By Adam Rychlik

(Based on the note in Russian made by Viktor Serbulov)

Balkan Regional Leadership Training 5 (BRLT-5) was held in Ohrid, the Republic of Macedonia in August 2009. The main objective of this session was working out the common programme platform for the YMCAs of the Balkan Region. To the cooperation were invited the representatives of other Regions with the purpose of sharing the best experiences and practices. The leaders of the represented countries formed the Balkan Programme Team that would cooperate in the programme area for the whole stage of Balkan Project 2009-2011.

One of the outcomes of the event was the resolution that the most common feature of all the Balkan YMCA is the promotion of the Healthy Style of Life. This covers various forms of work with the youth as well as dealing with the contemporary global problems of the humankind. Within this the effective prevention against HIV/AIDS is still one of the global challenges. As such it still demands special attention from the YMCA, which always tries to respond the most vital social needs.

A part of the Balkan Programme Team works on the interregional cooperation. On 31^st January 2010 they met in Vilnius, Lithuania for a BLT-5 follow-up working session. The outcome of the session was the proposition addressed to the leadership of  the Balkan YMCAs and cooperating associations from other Regions:

Following the conclusions of the Balkan leadership Training 5, the Balkan Programme Team is going to continue the interregional cooperation with the promotion of Healthy Style of Life as the overall goal. In period 2009-2011 this means the intensification of early prevention against HIV/AIDS. The culmination of the interregional cooperation will be The Interregional Programme Fair in Kiev, Ukraine, August 2011. The event is expected to be the place and time for the exchange of experience and best forms of programme work, development of leadership skills, confirmation of cooperation and the initiation of new further interregional work. The Ukrainian YMCA was proposed to be the host of the event since their approach to the HIV/AIDS prevention and Healthy Life Promotion as a base for all other programme work dates back to 2003.This movement is very well placed to share their rich experience with the YMCAs of the Balkan and other Regions involved .

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The Coordination of the preparatory process is the responsibility of the YMCA Europe Balkan Project staff: Adam Rychlik - YMCA Europe Regional Secretary and Marius Pop – Balkan Project Programme Manager. They, together with Balkan YMCAs leadership, implement the Project in the Balkan Region.

To the cooperation are invited the representatives of other movements directly involved in this Interregional Cooperation: Algirdas Ciuksys - General Secretary of YMCA-YWCA Lithuania; Mihail Guskov - YMCA Europe Regional Secretary.

Rafal Kusa - National Programme Secretary of the Polish YMCA, Viktor Serbulov -  General Secretary of YMCA Ukraine, Juan Simoes -  General Secretary of YMCA Spain.

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