Chronology of events leading up to this conference initiative
Spring2003
First IDEM Vision-Meetings
The idea for a great international youth meeting for the year 2006 arises
April: The first Connect conference takes place in Dornach, Switzerland. 500 class 12 students from all over the world meet in order to learn about alternative career possibilities.
Summer
Connect-Brazil; approximately 400 young people and projects meet to exchange and experience each other. The idea for a Latin America Conference in 2006 is born.
Fall
The Switzerland IDEM team works on the “2006” idea.
2004
January
The Kgotla Youth Conference takes place in Cape Town, South Africa
Spring
Valentin Vollmer begins his fulltime work for IDEM.
Summer
Delegates from Connect Brazil, Kgotla and Idem meet during the World Youth Forum (WYF) in Höchstadt, Germany. The Vision of “2006” becomes more and more concrete.
The international Youth Conference “Together” takes place in Romania.
The IYF-International Youth Forum takes place in Überlingen, Lake Constance.
Fall
A few meetings about the content of the “2006” conference are held. The search for a location begins.
2005
January
Idem-“Identity through Initiative” becomes a registered association in Germany and thereby the official facilitator for the conference in 2006.
February
After conversations with the Kgotla group and exploring possibilities of having the conference in South Africa it becomes clear that this location would not be ideal.
Spring
Connect takes place a second time in Dornach, Switzerland. The network of people interested in “project 2006” gains in size and intensity.
May
When the decision becomes concrete to hold the conference in São Paulo, a youth group is founded to take on the responsibility to do part of the planning locally in Brazil. They are now carrying an equal share as the organization group in Europe.
Summer
Valentin Vollmer from the European group travels to Brazil to make contacts and work with the group there.
Just before Valentin returns to Europe the name “Project 2006” was finally changed to something with more meaning:
>>Connectivity- From Thinking to Action<<
September
The actual process of organizing the “Connectivity-from thinking to action” begins. The conference is being advertised at other youth meetings and activities.
October
Meeting in Ludwigsburg, Germany. The vision of the conference is the main focus here. More and more people identify with the project. Workgroups take on different sectors of the work that needs to be done. A “temporary” first version of a flyer is presented.
A first meeting about the project “Youth Training” is held.
November
The flyer is printed.
A few more people move to Dornach, Switzerland and begin to help with the organisation.
December
Different activities and events give the chance for “connectivity” to be advertised and to be made better known in public. A tour around schools in Germany is planned.
2006
January
João from Idem-Brazil visits Europe.
February
Two representatives of the European Team travel to Brazil in order to synchronize the work of the Brazilian and European organization groups.
April/May
Another part of the European group travels to Brazil. Final preparation together with the Brazilian group locally. Small staff continues to run the Administration in Switzerland.
Mid-June
Work Camps begin and various work camp leaders arrive to coordinate the work.
1st week, July
Dornach office empty - See you in Brazil
