Out of this seminar was born the Council of Europe's Children's Drama Encounter. And since then, Encounters have been held in different countries in Europe.
The first Children's Encounter took place in 1982; the first Youth Encounter was held in 1987.
Esther Mischler: "A seminar of the Council of Europe - and what became out of it" (excerpt)
Out of the occasion of the international year of the child 1979, the Council of Cultural Cooperation of the CoE in Eskilstuna (Sweden), organized a seminar to the topic „child and culture”. The Swiss delegation suggested, not to discuss the “needs” of young people at the round table amongst the adults, but to search for possibilities in the frame of the cultural activities of the European commission.
The participants agreed on following resolution:
- exchange of small groups of children and youth theatre;
- encounter for children and youth from the member states of the European Commission during 2 or 3 weeks;
- build up a theatre group to work out a play during this time;
- organisation of this encounter by the youngsters themselves, so they get the opportunity to practise and get to know „what is Europan „Comprehension” and the variety and diversity of the european culture and language groups.
Very important issues were:
- to include children and youth of all member states of the European Commission;
- the financial guarantee of the project through the hosting country and the participating countries ,who have to take over the transport fees;
- the patronance of the CoE,)the support of the national theatre groups and the medias.
Several countries were enthusiastic about this idea. The CoE supported the project financially and ideally. An informal international working party was founded and they took over the role of the project “carrier”. Members were professionals and experts from Belgium, Germany, Denmark, France, UK and Switzerland. They developed the idea of the „international encounter”.
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