How SiT works, IWM’s
Our International Working Meetings are gatheringsbuy essay online of 25-40 colleagues from different countries who meet for four days to discuss a chosen topic. Every participant has contributed an essay with views of the theme to make a Reader which is sent out in advance. After reading these ‘papers’ we canuse our meeting for discussions, both plenaries and small parallel groups to share opinions. Thus our work includes both cognitive and emotional dimensions. We see our topic mirrored in the processes of our group, so that a topic is not only discussed, but essay writing service uk also influences our ways of being together.
In other words, dealing with a topic involves getting acquainted with each other, which we have found works better by living together, eating, singing, dancing and simply enjoying being together. It also helps to meet in each other’s home countries. At every meeting it is decided where the next IWM is going to take place and the meeting is then prepared as a joint venture by a local organizing group and the Board. We generally don’t meet in large cities, rather in quieter places where nature will support our process.
SIT is financed through participation fees and private donations. The organizing committee is also encouraged to look for local financial support. Fees are diversified according to whether someone’s country of residence is “old West, “new” EU, or former “Eastern” countries outside of the EU. Participants from former “non-Western” countries receive support and are encouraged to contribute by keeping their costs as low as possible, for instance in choice of transportation.
After the meeting, we continue discussions through our Journal and email-contact. Each participant writes a short report describing what he or she has learned.
These are then shared and collected.At present, we are developing a program of international comparative research on “Social Courage” in the younger generation.
The topics and places of our meetings have been:
| 1992 | Storkow, Germany | Orientational Crisis in Germany and Yugoslavia |
| 1993 | Sofia, Bulgaria | Crisis: Synthesis between Danger and Possibilities |
| 1994 | Esztergom, Hungary | Identity and Inter-group Conflict |
| 1995 | Bratislava, Slovakia | Identity, Community and Change |
| 1996 | Budapest, Hungary | Power and Leadership |
| 1997 | Budmerice, Slovakia | Women & Men: Now & (W)here |
| 1998 | Düsseldorf, Germany | Three-year focus: Overcoming Violence - Persons, Families & Societies |
| 1999 | Dobogókö, Hungary (planned for Ohrid, Macedonia) | Three-year focus: Overcoming Violence - Poverty and Resilience |
| 2000 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Three-year focus: Overcoming Violence - Reconciliation and Integration |
| 2001 | Prague, Czech Republic | Reconicilation: Reality or Fiction? A Country-Specific Case Study Approach |
| 2002 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia | Living with Fear: Dialogues on Trauma and Difference in Transition |
| 2003 | Moravany, Slovakia | Three-year focus: Dealing with Difference - Identity (seperation of Slovakia and the Czech Republic) |
| 2004 | Ohrid, Macedonia | Three-year focus: Dealing with Difference - Identity and Interdependence (The situation in Macedonia) |
| 2005 | Berlin, Germany | Three-year focus: Dealing with Difference - Interdependence (German (re)unification) |
| 2006 | Tisvilde, Denmark | Two-year focus: Globalisation - Understanding And Spotting The Effects Of Globalisation In Our Communities (e.g.: migration, outsourcing, acculturation) and in our personal lives |
| 2007 | Sopron, Hungary | Understanding And Counteracting The Negative Aspects of Globalisation In Our Communities |
| 2008 | Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia | Violence and Abuse In Social Relationships In The Time of Changing World |
| 2009 | Mikulov v. Krusnych Horach, Czech Republic | The Young Generation And A Violent World |
| 2010 | Lviv, Ucraine | Social Courage or Conformity, Our Experience In Different Roles |
| 2011 | Brno, Czech Republic | Diversity as a Challenge, how to cope with diversity |
| 2012 | Szczecin, Poland | Two-year Focus: Development of Communities -- Development of Communities, Reality - Transition - Future |
| 2013 | Prizren, Kosova | Development of Communities, Intercultural and Interreligious Relations |
| 2014 | St. Pölten, Austria | The Anthropocene. The Most Demanding Transition? Its Meaning for our Daily and Professional Life |
| 2015 | Eschweiler, Germany | Migration in Transition. Both Emigration and Immigration focusing on Indetity, Gender, and Generation |
| 2016 | Leanyfalu, Hungary | Migration II, Critique of the social context and implications for clinical work. |
| 2017 | Skopje, Macedonia | Migration III, Coping with migration in our professional and personal lives |
| 2018 | Tisvilde, Denmark | Democracy Under the Magnifying Glass |
| 2019 | Shengjin, Albania | The Impact of The Past in The Present on The Future |