The festival of democracy
starts with a Show at Berns Salonger*
This year’s IFS conference coincides
with the Fritidsforum annual youth
festival of democracy, in cooperation
with the Lidingö local government. The
festival “Life is a Party,” starts Friday, May 25th, with
over 600 Swedish youth beginning a weekend of
workshops and community.
IFS delegates will join “Life is a Party” on Friday
evening for a spectacular show featuring successful
Swedish artists who started out in local settlement
houses and youth clubs, alongside the youth of today.
The exciting Berns Salonger venue – known as “one of
the best concert venues in town” – will ensure a
fabulous night for the anticipated 1,000 guests.
IFS organizations are strongly encouraged to bring
youth members and youth workers (ages 18 – 26) to
the entire conference week, and on Saturday, May 26th
IFS youth from around the world will be invited to join
the “Life is a Party” workshops as well.
Välkommen att delta i den internationella konferensen
”Democracy –Inclusion –Youth” - D.I.Y (Do it Yourself)
med fokus på områdesarbete, fritiden och mötesplatsens betydelse. Hur ungas uppväxtmiljöer stärks av
aktiva mötesplatser och blir en viktig del av samhällets
sociala, kulturella och demokratiska infrastruktur.
Under fyra intensiva dagar utbyts erfarenheter och
idéer mellan aktörer inom civila samhället, intresseorganisationer, nonprofit-företag och offentliga aktörer.
Vi inspireras och diskuterar aktuell internationell och
svensk forskning och hur den kan bidra till ungas
inkludering och egenorganisering.
Vi kommer ha forum för spännande frågor om:
Hur demokratin kan stärkas; Hur vi främjar lokalsamhällets kapacitet och resurser; Sociala mediers
betydelse; Hur vi bidrar till lokal och global hållbar
utveckling; Om integration och hur vi kan bygga
broar i en delad värld; Strategi för att starta en
områdesverksamhet; Om en skola som främjar
gemenskap och lärande; Socialt företagande;
Forskning om fritid och mötesplatsens betydelse och
Den globala rörelsen: IFS och Förenta Nationerna.
Arrangemanget avslutas på Berns salonger fredagen
den 25 maj. På scen blandar vi framgångsrika artister
som startade sin karriär på fritidsgård, ungdomsgård
eller liknande mötesplatser tillsammans med dagens
”gårdsungdomar”. Fredagskvällen är också starten
för den årliga ungdomsfestivalen ”Livet är en fest”
med omkring 600 deltagare som Fritidsforum årligen
genomför. Med de internationella gästerna och våra
svenska deltagare räknar vi att bli ca 1000 personer
denna kväll.
IFS  Stockholm  Sweden
22-26 May 2012
Explore the power of place-based work around the
world at the 2012 gathering of the International
Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood
Centers in Stockholm, Sweden.
Add your local knowledge to IFS’ worldwide voice
as part of our Consultative Status with the United
Nations.
Join us to exchange ideas, research, best practices
and celebrate 100 years of the settlement house
movement in Sweden.
Welcome to the Conference!
Photos from Life is a Party 2010,Växjö
*www.berns.se
For more information
www.ifsnetwork.org  www.fritidsforum.se
Explore the power of place-based work
around the world at the 2012 gathering of
the International Federation of Settlements and
Neighborhood Centers in Stockholm, Sweden.
Neighborhood centers have always been havens of
inclusion for youth and other excluded communities,
providing a home base for people to participate fully in
the civic realm. Join us as we explore how the
community meeting place plays a central role in
supporting grass roots efforts for global change.
While “DIY” stands for “Do It Yourself,” and
neighborhood houses certainly support individual
empowerment, skill-building and activation, our work
also brings people together to build bridges across
tremendous divides. At no time has this work been
more important.
We will also examine the concept of “DIY” for our own
institutions. How can settlement houses continue to
adapt through social enterprises, community assetbuilding, and social media? Are we stronger when we
“do it ourselves?”
During four intensive days, we will exchange ideas,
research and best practices, and connect our work at
home to each other and the larger world.
In addition, we will celebrate 100 years of the
settlement house movement in Sweden, as we learn
proven methods and cutting edge strategies for the
next 100 years.
Join us in Stockholm!
Michael H. Zisser, Chair, IFS
Donald Forssten, Chair, Fritidsforum
Exciting topics for everyone!
· Social Media for Democratic and Institutional Strength
· Building Democracy and Community Capacity
· The Peaceful School and Community
· Starting a Settlement House
· Local Sustainability and Development
· Working with All Ages
· Inclusion and Building Bridges in a Divided World
· From Settlement House to Social Enterprise
· Research on Leisure and the Significance of the
“Meeting Place”
· A World Movement: IFS and the United Nations
Tuesday. May 22. beginning at 4:00 pm / 16.00, Registration,
dinner and the “Love Party” performance by young people
from Fyrisgården.
Wednesday. May 23. 9:00 am to 7:00 pm / 19.00, Plenary
sessions, seminars, workshops and study visits, lunch and
dinner included.
Thursday. May 24. 9:00 am to 7:00 pm / 19.00, Plenary
sessions, seminars, workshops and study visits, lunch and
dinner included.
Friday. May 25. 9:00 am to 9:30 pm / 21.30, Program focused
On international research. 13:00 Lunch on your own. 19:00
Dinner together before the “Life is a Party!” show at Berns.
Saturday. May 26. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm / 13.00, IFS General
Meeting, Board Meeting and lunch; Youth participation in
“Life is a Party” Swedish Youth Conference.
Study visits to Stockholm and Uppsala community and
neighborhood centers.
The Conference will take place at ABF (Workers Educational
Association), located at Sveavägen 41, which is also celebrating
th
its 100 anniversary this year and is generously co-sponsoring
this conference.
Practical information
Registration
Conference registration opens December 1, 2011
and closes April 25, 2012. All conference rates will be
available by November 1st on the IFS website,
www.ifsnetworks.org. Register by March 30, 2012
for the early bird rate, $535 or 400 euro.
Up-to-Date Information
Conference plans, travel information, fees and hotel
prices at www.ifsnetwork.org
Conference Hotels
Hotel Oden is walking distance or one subway stop
away from the conference location at Sveavägen.
IFS group price Reference number is G:305 136; book
rooms before April 2, 2012 for group rates, which
include breakfast (see conference rates at:
www.ifsnetwork.org).
Karlbergsvägen 24
www.hoteloden.se
Hostel and hotel Fridhemsplan is three subway stops
from the conference location. Breakfast buffet is
extra $11 per day. Discounts for groups of 10 or more
with a purchase of international membership (see
the Fridhemsplan website for these details).
S:t Eriksgatan 20
www.fridhemsplan.se
Hotel Best Western Kom Hotel is walking distance
from the conference location at Sveavägen.
IFS group price Reference number is 455711.
Döbelnsgatan 17
www.komhotel.se