About IOYR

IYC Sweden 2007

IYC 2007

Ängelholm, Sweden

„You as a Leader and You as a Team player"

In July 2007 - again after three years –our IYC took place. This time we met in Sweden and enjoyed five days of an inspiring community and exchange between young people with rheumatism.

We were all together 17 young people with rheumatism of ten European nations, who participated the congress. In compare to previous congresses the number of participants was less, but in retrospect this supported from the beginning on a friendly, warm and communicative atmosphere.

Beside all this the General Assembly was the most important topic of the congress. You can find information about the results of the General Assembly in the newsletter of march 2008.

And now have fun to read more about the IYC 2007 in the following. And last but not least a big "Thank You" to our Swedish host. You have done a great job during this congress.

Gudrun Baseler, Germany

"I was surprised again"

Sweden, 17 – 23 July 2007

IYC is something I have always looked forward to, so was with the IYC in 2007. As I have participated in many of the IYCs, I had some idea of what to expect but Swedes and IYC managed to surprise me again. I will try to give you a hint what was happening during our five days together.

The title for last IYC was „You as a Leader and You as a Team player".

We explored the structure, activities, goals and achievements of the rheumatism youth organizations from 9 countries present (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden).

Although (or maybe thanks to that) the number of participants was unusually small (16) we got a very good picture of what was going on in those countries. The Grand Events with Celebrities in Belgium, hoe the Netherlands managed to get a huge membership to their organization in no time and interesting "information material/gift" ideas from Sweden. By making us think about the organization and how it looks on a picture, we could better think through what it is that we do back home and what might need improvements.

We were also faced with ourselves, with our ability to tolerate differences and the way others see us. All that through interactive games and discussions and using a new method to me - a forum-theatre. On that particular day, we were asked to form a group in which we had to come up with and perform a situation where we show oppression, intolerance and in some cases mental or physical abuse. After showing the play, others could stop the play at any moment and change the course of the situation. It was really emotional to see somebody beating up a person for no reason with nobody running to help. Makes you wonder if you have been witnessing something similar and not run to help? Would you dare?

My favorite lecture was by Marie Bengtsson who talked about "Irresistible Attraction". How many of us say, that "I am irresistibly attracted to myself!" Yet, this is exactly what we should do according to Marie. We should be selfish, follow our values, stop saying "I’ll do it later" and learn to say "no" to requests that are not ours to meet. For starters, you have to set your boundaries of what you have right to, what others have no right to do or ask of you and defend your time and energy. Don’t be afraid to let others know your priorities and act according to that.

On our last days, we also were in front of a question – What Next? The former board resigned and there were not enough candidates to form a new board. We discussed the different options that IOYR could follow. For example, going under EULAR, being more of a web-based organization, postponing the board elections etc. The result was that we dealt out assignments to divide the work load and to give us time to find the best solution. It was decided, that for this year, Germany is responsible for IOYR’s Webpage and Newsletter (followed by Sweden in 2009 and Denmark in 2010) and that the next IYC will be held in Belgium in 2010.

Of course it was not all work and no play. We enjoyed the wonderful Klitterbyn in Ängelholm with its Marching Orchestra and children playing the Clay Cuckoo which is what Ängelholm is known for.

Picnic at the beach with sand-foot/hand/stomach/head-ball game (yes, we used all our bodies to play) that nobody who played along left without sand in their clothes. Some "went swimming", too. I believe almost all nights ended with karaoke by wonderful singers that we had present.

So this is what was happening in International Youth Congress in Sweden, July 2007. I do hope that youth all around the World will be more and more interested in participating in IOYR and that the organization keeps its position as a meeting-place and forum for youth with rheumatism. I know from my experience that IOYR has had a significant role in our organization and I am sure we are not alone in this.

Lisii Toom, Estland

Decisions of the General Assembly 2007 at IYC
- A short conclusion -

Before and during the IYC no member country of the IOYR declared themselves willing to be on the board. The old board members didn’t want to participate again which they have declared a while ago. Regarding to these facts the main question was if this is the end of IOYR and if we all can imagine to shut down IOYR. The participants decided almost unanimously that ending the IOYR because of missing candidates for the board can not be the solution. The following solutions have been found during the meeting:

A new board has been elected for the following three years. The board consists of "empty chairs".

The work of IOYR will be reduced to a minimum. Newsletter and homepage will be kept alive.

Each of the following three years one member country will be responsible for the newsletter and homepage (Germany 08/2007 till 08/2008, Sweden 08/2008 till 08/2009, Denmark 08/2009 till 08/2010). The technical part of the homepage will kindly be under the support of Marianne Scobie, UK.

At the next IYC in 2010 a General Assembly will take place again and the trial will be started to elect a new board.

The next IYC will take place in 2010 in Belgium.

So the answer if the IYC and the included General Assembly 2007 will be the "beginning or the end" of the IOYR has been given: It is the end of the known structure and a beginning of hope for the future and a complete new idea.

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Read more stories about the IYC 2007 in the newsletter may 2008 !!!

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