What we achieved in the 2012/13 academic year

We in DIA strongly believe that before starting something new - a new initiative or a new academic year - it is worth looking back to see what was achieved. To this end we created a short summary about the last 12 months. Although we all knew  that we've spent a meaningful year with plenty of challenges and achievements, the outcomes surprised us. If you wish to know how many training days we've had, how many people participated in our programs, or how much our staff travelled, take a look at our graphic report.

DEMO: a unique learning opportunity

We have some great news to share: 13 Hungarian NGO’s will be participating in a long-term cooperation (27 months) and ’learning from each other’ in an organizational development  and advocacy process brought to life by DIA.

Schools loud of debate

10 schools, 170 educators, 40 days of debate, 1200 students – the participants of the Have your say! Program. There will be no shortage of exciting debates in schools in the coming academic year.

DiN in Hungary – continues in September 2013!

“I’m angry with you.” – said one of the participants of our last DiN training session. “Since I started to attend your training, I don’t like others’ your’s being so good.” – Well, it’s quite rewarding to get such a feedback from one of the participants at the end of a debate method training. Isn’t it?

DIA Youth Service Teachers’ Handbook and Training

DIA’s Teachers’ Handbook for Youth Service activities was published in June 2012 in order to support the work of secondary school teachers who from this academic year onwards have to support their students’ service activities.

Szóval?! 2013 National Debate Championship

Starting January 2013, DIA, for the 3rd time is a member of a team of 5 organizations which coordinates the 3rd National Debate Championship for secondary schools (Szóval?! 2013) on EU-related topics.

Just joined the Debate in the Neighbourhood (DIN) project

In January 2013 DIA joined the DIN network for an international debate project aiming at working with vulnerable youth groups.

The Volunteer Program of the Year 2012 Award went to DIA

The Volunteer Program of the Year 2012 Award has been given to DIA by the Volunteer Center Foundaton in December 2012. The award acknowledged DIA’s 7 years of efforts in coordinating National Youth Service Day (KöZöD! Önkéntes Fiatalok Napja) in Hungary.
KöZöD! has been a great success among youth volunteer groups all over Hungary. In its best year, in 2011 it mobilized 32 000 young volunteers in 200 locations, as a result DIA won the 4th place worldwide among Global Youth Service Day (www.gysd.org) countries.

DIA continues cooperation with corporate partners

Following the organization’s traditions, DIA continues to work together with major companies.

News from our global partners

Open Society Foundations, Youth Service America and International Youth Foundation.

DIA’s National Youth Service Day 2012 (KöZöD!) Awards went to talented young social innovators

One of the four KöZöD! Awards went to Humana Magazin, a human rights magazin run by young volunteers (http://www.humanamagazin.eu/egyesulet/humana-egyesulet).

Compulsory Youth Service in Hungarian Schools starting September 2012

While DIA has been advocating the importance of youth service since its creation in 1999, and reached out to hundreds of schools and thousands of students the idea beeing that young people should get at least one chance in secondary school to be involved in projects aiming at giving back to their local community, in December 2011, the government of Hungary made youth service compulsory for all secondary school students  obtaining a matriculation.

How to see the world in 3D: Dilemma, debate, democracy, debate education by DIA

In a country where the civic education of young people has been neglected for decades including the last 22 years, debate education is one of the neglected areas of public education.

How we shape our past (HWSOP), cooperation with Citizens of Europe

A team of young Hungarians participated in an exciting project of intercultural learning along with their German, Czech, and Lithuanian counterparts looking at various aspects of their common history: fascism and Stalinism.

A talented young American social entrepreneur at DIA: Amy Dingler

To read her reports on adventures of her gap year: http://fayettewoman.com/amy-dingler-limits-walls.html

European Youth Service Day 2012

For the second time, DIA coordinated Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) efforts in 2012 in 10 countries of Europe including Hungary. Based on 6 years of succes with coordinating National Youth Service Day (KöZöD!) in Hungary, Youth Service America (YSA) commissionned DIA to assist GYSD operations in 10 other European countries.

Joining Instructions to HWSOP

For the participants of the Budapest Workshop - "How we shape our past" program:
Download

How we Shape Our Past The Hungarian Example

What is ´How we Shape Our Past´ about?

The way we deal with history tells a lot about us.

Calling All Bloggers!

Become a Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) 2012 Blogger! We’re looking for service lovers to blog about their projects to feature on YSA’s (Youth Service America) blog. This is a chance to share why GYSD is important to you and to inspire others to get involved in the largest service event in the world. Share project ideas, planning process highlights, creative reflection activities, community impact, and more. Apply by 2/29 if you’re interested!

 

http://bit.ly/yXmFxy

How to plan a project?

Quick guidelines for beginners II.

Action 

Let people know about your project. Put up posters, distribute flyers, include announcements in newsletters or blogs, personally invite people, or promote your project on Facebook and Twitter. Register your project on GYSD.org.
Let the local media and public officials know about your project. Invite them to attend your project to cover it as a news story or to participate alongside youth volunteers. Ask them to help promote your project ahead of time or to recognize youth volunteers after your project.
Implement your project plan!