We give a voice to young people to promote a change of narratives and contribute to a culture of understanding, peace and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region
This programme creates spaces for intercultural encounters between young people in order to promote exchanges of experiences and ideas between peers, identify shared values in the region and transcend those stereotypes that tear us apart. By doing so, it aims to equip young people with tools so they can play a relevant role in future societies and actively promote the values of diversity and co-existence in the Euro-Mediterranean area.
The programme includes regular youth-to-youth debates on the burning issues in the Euro-Mediterranean area, including violent extremism, hate speech and migration.
It also features the youth contest “A Sea of Words”, organised in collaboration with the Anna Lindh Foundation and its national networks. The competition is open to young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from the Euromed area. It encourages intercultural dialogue and the exchange of knowledge through the stories about experiences and concerns expressed by young people. Since 2008, each contest has revolved around a different theme, such as gender equality, sustainable development, democracy and citizenship, radicalisation and climate change.
Through short stories, young people have the opportunity to freely express ideas, perceptions, concerns and hopes. In this way, different local and international traditions are reflected. During the 13th year of the contest, around 3,000 works were received, with a good balance between the North (47%) and South (53%) of the Mediterranean. An international jury selects between 10 and 20 texts every year, and offers the finalists the opportunity to take part in an intercultural experience in Barcelona. This exchange includes literary workshops, cultural visits and the awards ceremony, featuring prominent figures from different fields.
The 2015 edition
The Future We Want Demands Sustainable Development
The contest seeks short stories about sustainable and non-excluding growth, which raises living standards, benefits the whole of society through wealth distribution and protects the environment.
Sustainable development is a key concept in strengthening the shared heritage of the Mediterranean. Therefore, it is important for dialogue actions to involve the interaction of the largest number of individuals possible as “narrators” of or “listeners” to stories written in the Euro-Mediterranean area.
It is important that young people take on an active role in the endeavour to create a sustainable and respectful society that can be as satisfactory as possible for all. For this, we need to work towards an economy that supports a sustainable environment and shares prosperity equally.
Key information
The call was closed on 31 May 2015
We have received 175 stories written by youths from 25 Euro-Mediterranean countries
The contest welcomes stories written in any of the official languages of the Euro-Mediterranean countries:
Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, The Netherlands, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and United Kingdom.
Winners announced
(1st Prize)
The Seagull
Georgios Ampatzidis. Greece
(2nd Prize)
Plastic
Slavena Zaharieva. Bulgaria
(3rd Prize)
Dissimilar Similarities
Halil Ecer. Turkey
Other finalists
Better Dead than Alive
Sara Debbache. Algeria
2184
Damjan Krstanović. Croatia
Islands in the Sea of Time
Marija Nezirović. Croatia
Walking on Water
Basma Eloufy. Egypt
The One Who Fights Sharks
Maria Tramountani. Germany
Safe Journey
Christoforos Pavlakis. Greece
The Dancing Raindrop
Ilias Kolokouris. Greece
A Citizen’s Insanity
Omar Hussein Al Othman. Jordan
A Second Kind of Genesis
Giulia Privitelli. Malta
The Last Message
Aya Kamel Rabah. Palestine
Red Venus
Kasia Nocuń. Poland
The Discovery of Fire
Yeray García Celades. Spain
Climb Your Own Mountain
Lara Bulut. Turkey
Whose Ankara?
Murat Mercan. Turkey