotel. Please
bring your own towels and items of personal care!
 Food will be provided 3 times a day plus hydrating breaks. Please let us know in advance if
you have special needs (vegetarian, vegan, no pork meat, allergies, special diets due to
medical treatment etc.) in the application form.

Preparation/what to bring

The participants are asked to bring:

 Original documentation of purchasing tickets like invoices and boarding pass!!!
 Presentations, materials, brochures, pictures to present your group and organizations during
the youth exchange;
 Traditional drinks, delicatessens, promotional materials to present their country and hometown
during the intercultural evening;
 Clothes according to the activities and weather conditions;
 Towels and items of personal care;
 Needed medication.

Contact Details

If you need help with your travel booking or have any questions regarding the youth exchange, please
do not hesitate to contact:
Emel Sevgi ÖNGÖR and the team of Akromfed will be happy to assist you each day of the week
between 10h and 18h.
P: +905348858072 E: akromfedprojeler@gmail.com

Send your application before 15 February to the email address above!!!