MasterPeace and Stichting art.1, along with their Albanian partners Open Mind Spectrum Albania (OMSA) and ACT for SOCIETY Center, conjointly announce the open call for the hosting of the Durres cycle, as part of the Artvist Stafetë project, funded by the European Union IPA/2020/421-822.

The project is a creative and innovative alliance that empowers Albanian civil society organisations and young people in their path to change and create social awareness on human rights, diversity and gender equality through the arts. Artivist Stafëte aims to make a significant contribution to the understanding of youth of human rights and democratic EU principles, within Albania’s EU membership accession.

The application package including the “Guidelines for Applicants” and related information on the requirements and the application procedure is available in the following links: www.masterpeace.org : www.actforsociety.org , www.stichtingart1.nl  and http://omsalbania.org/

The call will remain open until  JULY  29TH 2022. Through the sub-grant scheme, the project will finance small-medium-sized projects, according to relevant thematic fields.

MasterPeace aims to award one project, the following amount:

The maximum amount of financial support EUR 15,000

Applications must be submitted in English.

All activities within the action are therefore geared towards strengthening the CSO sector by:

1) granting it theoretical/practical skills in cross-cultural project management, thus facilitating collaboration and best practice exchange with prospective partners in the EU.

2) Granting practical skills in soft skill methodologies (podcast, film, storytelling, artivism ), related to creative expression and communication, thus facilitating actors in the field to bypass censorship and infiltrate the mainstream narrative, in turn increasing democratic representation.

3) The cycle will host a series of activities during the duration 3 months which includes:

– Hosting training: on four methodologies (podcast, filmmaking, activism and Walls of Connection)

– Creating a safe open space as a temporary (one month) creative hub as a physical space for participants to create their artistic productions.

– Creating different cultural presentations that showcase the artistic work of participants which includes (Film Festival, Femme Salons (TEDx-styled talks), studio-recording of podcast, Walls of Connection, and hackathons).

– Visibility actions, which include campaigning and (social) media presence.

This Call for Application will be submitted later on also in other Regions: Berat Korce and Pogradec in the upcoming period.

Who can apply?

All civil society organizations, organizations in the creative scene, and grassroots initiatives that operates in Dibra Region or has previously implemented similar projects in the region are welcome to apply.

Organizations with experience in activism and minority advocacy, organizations with experience in running cultural spaces and hosting cultural events are strongly encouraged to apply.

All applicants must comply with the project’s code of conduct

 About us

Open Mind Spectrum Albania (OMSA) is an Albanian non-governmental organization established in 2013 with the main focus of its work being community work and advocacy for the LGBTIQ+ communities of Albania. It aspires to co-create an inclusive society for all Albanians, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, age, social status and health status.

ACT for SOCIETY Center is an Albanian non-governmental organization established in 2012. The mission is to enhance healthy lifestyles and stimulate the sustainable development of society. Its work consists of promoting culture, advocating for democracy and human rights issues, connecting youth, stimulating active participation in social life as well as in decision-making processes.

With an established presence in over 40 countries around the world, Dutch organization MasterPeace works with three core activities, all of which aim towards a sustainable future with less conflict: 1) Mobilize, inspire and connect young local talents via music, art and play; 2) Organize dialogue and bring all local stakeholders together; 3) Create perspective through leadership trainings, capacity-building programs and starting up social enterprises.

Based in Amsterdam, Stichting art. 1 is dedicated to the visibilization and inclusion of minorities through the arts. By providing trainings in non-formal methodologies, the organisation seeks to provide tools and channels for sidelined voices to join mainstream narratives and democratic participation.

 How and when to apply?

To apply, you can fill in the application form which can be found here and send it by email to artiviststafetegrants@masterpeace.org and at Act for Society official address : 

 Rr: “Bulevardi Bajram Curri”; Nd.280; H.5; Ap.4,Tiranë

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UPDATE

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At the end of June MasterPeace Poland had the honor to represent our organization at the 11th World Urban Forum. It was held in Katowice - a big city filled with new skyscrapers and old home town-houses.

As an official partner of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab, MasterPeace is developing and actively promoting Doughnut Economics principles when it comes to creating comfortable and environmentally friendly social spaces within modern cities. How can climate change and urbanization walk hand in hand and create a positive impact? So far, we are experiencing a lot of the downsides of growing urban trends. Unusually hot and dry June - although it’s a new normal in Poland - only made it obvious how much we need a new way of thinking about cities. No kidding: the temperature leap between the air-conditioned exhibition hall and the heated concrete desert outside was horrifying. But the exhibition was really worth taking part in: 22.000 guests and 500 volunteers, wonderful people, great ideas, and revolutionary resolutions!

MasterPeace Poland is one of five partners in a big international project ACT! as a Doughnut, sponsored by Erasmus + Program, in which we aim to educate youngsters in 5 European countries and across our worldwide network about how to help their own cities and communities to thrive. Young generation is desperate to change areas where they live into greener, healthier and happier places. MasterPeace provides them with the Doughnut Economics tools and ways to be heard in their community.
At our stand on the World Urban Forum we had a chance to share the developments we made in this project with the visitors of the exhibition and other exponents. Two webinars devoted to the ACT! as a Doughnut project and the Doughnut Economics were organized during the forum to expand the impact to those participants who were not able to be physically present at the WUF11.

22.06.2022

MasterPeace Poland will represent the Global MasterPeace Network during the upcoming World Urban Forum in Kotowice, Poland.

The club will have a stand in the exclusive BLUE ZONE at the WUF EXPO, where we will be able to professionally host guests. This is the result of co-financing by the United Nations Human Settlements Agenda - UN-Habitat.

During WUF, MasterPeace will also organize a workshop - FINE ENERGY Citizens Energy System - devoted to reducing energy poverty of city residents. This is the result of a cooperation with the City of Katowice and the Municipal Innovation Zone.

As part of the ERASMUS+ programs implemented in the MasterPeace network, two webinars associated with WUF will be conducted: “ACT! as a Doughnut” and “DEL - Doughnut Economics Lab”. These activities will be supported by the RAVA.INK Municipal Business Incubator.

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. WUF11 will be held in the Polish city of Katowice 26-30 June 2022. WUF11 is a gigantic global event with 20,000 participants from 160 countries. Inspiring and thought-provoking events under the main title: "An Extraordinary Dialogue on Urban Crisis Recovery"
WUF subject matter is closely related to: SDG's and Doughnut Economics. Participation in the events is completely free of charge, both directly and remotely.
There is a special application and the possibility of comfortable participation via the website in hundreds of activities related to WUF. But the absolute condition is registration before WUF by Saturday June 25 at the latest. 

• More Details

  UN Habitat Website

• WUF11

  Event website.

We recommend that you register for free on the event website and choose the most interesting from among several hundred panels, discussions and workshops. For example:

• Making Sense of the SDGs in Cities Sesion - Sustainable Cities SDG Sensemaking Tool workshop, Finland case, Monday, 27 June 1:30 PM
• From local to global: youth participation in implementing SDGs Sesion - Monday, 27 June 4:00 PM
• SDGs in Action Session - This highlights hands-on examples of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals - the world’s to-do list to end poverty, reduce inequalities and tackle climate change. Wednesday, 29 June, 1:30 PM
• European Handbook for SDGs Voluntary Local Reviews - 2022 edition European Commission, 28 June 9:00 AM

Recently we had the honor of being invited by our friends, the Community Arts Network and Porticus to be part of the Wellbeing Summit in Bilbao. This global event, the first of its kind, brought together social change, governmental, arts and business leaders working at the intersection of social change and inner wellbeing. It was remarkable to meet so many passionate people, take part in intense talks and to be able to enjoy awesome plenary speeches on the various aspects of wellbeing.

As changemakers we are frequently challenged by our own passion for change; by peer pressure to choose a “proper”, better paid job, while also facing the risk of accusations and threats based on the work we are committed to. This reality was recently echoed through The Possibilists survey of almost 1000 global changemakers, which we helped carry out with our partners.

As changemakers we are, perhaps more than anyone, aware of the local and global challenges to building a more peaceful and sustainable world. As MasterPeace we now exist for over 10 years, with a network of 58 MP Clubs, running 400 projects in 40+ countries. How to grow our impact is a strategic level question that we are committed to addressing. During the Summit I met many leaders of like minded organizations facing the same scaling dilemma. The urgency to contribute to a sustainable future is at an alltime high. NOW is the time to ACT. We need a next wave in our collective strategy, structure and processes.
This urgency calls on us to create campaigns, concepts and funding together.
Our ambition is to significantly strengthen our networks, through co-creation based on shared values, purpose and impact results. We need to ride the next wave!

The Wellbeing Summit once again showed me the power of Arts for social change. So many artists took the podium with grace and power using music, storytelling, meditation and dance. ( I was even invited to join the legendary Songs of Solomon Gospel Choir, from Harlem, NYC!)
The arts open our hearts and minds, nudging us to use what talent we have while empowering us to re-imagine the future and our role in society. As MasterPeace we use art to engage the unengaged, especially young people who feel that they do not matter, that their voices will not be heard, or are overwhelmed by corruption, lack of (job-) opportunities and wider perspective.
We are in Crisis Mode. The word crisis is derived from the Greek term for making a decision or “crossroads”. Our options are to choose fear or trust. As MasterPeace one of our core values is positivity and a deep belief that we have 7 billion talents in this world who can address the overwhelming challenges.
It is based on trust that we ACT; NOW! Learning by doing, realizing small steps that will get us to the bigger goal.

https://youtu.be/_-eICDTIQ7I

Ten years ago I joined MasterPeace and my opening line was “The urgency has never been higher than today” to contribute to a sustainable future for all, to leave no one behind.
Today, I am afraid that I have to repeat myself - the urgency is extremely high. 

Let's take the helicopter view:.

War is back in Europe, drug wars continue in parts of Asia and large swaths of Latin and North America. The gap between the “have and have-nots” is greater than it has ever been. The Covid-19 Pandemic put a spotlight on all the weaknesses and limitations of systems and human behavior. Meanwhile, business is booming for weapons manufacturers and military lobbyists. In 2021 the global expenditure reached a record high; more than $2 trillion. Add to this the escalating destruction caused by the climate crises; I am afraid the worst is still to come.

This makes me nervous and afraid, for myself, my kids and my grandchildren. What is left of the planet and what kind of life will there be for residents of earth in

• 2030?
• 2050?

In nature it is often said that there are 3 types of reactions; flee, freeze and fight. In one of the panel sessions during the Change Now Summit, I described the above facts as challenges that leave me only with only one option: to fight for a better future. To use my talents the best way I can. I and we cannot afford to be pessimistic. I am aware of the effort and commitment it will take, and I choose to ACT in my role as Global Leader of MasterPeace. NOW, 24/7.

During the 2 day "Change Now Summit 2022" I met so many people who shared their ideas on how to work towards sustainability. As MasterPeace we are a proud partner of ChangemakerXChange run by Matthias Scheffelmeier, Nick McGirl and their team. They are the driving force behind a coalition of 16 global organisations for changemakers. We are like minded and all fight for positive change for a better future. During the summit a great new platform was launched “The Possibilists Directory”. A global database of grant- making, capacity building and support programs for young changemakers.

All the MasterPeace clubs, their team members, volunteers and the 100.000 who join our projects can benefit from having access to this directory. To find matching opportunities that enable them to grow their talent. My deep belief, trust and hope is that together, with billions of passionate and dedicated people around the world, we outnumber the negative forces in this world. It takes you and me to ACT! NOW!