The Festival is exciting and jam-packed with activities but it’s a bit hard sometimes to figure out exactly how to describe it. Hopefully the information below will give you a better picture of exactly what to expect at the Festival! Following the tentative schedule of activities and programs you’ll find a more detailed description of some of the key program activities. Remember that this is subject to change but should give you a good idea of what to expect.
Draft Festival Program (Subject to Change)
Description of Key Program Activities:
Youth Encounters
Regional Club Houses
Delegation Exchanges/Bilaterals
Thematic Discussion Centers
Special Events/Programs
Sports and Cultural Programs
Workshops/Seminars/Conferences
Day 1 (August 7) – Arrivals and Registration
NOTE: We are proposing a meeting of the US delegation on this date or the morning of the 8th. Exact time and location to be announced as information becomes available.
Day 2 (August 8) – Opening Ceremony
The only programmed activity currently scheduled for this day will be the opening ceremony to the Festival. The Regional Club Houses should also be set up this day.
Day 3 (August 9)
Theme: Solidarity Day With Africa
Morning Activities Conferences:
1.) Youth Rights Against Terrorism, Neo-Colonialism, Religious Fundamentalism, Fascism and National Chauvinism
2.) Corporate Media and Imperialism Against the People: What is the Role of the Alternative Media?
Seminars:
1.) Civil War and Domestic Conflicts
2.) Access and Production of Science and Technology: Global and Regional Differences
3.) AIDS Prevention and Treatment Policies: Promoting free access for all!
4.) Revolutionary Democracy: Involving Young People
Afternoon Activities Conferences:
1.) Exploitation of the Environment: Moving towards Global Sustainable Development
2.) Violation of Human Rights and Capitalism Workshops: The workshop schedule has not yet been determined.
All Day Activities Youth Encounters:
Young Workers and Trade Unionists
Young Entrepreneurs and Professionals
Indigenous Young People
Special Events: Visit to the Regions – from August 9-11th a limited number of delegates to the Festival will travel to different states within Venezuela where they will be meeting with youth and students of the regions, and participate in educational, cultural and sports activities.
Day 4 (August 10)
Theme: Solidarity Day With the Americas
Morning Activities Conferences:
1.) Struggle for Self-Determination, Independence and Sovereignty
2.) Cultural Democracy in the Promotion of Peace, Unity and Understanding
Seminars:
1.) Hip Hop Summit Opening Plenary
2.) Corporate domination of the Mass Media
3.) Child Labor: An offensive on Children’s Rights
4.) Public Policy for Youth: Promoting Youth Participation Afternoon
Activities Conferences:
1.) Access to Public Health Care: An inalienable right
2.) Revolutionary Latin America: What’s on the Horizon?
Workshops:
The workshop schedule has not yet been determined.
All Day Activities Youth Encounters:
Young Artists and Intellectuals
Young Volunteers
Young Farmers/Rural Youth
Special Events: International Hip Hop Summit – Hip Hop artists and activists from around the world will participate in a day of workshops, plenary discussions and ending in an evening concert.
Visit to the Regions – from August 9-11th a limited number of delegates to the Festival will travel to different states within Venezuela where they will be meeting with youth and students of the regions, and participate in educational, cultural and sports activities.
Day 5 (August 11)
Theme: Solidarity Day With Asia & the Pacific
Morning Activities Conferences:
1.) Dangerous Role of Military Alliances and Militarism: NATO, EU Army 2.) Science and Technology for Peace and Social Development
Seminars:
1.) Economic Terrorism Against People: Blockades, Sanctions and Embargos
2.) Defending Progressive Culture Against Corporate Cultural Monopolies 3.) Hunger in the So-Called “Underdeveloped Countries�
4.) Social Rights Are Human Rights: Health Care, Employment and Education are a Right!
Afternoon Activities Conferences:
1.) Struggle Against Neo-Liberal Policies and Institutions: IMF, WTO, WB, G8, FTAA, EU, GATS, CAFTA 2.)
Gender Equality and the Struggle for Young Women’s Rights
Workshops: The workshop schedule has not yet been determined.
All Day Activities Youth Encounters:
Young Women
Youth of Faith
Young Independent Media/Press Activists
Special Events: Visit to the Regions – from August 9-11th a limited number of delegates to the Festival will travel to different states within Venezuela where they will be meeting with youth and students of the regions, and participate in educational, cultural and sports activities.
Day 6 (August 12)
Theme: Solidarity Day With Europe
Morning Activities Conferences:
1.) Stop the War Machine – Youth Fight for Peace, Cooperation and Int’l Solidarity
2.) Education is a Right, Not a Privilege
Seminars:
1.) European Youth Fighting the EU
2.) Stop Genetically Modified Foods – Health over Profits
3.) Young Trade Unionists and the Fight for Workers’ Rights
4.) Reproductive and Sexual Rights for Youth – Fighting Discrimination and Violence
Afternoon Activities Conferences:
1.) Fight for the Right to Work, With Rights!
2.) Defending the Rights of Immigrants and Refugees – Fight Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia
Workshops: The workshop schedule has not yet been determined.
All Day Activities Youth Encounters:
Student
s Young Immigrants
Disabled Youth
Special Events:
Day 7 (August 13)
Theme: Solidarity Day With Middle East
Morning Activities Conferences:
1.) Role of the World Festival of Youth and Students in Defense of Youth Rights
Seminars:
1.) War and Occupation in Iraq – Multilateral between Iraq and Countries with Troops in Iraq
2.) Sports as a Way to Bring People Together
3.) Fighting for People’s Rights to Water, Land and Natural Resources
4.) Attacks on Civil Liberties in the Name of Human Rights and “Fighting Terrorism� Int'l Anti-Imperialist Court on Economic blockades, sanctions and embargos
Afternoon Activities Conferences:
1.) The Bolivarian Revolution and Building Socialism in the 21st Century
Workshops: The workshop schedule has not yet been determined.
Int'l Anti-Imperialist Court on Environmental Destruction All Day
Activities Youth Encounters:
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Youth
Young Athletes
Young People in Military Service
Young Elected Officials/Parlamentarians
Special Events:
Day 8 (August 14)
Theme: Celebration of 6oth Anniversary of People’s Victory Against Fascism
Morning Activities Conferences:
1.) 60 Years After Hiroshima and Nagasaki – For a World Free of Nukes!
Seminars:
1.) European Union and USA – Competition and Cooperation for Global Domination
2.) Free Software – Fighting Technological Monopolies
3.) Housing for Youth – A social right not a source of profit!
4.) Youth Struggle to Reform the United Nations Int'l Anti-Imperialist Court on War, Aggression and Occupations
Afternoon Activities Conferences:
1.) 60 Years After the Anti-Fascist Victory of the People – The Struggle Continues!
Workshops: The workshop schedule has not yet been determined.
Int'l Anti-Imperialist Court on Exploitation and Poverty All Day
Activities Special Events: Anniversary Party – Celebrate 60 years of the World Federation of Democratic Youth including cultural performances from all over the world.
Day 9 (August 15) – Closing Ceremony
Solidarity Day with People and Youth of Venezuela
The closing ceremony will be held on the Bolivar Boulevard and set to coincide with the Bicentennial March to celebrate Simon Bolivar’s historic Monte Sacro declaration and to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of the victory of the Venezuelan people in the Presidential Referendum. A farewell party will be held that night for Festival delegates.
Key Program Activities:
Youth Encounters
Regional Club Houses
Delegation Exchanges/Bilaterals
Thematic Discussion Centers
Special Events/Programs
Sports and Cultural Programs
Workshops/Seminars/Conferences
Youth Encounters During the Festival
There will be organized exchanges between young people of specific communities or fields of interest. These will include Young Artists and Intellectuals, Elected Officials, Workers and Trade Unionists, Entrepreneurs and Professionals, Farmworkers, Women, Indy Media Activists, Immigrants, Athletes, Disabled Youth, Youth in the Military, Youth of Faith, Queer Youth and Students. At these meetings young people who identify in these different communities will have a chance to share experiences, talk about common struggles and discuss ways of working together.
Regional Club Houses
The Regional Club Houses are the site of a large part of the Festival activities. Regional Club Houses offer the chance to highlight the cultures and struggles of each region of the world. The countries of the region will have a chance to set up a booth and share materials and information. Each Club House has its own programming including workshops, art exhibitions, and performances. In addition, they offer a space for people to hang out, hold impromptu bilaterals, and exchange ideas with others in a relaxed and fun environment.
Delegation Exchanges/Bilaterals
At the Festival delegations have the opportunity to set up meetings, called “bilaterals,� with other countries delegations. There are some bilaterals and delegations exchanges that are already formally part of the program. In addition there will be opportunities to learn about specific countries and regions including the International Solidarity Forums organized for each region of the world. There are also many opportunities to set up informal meetings at the clubhouses with delegations of other countries. It’s often as easy as finding a country you are interested in learning more about and asking if it’s possible to set up a time to share a meal and exchange ideas.
Thematic Discussion Centers
There will be four thematic discussion centers focusing on: Peace, War and Imperialism; Education, Science, Culture, Communication and Technology; Employment, Economy and Development; and Democracy, Freedom, National Sovereignty and Human Rights. In each center there will be specific seminars and workshops to deal with different aspects of these topic areas. For instance, under the topic of Democracy, Freedom, National Sovereignty and Human Rights there will be a seminar on Public Policy for Youth and promoting youth participation.
Special Events/Programs
There will be several special programs and events during the Festival that will be of interest to our delegates. These events include an International Hip Hop Summit, the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Victory against Fascism, the International Anti-Imperialist Tribunal, 60th Commemoration of the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Solidarity Tent for Young Political Prisoners. For a limited number of delegates there will also be the opportunity to travel to the provinces of Venezuela and participate in special programming.
Sports and Cultural Programs
The Festival is more than just meetings and speeches. There will be plenty of opportunities for sports activities and cultural performances and exhibitions. These can range from large concerts in the evenings to impromptu street theater. You can catch an organized soccer matches or play a game of pick up basketball. These activities, large and small, will be happening throughout the Festival!
Workshops/Seminars/Conferences
The names seminar, conference and workshop might sound a little bit confusing to most people. The major difference is the style the activities are conducted in and the size of expected attendance. While seminars and conferences will tend to be larger and there are fewer, workshops give the opportunity to meet in smaller groups. Seminars and Conferences will be held in large rooms. Seminars will tend to have only a few speakers while Conferences may offer more of a chance for the audience to participate. There will be 3 workshops per day per region – meaning 15 per day and 90 throughout the Festival. While Seminars and Conferences are organized by the International Organizing Committee and offer translation services, workshops are organized by NPCs and independent organizations – translation will not be available unless the organizers provide them. It is important to remember that the Festival can be a bit chaotic, exciting, and overwhelming all at the same time. It may not be possible to participate in every activity and you may find that more than one activity of interest to you will be occurring at the same time. The most important thing for prospective Festival participant to remember is to be flexible, open to new experiences and patient. For many, the most rewarding and memorable experiences are the ones that happen outside of the formal, programmed events. You’ll meet new friends, learn new things and have amazing exchanges during meals, around a bonfire, and even in line for the bus!
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