Eurofolk
Encyclopedia
Eurofolk, an European Scout event for Rover Scouts, was a cultural festival organized every four years between 1977 and 1997 by the European Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
and the European Guide Committee of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
.
The events were held in:
The principles of its organization were simple: in preparation for the event, participating groups prepared their selected items: dances, music, songs, pantomimes, games, costumes or cultural shows. Once at the camp, they shared the folklore and traditions of their respective countries or regions with others, and at the same time they learned new aspects of other cultures in workshops. A wide variety of workshops was offered, including painting, drawing, weaving, spinning, singing, dancing, selfexpression through movement, glass-blowing, dressmaking and cookery. Usually, local artists and craftsmen leaded the workshops. On average, the number of participants varies between 2,000 and 3,000.
The Festival has laid the groundwork of European citizenship among young people, mainly the 1993 and 1997 events, that came after the demolition of Berlin Wall
(09.11.1989) and the Maastricht treaty
(07.02.1992), getting benefit from the new social atmosphere of communion and friendship beyond frontiers.
With the increase in intolerance, xenophobia and racism in Europe, in the new millennium there was still a clear need to provide young people with opportunities to experience and appreciate cultural diversity, as well as to learn about current issues and acquire useful skills for their personal and professional lives. However, the name and form of "Eurofolk" needed to be reviewed and the concept developed further to ensure that it meets the needs of today's young people. For this reason, participants (more than 40 representatives of Scout and Guide associations in 25 countries) at the seminar in Olympos, Turkey, from 20-26 May 2000 were asked to develop a new concept of a European event for young people aged 16-22. They proposed the name "RoverWay" and provided input and guidelines for the new event, that took place for the first time in 2003, in Portugal
.
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
and the European Guide Committee of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
.
The events were held in:
- TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, 1977 - GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 1981 - SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, 1985 - ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 1989. - AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, 1993 - BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, 1997.
The principles of its organization were simple: in preparation for the event, participating groups prepared their selected items: dances, music, songs, pantomimes, games, costumes or cultural shows. Once at the camp, they shared the folklore and traditions of their respective countries or regions with others, and at the same time they learned new aspects of other cultures in workshops. A wide variety of workshops was offered, including painting, drawing, weaving, spinning, singing, dancing, selfexpression through movement, glass-blowing, dressmaking and cookery. Usually, local artists and craftsmen leaded the workshops. On average, the number of participants varies between 2,000 and 3,000.
The Festival has laid the groundwork of European citizenship among young people, mainly the 1993 and 1997 events, that came after the demolition of Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
(09.11.1989) and the Maastricht treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
(07.02.1992), getting benefit from the new social atmosphere of communion and friendship beyond frontiers.
With the increase in intolerance, xenophobia and racism in Europe, in the new millennium there was still a clear need to provide young people with opportunities to experience and appreciate cultural diversity, as well as to learn about current issues and acquire useful skills for their personal and professional lives. However, the name and form of "Eurofolk" needed to be reviewed and the concept developed further to ensure that it meets the needs of today's young people. For this reason, participants (more than 40 representatives of Scout and Guide associations in 25 countries) at the seminar in Olympos, Turkey, from 20-26 May 2000 were asked to develop a new concept of a European event for young people aged 16-22. They proposed the name "RoverWay" and provided input and guidelines for the new event, that took place for the first time in 2003, in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.