The Award

Who and how

All European citizens, men and women of every age and cultural origin, are invited to take part in the contest;

It is possible to participate as an individual, a group, a community or an organization;

It is possible to participate both with autobiographical works, by narrating one’s experience in the first person, and with biographical works, by recounting the stories of others;

The topics we propose in this second edition of the edition of the competition fall within three thematic areas:

• Experiences of feeling part of Europe
• Pathways through Europe (through its diversity)
• Another Europe is possible: stories of social commitment and change in Europe

Participants may submit more than one story – one for each thematic area; it is, however, possible to place more stories in the digital archive beyond those which have been submitted for the award.

Different narrative formats and modes may be used: written text, photo narrations, video and audio narrations, other forms of expression (comic strips, poetry, theatre, etc.);

In addition to personal stories (autobiographical and biographical), research and studies may also be submitted, realized through qualitative methodologies (interviews and life stories), as well as research carried out in European memory archives;

The prize will be conducted in collaboration with the project “Stories of a Possible Europe” (Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency; 'Europe for Citizens' Programme), with respect to the stories concerned with the third thematic area: “Another Europe is possible: stories of social commitment and change in Europe; Experiences of intercultural dialogue”. (www.possible-europe.eu)

Contest Themes

The thematic areas of the competition fall within the following three sections:

• Experiences of feeling part of Europe; life experiences which have contributed to creating in us a sense of belonging to Europe;
• Pathways through Europe (through its diversities): History, culture and traditions of Europe seen through the lens of personal experiences.
• Another Europe is possible: stories of social commitment and change in Europe...

You may tell your stories by following the suggestions we have made for each thematic area, or recount your stories and experiences in any way you wish (we remember that you may participate in the competition in all three sections, with a story for each).

A – Experiences of feeling part of Europe

Remember that time...

Have there been particular moments and experiences which have created in you a sense of belonging to Europe? These might be trips, encounters, work or study experiences, personal or collective events… Try to describe these experiences; and then endeavor to describe what this feeling, this sense of belonging to Europe consists of…

Europe in a Snapshot

Identify a photograph in your life which seems in some way to represent somewhat your experience of Europe (choose without thinking too much, instinctively...); Keeping the photograph in front of you, start by writing, “Looking at this photograph...” and say why you have chosen this picture and in what way it is connected to the experience of a sense of belonging to Europe...

Europe in an object

Identify an object which can represent something of your experience of being part of Europe. This can be a personal object that belongs to your life story, or an object which seems to you can serve as a metaphor for this experience… then go on to describe why you have chosen this object and what experience it is connected to…

B - Pathways through Europe (through its diversity)

Living traditions

Are there traditions or customs – past or present, local or European – which have been important in your life? These can be customs, legends, dances, songs, or occasions for community get-togethers… In what way have they been important to you? Do these traditions contain teachings which may be valid today as well?

European Journey

There are many people who have travelled, or are now travelling, through Europe, for work, study, holidays, on business or pleasure… There are the experiences of past journeys, when travelling was not so easy and there were borders and customs to go through, and then there are the experiences of today, with low-cost travel and a Europe that has opened up its borders to its citizens…Then there are those who come to Europe from other continents, among whom many are fleeing poverty or war or totalitarian regimes; and then there are the millions of Europeans who in past centuries migrated to other continents... Whatever your experience of travelling in or through Europe, try to recount the experience and what the journey has brought into your life. Say in what way the journey has contributed to creating your idea of Europe.

My story within the history of Europe

European history is marked by great historical events, representing moments of upheaval or change; from the end of World War II to the long process involved in the creation of the European Union, the end of the Iron Curtain, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and on up to the more recent “entries” into the European Union. Try to recall your personal experience of these changes or the particular events which marked these passages… In what ways have these changes been reflected in your life? In what way have they contributed to creating your image of Europe? In what way have they contributed to creating a common feeling of European identity?

C-Another Europe is possible (under construction)

Experiences of social commitment in Europe

Recount your experiences towards another possible Europe, within the different spheres in which social commitment for human rights and democracy is manifested: solidarity and communitarian economy, intercultural dialogue, labour, minorities, housing, health, public assets, fight against poverty, education and training for all, participation, etc. These can be personal or collective experiences, already completed or still ongoing, experiences which have been successful or which have not achieved the expected results… but experiences from which we can nevertheless learn something: different ways of working together, new ways of living, new visions of the world …more opportunities for making a personal contribution to a different possible world.

Experiences of intercultural dialogue

The contest wants to give particular visibility to experiences of intercultural dialogue in Europe, defined as the encounter of cultures, religions and in general as visions of an inclusive world including the dialogue between men and women. The narrations you will be submitting will contribute to gathering proposals and “good practices” which will be presented to European Institutions, as concrete suggestions for actions to be carried out for the reinforcement of intercultural dialogue (action carried out through the Stories of a Possible Europe project). We thus invite you to recount:

• personal experiences of intercultural dialogue (meeting the ‘other’, in everyday life, in the different contexts and situations where intercultural conflict arises and the need to overcome it is manifested...)
• experiences of projects and collective social action in the promotion of intercultural dialogue in Europe
• experiences and the role of women in promoting intercultural dialogue in Europe.

Typologies and methods of narration

Works submitted for the contest will fall under two sections, according to the different methodologies of narration used to realize the story:

1. Narrations;
2. Studies and Research.

1 - Narrations. Works participating in the Narrations section category can be developed through different forms of expressions which may also be combined in order to achieve more effective communication:

• Autobiographical and biographical writings - texts, both in the form of writings about oneself, or stories of others;
• Photo-narrations - photographic reportage, which may be accompanied by texts;
• Video-narrations – reportage, interviews and oral narration.
• Audio-narrations – audio-stories told through the use of reports, interviews and oral narrations.
• Other forms of expression - poetry, novel, fiction, photo stories, comic strips, or other artistic forms of narration.

2 – Studies and researches. This section will include investigative works on the contest themes developed through qualitative methodologies (interviews, life stories, etc.), including studies and research carried out in memory archives and through oral sources. Through this approach, we want to stimulate groups of European citizens to carry out studies and research in the European archives of autobiographical documents.

Working languages

Stories can be submitted in the following languages: English, Spanish, Catalan, German, French, Danish, Bulgarian, Italian and Portuguese.

How to submit works

In order to participate in the 2009-2010 edition of the Contest, works must be submitted by 30
December 2009 (extension of the previous deadline of 30 November). Works submitted after this date may participate in the edition of the following year.

"The works participating in the thematic section "Another Europe is Possible" submitted by the 30 November 2009, can also participate in the "Stories of a Possible Europe" project”.

Works may be submitted in the following ways:

• Through the portal of the project, www.europeanmemories.eu, by registering with the site, filling in the participation form and uploading the stories (enter and send/modify).
• By mail, addressed to the different national Award Offices, with the participation form attached (both of which can be downloaded from the site or requested from the contest office). When stories are sent by mail, the material must, nevertheless, be furnished in a digital version as well, in CD-rom or on another support
• By e-mail, addressed to stories@europeanmemories.eu, with the participation form (both of which can be downloaded from the site or requested from to the Awards Offices).

All the works will be published with the “Creative commons, no derivative works” licence; this licence permits reproduction, distribution, communication to the public, display in public, representation, carrying out and acting out of the work.

The licence is applied under the following conditions:

• Attribution- anyone who utilizes the work must indicate its origin in the ways indicated by the author or the person who released the work under the licence.
• Non Commercial. The work cannot be used for commercial purposes.
• Non derived. The work cannot be altered or transformed nor can it be utilized to create another..

Address of the award offices “Narrating Europe”:

ITALY: UNIEDA, Unione Italiana di Educazione degli Adulti, via Quattro Novembre 157, 00187, Roma, Italia stories@europeanmemories.eu

GERMANY: sozial.label e.v, H. Spindler, Sundgauer Str. 39 b - 14169 Berlinfax: 030 - 83 22 93 51 spindler@soziallabel.de

PORTUGAL: VIDA, G. Orsini, Av. das Cruzes 718 - 4535-011 Lourosal vida@viver.org

DENMARK: Institut for Didaktik DPU, Kathrine Procter, Tuborgvej 164 - 2400 København NV eumemories@gmail.com

SPAIN: FDC, Via Laietana 54, 4º-3ª - 08003 Barcelona fax: ++ /932680139gorsini@fdc.cat

BULGARIA: EIC , V. Stoycheva , Bulgaria bul. PO box 345 street no: 24 - 5000 Veliko Tarnovovioletvt@gmail.com

ITALY: ADN, Piazza Plinio Pellegrini 1 - 52036- Pieve Santo Stefano (AR) europe@archiviodiari.it

Participation is free

Selection and prize

The competition will take place in the following stages:

In the first stage, scheduled for the month of February 2010, each working group will select a national story for each theme of storytelling. The first stage consists in the selection of 21 stories, including text, photos and video narrations. All these stories will then be translated into English, and – over time - into the seven languages of the competition, and published in a CD rom. The award for the winner of the first selection consists in the publication.

The second stage, scheduled for the month of April 2010, will consist in the selection- by a European working group – of a story which is considered to be particularly relevant for each of the three themes. These stories, translated into the seven languages of the project, will be published in a book, and authors will be invited to the European Festival of Autobiography, which takes place in Italy, Pieve Santo Stefano (Toscana), during the final event of the project.

Methodologies of narration and Formats

The formats follow a criteria of "effective communication". The indications of "maximum length" are not compulsory. More important in this regard is the participants' evaluation of the balance between effective communication and completeness of the narration.

A) Autobiographical and biographical writings Methodology. The stories told here will be based above all on autobiographical sources; therefore, they will be autobiographical writings or life stories, told by one or more narrators, individuals or communities. Text length: a maximum of 15.000 characters including spaces is advised, which corresponds to about 5 pages (Times New Roman 12, interspaces 1,5).

Digital formats: preferably PDF and Microsoft Word, otherwise ODF (Open Document Format, used by Open Office). Maximum File Size: 10MB

B) Photo Stories Methodology. In this form of expression, the connection between photo and text is very important. it can be useful to include - if one wishes - autobiographical passages, or literary or poetic texts or whatever else may enrich the narration accompanying the photos and deepen understanding of the experience told. Number of Photos: a maximum of 5 photographs is advised. Digital formats: preferably PDF, otherwise ODF (Open Document Format, used by Open Office) and other formats generated by Open Office formats (such as Impress), Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point. Maximum File Size: 15MB

C) Video Stories Methodology. The vast range of technical possibilities now available in the audiovisual field allows participants in this category to use different techniques, while maintaining the narrative style based above all on autobiographical sources.These techniques can range from a documentary style by using interviews, visual documents and archive footage, to simpler video interviews. Video length: a maximum of 10 minutes is advised. Digital format: preferably Flash (Flv), otherwise it will be possible to upload the video on you tube and link it to the project website. Maximum File Size: 150MB (it will be possible to load longer videos on request).

D) Audio Stories Methodology. The sources to be utilized in this category include interviews and oral narrations, which can be edited together, using audio editing programs which today are easy to access. These narrations are conceived for diffusion by radio, which in many countries still remains the main means of communication. Audio Story Length: a maximum of 10 minutes is advised. Digital format: preferably MP3 format, Real Player format. Maximum File Size: 15MB.

E) Other Forms of Expression Methodology. Other forms of expression may include: poetry, narrative, fiction, picture-story, comic strip or other artistic narrative forms. They can be works produced by the protagonists themselves , or by others. In this narrative category the stories are told through other kinds of artistic languages even if they are based on interviews, oral narrations, autobiographical documentation and general information.Digital format and works dimension: for works dealing with texts, images and video, reference can be made to the respective suitable formats shown in the various categories above.

F) Studies and Research (Autobiographies and diaries from the European Archives) Methodology. This section will include investigative works on the contest themes developed through qualitative methodologies (interviews, life stories, etc.), including studies and research carried out in memory archives and through oral sources. Through this approach, we want to stimulate groups of European citizens to carry out studies and research in the European archives of autobiographical documents. . Text length: a maximum of 45.000 characters, spaces included, is advised, corresponding to about 15 pages (Times New Roman 12, interspaces 1,5). Digital format: preferably PDF, otherwise ODF (Open Document Format, used by Open Office), Microsoft Word. Maximum File Size: 15 MBIt is possible in this kind of work to use different narrative means (text, photos, video, audio) in order to render the research work more expressive and communicative.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.