What do you make of this?

A leading role
The young environmentalists of Central and Eastern Europe have the potential to be the leaders of tomorrow. The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) has teamed up with Italian NGO L'Umana Dimora Onlus to add years of practical EU experience to its Training for Young Environmental Leaders programme. The programme provides advanced training in organisational development, project management and environmental topics in a stimulating international atmosphere.

Each training session consists of three weeks of theoretical training focused on organisation and project management, and a one-week study tour in Italy. The theoretical training takes place in a multicultural setting at the REC's head office in Szentendre, Hungary, while the study tour focuses on the latest environmental methods in dealing with issues such as preserving protected areas, sustainable agriculture, water resources, waste management and energy efficiency.

The world is in your hands.

Focus
Theoretical training at the REC head office involves interactive group work and individual activities that produce tangible results. Topics include: NGO and project management, campaign strategies, media relations, PR and communications, fundraising, business plans for NGOs, public participation in environmental decision making, NGOs and civil society, legal advocacy, and much more. Participants develop products tailored to their own needs, such as project proposals, funding strategies, press releases and community action plans.

International exposure
After the theoretical training in Hungary, the young leaders travel to Italy to see first-hand how environmental concerns are tackled there. L'Umana Dimora shows how progressive farms in Italy employ sustainable agricultural practices, how national parks protect biodiversity and how recycling plants sort, recover and pass on valuable materials. The participants then observe NGOs in Italy carrying out environmental campaigns and organising their projects within the context of EU regulations. The young leaders are invited to contribute to actual environmental protection programmes, thus gaining valuable experience and building contacts for future cooperation. Italian experts will also train participants in the preservation of protected areas, national parks and reserves; water resource management; sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism; waste management and cleaner production; animal and wildlife protection; foodstuff certification; energy efficiency; air quality and pollution; and transport and traffic.

Eligibility and funding
The REC invites young environmentalists from different backgrounds throughout Central and Eastern Europe to apply for the programme. Applicants should be between 20 and 30 years old, display a strong commitment to the environment in the CEE region, work at an environmental NGO, possess citizenship from one of the participating countries, and speak and write English well.

Selection process
All applications are screened by the REC to identify potential participants. Brief telephone interviews are conducted with selected participants for the final selection. Chosen participants are informed no later than three weeks after the interview.

Training for Young Environmental Leaders 2005-2006
Application
To apply for a place in the training, please provide the information requested and send it to Adriana Craciun by e-mail, fax or post. An application form can also be filled out on-line at www.rec.org/REC/Programs/YoungEnvLeaders.html.
Please also attach a letter of support from the director/chairperson of your NGO, explaining the reasons for recommending you for the training and how the NGO will benefit. The application must include ALL the items listed below.

Personal information

• Last name/surname and first names
• Mailing address and permanent/residential address (if different)
• Telephone number (during the day) with country and city code
• Mobile phone number and e-mail address
• Nationality
• Date and place of birth
• Passport number (Date of issue, Expiry date, Issuing authority)
• Highest level of education attained and field of specialisation
• Work and other relevant experience
• Computer skills (please specify)
• Knowledge of English and other foreign languages (indicate fair, good or poor)

Information about your NGO

• Name, address, telephone number and fax number of NGO
• Information about your NGO's activities and focus
• What is your role in the NGO? Please provide details

Choice of topics and methods
To help us to gear the study tour in Italy to your needs, please choose three topics that most interest you:

• Preserving protected areas, national parks and reserves
• Water resource management
• Sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism
• Waste management, cleaner production
• Animal/wildlife protection
• Foodstuff certification
• Energy efficiency
• Transport/traffic

Motivation and expectations

• What are your motives for applying to this programme?
• What do you hope to achieve from your participation?
• Identify a project you wish to develop for your NGO during the training period and provide details about it.

Schedule for 2005
Training period	Application Deadline
January 31 - February 26, 2005	December 3, 2004
April 4-30, 2005	February 18, 2005
September 5 - October 1, 2005	July 15, 2005

Schedule for 2006
Training period	Application Deadline
January 30 - February 24, 2006	November 25, 2005
May 8 - June 2, 2006	February 17, 2006

Supported by the Ministry for the Environment and Territory of Italy

For more information on the programme, contact:
Adriana Craciun Project Manager NGO Support and Capacity Building
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
Ady Endre ut 9-11 2000 Szentendre Hungary
Tel: (36-26) 504-068 Fax: (36-26) 311-294 E-mail: acraciun@rec.org