Open Ukraine Foundation announces the Essay Contest for youth to participate in I Youth Kyiv Security Forum

The Youth Kyiv Security Forum (KSF – Y) is a new initiative of the Open Ukraine Foundation, which aims at creation of a discussion platform for young experts from different countries on important issues of international relations and foreign policy. The main goals of the Forum are to empower the new generation by increasing their capacity to participate in policy analyses and policy development processes.

The Youth Forum is made possible through a partnership with regional Representation of Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Ukraine, and with the support of The Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation (a project of German Marshall Fund, USA), Center of NATO Information and Documentation in Ukraine and Democratic Control of Armed Forces (Switzerland).

The topic of the Forum is “Human Security in international relations”. Human security is an emerging paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for international security should be the individual.

ESSAY TOPICS (for choice):
1.    Human Security in International relations: making world a better place
2.    Increasing role of human security in international organizations: human security in NATO strategies
3.    United Nations – a friend of human security
4.    Food Security – the main issue for every human?
5.    Human Security in military conflicts

Participation in the Forum will provide young people with an opportunity to discuss current issues  of human security during an international conference, and to become active participants in workshops and training sessions, that will be scheduled in the Program of KSF – Y. The participants also will have a chance to communicate with leading experts, analysts from different countries, who are specialized on the issues of “human security” in international relations.

Working languages of the Forum – English, Ukrainian.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PARTICIPATION IN CONTEST:
We invite the following categories of people to participate in the contest: students of senior courses, PhD students, researches, representatives of youth and civil organizations, who are interested in issues of international relations, foreign policy and international security. The participants are asked to write short essay. The essay must be up to 6000 symbols (with spaces) in English or Ukrainian. One participant can choose only one topic. Additionally, please, send completed registration form. Age of participants – 18-35.

Essays and registration forms should be sent by e-mail to [email protected] (subject – KSF – Y). The deadline is October 15th, 2012. The contest results will be announced after November 1st, 2012.

The organizers will cover expenses during the Forum for 15 participants. For 5 best essay writers - all expenses, including travel costs, for other 10 – accommodation and meals (travel costs should be paid by themselves).

For the details do not hesitate to contact Ms. Viktoriya Osipovych by e-mail: [email protected] or by phone: +38(044)220-1840, +38(067)214-3462.