23rd International Leadership Workshop For Rural Youth
Herrsching,
11 – 26 July 2007
Introduction: ...
Objective and Key Issues of the Workshop:
The objective of Workshop was to qualifying leaders from all around the world, on a regional and national level, for a responsible and sustainable rural development and thus at improving the quality of life of young people in rural areas.
Workshop was focused on improving the skills of young participants on developing strategies to initiate and stabilize rural youth-work. The main purpose of the information transfer was to help participants on dealing with particular problems concerning rural youth, to show methods helping to activate young people and to encourage their willingness to assume personal responsibility, to improve successful project management abilities.
...
The Organization, Secretariat, Management and Venue:
The Workshop was organized by the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture and Federal Office of Agriculture and Food was responsible for its implementation under the patronage of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The secretariat of the workshop carried out by the official staff of the Federal Office of Agriculture and Food. Ms Beate Scheer, Ms Monika Meng and Mr. Christian Walther were very good on answering all questions and making everything easy for all participants. Their organizational success on, maybe the hardest point of hall workshop, arranging the arrivals, departures, documentary and budgeting, etc. was found adm
irable by all of the participants. On the other hand, one of the most important role to assist the secretariat ton mobilizing them was played by Mr Bünyamin Karaca. He was also liked by all participants because of his benevolent and kind behaviors during workshop.
The workshop was managed by Dr. Wulf Treiber (Director) and Mr. Gunther Strobl (Training Expert) from Education and Training Centre of the Bavarian Farmers Union (HDBL-Herrsching) in very democratically and participatory behavior. Their management model was also very important notice on many participants, which proved us there is no need of unnecessary bureaucracy for a good leading.
During the consistent program of workshop and their daily work, traniees Ms. Sandra Ostermair, Ms. Laura Pittroff and Ms. Stefanie Sachs was impressed everybody because not only they remembered every bodies birthday but also with their unforgettable surprise birthday cakes. Which shows all of us, that small moments can affect every bodies behavior and breaks the ices between persons.
The Workshop was tak
en place in the HDBL-Herrsching. The venue was perfect. The building (Image 1) was designed to response any kind of activity. Main conference and plenary hall, seminar rooms, hostel, restaurants, bar, swimming pool, fitness saloon, computer room, offices are just some of the facilities placed in this very good designed breathing building. Numerous space opportunities enable to carry on different events at the same time. Anyway during the workshop, many framers and spouses had chance to participate different events which were organized by Bavarian Farmers Union. By these ways we also had a chance to notice the importance of a farmers union and its unity events for establishing good relations within rural society.
...
Instructors Team:
Workshop was consisting of many small and large group activities where the aimed information was given. Of course, training of energetic and desired group of young people was not so easy, it needs professionals.
After first plenary, these wonderful people, grouped us related to our preferred language and our amazing three week has started. They were playing the key role in whole workshop because they were the one who carry the workshop to achieve its objectives. Their close and attractive communication with participants fasten the learning, developing and sharing process easier, which also resulted by fast learning. Also their ability to talk both three official languages of the workshop impressing which also helped many participants to get fast and satisfying answers for their questions. One other point needs to be pointed, is their strong expertise on the subjects they were transferring and easy communication creation with different multicultural behaviors. Names of our facilitators are; Ms Anelia Coetzee (South Africa), Mr. Jonathan Cook (UK), Mr. Jean Markidès (France), Mr. Werner Michl, Ms. Birgiit Reisenweber and Ms. Gabriele Rösing (Germany).
Workshop Program:
Second week’s motto was “Improving the Rural Youth’s Living and Working Conditions”. Small group activities were the main methodology for the second part of workshop. After analyzing the problems in rural areas all the participants has been asked form 3 - 4 people group to develop a project on a determined rural area problem. Prepared project ideas has been introduced to all participants with short drama, and followed by detailed introduction in market area (where all project ideas placed on charts as a poster).
Development”. The idea behind the 3rd part was developing concrete personal/individual action plans. Personal action plans were discussed in language groups. One of the personal plans was determined to be presented to all participants.
The workshop was also involves some events other than above mentioned group works. One of these was Country Exhibitions. Every country has designed an exhibition table, where the participants had chances to discover the beauties of different countries from pictures, posters. Also it was possible to enjoy some handicrafts of rural youth.
Another opportunity for the participants to learn others cultures and their youth work in their home countries, during country presentation sections. Mentioned sections were carried in 
afternoon following the dinner. Interested participants were attending these sections. It was very good opportunity to learn more details about others culture.
Participants also had opportunities to have a deep look to German Agricultu
re. As a large group activity an organic farm, a village benefitted from a rural development project, a kid village where protection needed kids has placed was visited. Also participants were placed in small (3 people) groups and placed in host Bavarian Farmer families. Spending a day with their family was a big chance to learn their daily life and culture.
Furthermore all the participants enjoyed the welcome B&Q and artistic international evening.
...
Closing Ceremony
And the workshop completed with a closing ceremony where Dr. Wulf Treiber (Head of Workshop), Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Mr. Horst Seehofer , President of the German Farmers Association Mr. Gerd Sonnleitner, Vice-President of German Rural Youth Federation Mr. Johannes Scharl, President of Federal Office for Food and Agriculture Dr. Robert Kloos and Deputy Head of Workshop Mr. Gunther Strobl made their speeches and evaluate the workshop. Also on behalf of participant three of us (includes me) give our speeches as a general overview of the three weeks. Making a closing speech on behalf of all participants and my country was an honor for me and very important for my country to take stage in a unique leadership workshop where we have been represented for a very first time.
After closing ceremony the goodbye buffet and following Jazz Concert was last and one of the unforgettable event of the amazing 3 weeks in Herrching.
...Düzenleyen: O.GÜRKAN
