2010
Every year, the European Commission makes a proposal for a year´s motto. 2010 will be the European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion. In Europe 16%, or 79 million people, were at risk of poverty in 2007. *
The aim of this initiative is “to recognise that:
- all people have a right to live in dignity and take part in society
- the public and private sector share responsibility to combat poverty and social exclusion
- eradicating poverty for a more cohesive society benefits all
- commitment at all levels of society is needed to achieve this goal.”
COTEC believes that Occupational Therapy has a lot to contribute to combat poverty aiming at people´s participation in all areas of life. But perhaps this initiative could be used to join forces with other disciplines working in social and humanitarian areas and focus even more on occupational deprivation, occupational justice and other excluding factors.
One of COTEC´s aims is “to keep contact with developments within the European Union in order to disseminate information and to develop strategies concerning relevant labour market and other professional topics to the member associations” (COTEC action programme 2008-2012).
Therefore, in the context of this aim, we would like to inform you about next year’s motto and encourage you to take initiative in promoting this idea through activities of your national associations – thus make Occupational Therapy more known and visible in your country.
Of course COTEC is very interested in your ideas and activities. In fact, we are willing to put on our website any information about your projects that aim to combat poverty and social exclusion.
On this website you can also find the Strategic Framework Document (Priorities and guidelines for 2010 European Year activities – available in all the languages of the European Union). Furthermore we want to mention the Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion placed on our website. This supporting document can inform you about the National Strategic Plans around this theme in your and other countries and may help you to generate ideas.
*) In 2007, in EU–27 16 % citizens lived below the poverty threshold defined as 60% of their country’s median income, a situation likely to hamper their capacity to fully participate in society. National percentages ranged from 10 % in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands to 21 % in Latvia.
If you would like to read more about COPORE (competences for Poverty Reduction) project please click here
2009
European Year of Creativity and Innovation
One of COTEC´s aims is “to keep contact with developments within the European Union in order to disseminate information” (COTEC action programme 2008-2012).
Therefore, in the context of this aim, COTEC wants to inform about the European Year´s motto Creativity and Innovation.
Every year, the European Commission makes a proposal for a year´s motto. It was consequently decided that 2009 is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation:
The Directorate General for Education and Culture in association with the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry are the leading actors, together with many other European institutions and projects. “The main goal is to raise awareness of importance of creativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development, to disseminate good practices, stimulate education and research, and promote policy debate and development.”
Some examples of related themes mentioned by the European Commission, and to which occupational therapists can give important contributions to, are:
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fostering artistic and other forms of creativity through pre-school, primary and secondary education including vocational streams, as well as non-formal and informal education
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maintaining engagement with creative forms of self-expression throughout adult life
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cultural diversity as a source of creativity and innovation
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information and communication technologies as media for creative self-expression
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regional and local development strategies based on creativity and innovation
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cultural and creative industries including design – where the aesthetic and the economic coincide
EVENTS
The Directorate General for Education and Culture is organising a Conference to be held in Brussels on 2 and 3 March 2009, in the framework of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.
On the website you can find many other events – also national ones. Information about national coordinators and websites is also available. It might be a chance and challenge for national associations – as well as for individual occupational therapists - to contribute in some initiatives under the European Year´s motto thus making Occupational Therapy more known and visible.
The motto Creativity and Innovation will also be the theme of the 15th ENOTHE meeting in Coruna, Spain 2009.
You will find more information about the year´s motto, connected projects and debates and national activities on: