Photo: Assyrians Without Borde

In autumn 2009, Assyrians Without Borders received a inquiry from Assyria Cultural Center in Hallunda about an invitation they had received from a group of various Assyrian organizations in Holland and Germany. The invitation was about being included in this group, which intended to seek funding for Preparatory visits within The Grundtvig Programme - Lifelong Learning, and then eventually seek project funding in the year 2011. Assyrian Cultural Center considered Assyrians Without Borders appropriate for this call and considered this as a chance for Assyrians Without Borders to broaden it’s network.

Grundtvig is one of the Programs of the European Commission's Programme for Educational Cooperation in Europe. Within the Lifelong Learning, Grundtvig, focuses on adult learning. Grundtvig targets all organizations working in the field of general adult learning. The application not only focuses on basic skills, but also "renewed on Knowledge, Skills and Knowledge Acquired Outside the education system. The Concept of Student should therefore be seen in broad sense, learning as people who ultimately benefit from goodwill those outcomes”.

Before an application within the Grundtvig Programme, organizations can apply for funding for a Preparatory visit with other organizations to discuss a possible project, prepare project plans and formulate the project application.

The application for a Grundtvig Preparatory visit was granted by the International Programme Office in Sweden in early 2010 and therefore it was time for Assyrians Without Borders to plan and prepare for the five-day trip.

The Preparatory visit took place in TurAbdin, Turkey, in mid-March 2010. There was a total of six organizations from Europe and Turkey. The organizations represented were the Syriac- Orthodox bishop's seat in Holland, Inanna Foundation in the Netherlands, Institut de Belgique Syriaque, Finland -Assyria Association, and Mor Gabriel Monastery in TurAbdin.

The visit was an opportunity to meet and discuss with other organizations working for the Assyrians better opportunities to education, make contacts, and an opportunity to visit some of the areas we work with in the native country. Host for the Preparatory visit was Mor Gabriel monastery. The preparatory visit consisted of conferences full days, evenings and mornings, alternating with visits to a number of towns and villages of TurAbdin.

TurAbdin has a number of needs in different areas and if you look at the needs regarding education, they are many and somewhat different from the European prospects. The difficulties in the Mother Tongue Education can be equated with those in Europe. The villages point that they need a good organization that encourages students to study at the Church / Monastery in TurAbdin. There is also lack of teaching materials, teachers with good salaries are few and few teachers are trained in English. An opportunity to study in the state school is quite difficult sometimes, this also due to the lack of transport to the nearest school. Those who want to apply for university many times doubt, because the parents may not be able to pay for their living expenses, books and meals. A family with eight children can not always pay for all their children's education, they have to make priorities. Here, we realize how important scholarships from Assyrians Without Borders are. A little effort can lead to a student completing his/ her studies.

Assyrians Without Borders would like to thank the Assyrian Cultural Center of their choice to give the application opportunity to us and also thank the International Programme Office for the granted funds for conducting this preparatory visit within the Grundtvig Programme. In addition, Assyrians Without Borders would also like to thank Mor Gabriel monastery for their hospitality and encouragement to the continued successful work. You, our Donors, await many thanks from TurAbdin!

Assyrians Without Borders