The Eastern Europe Studies Centre (EESC) invites Belarusian students residing abroad to register for the annual United Students of Belarus (USB) Rally that will take place in Lithuania on August 29 – September 2, 2012.

The United Students of Belarus (USB) Rally is an opportunity to meet Belarusian youth studying around the world, to exchange experience and contacts, as well as to join the informal network of Belarusians residing abroad known today as the USB – the United Students of Belarus. This year the Rally will take place for the 6th time.

Previous rallies have already welcomed nearly 250 socially engaged and active students, who are today active within the USB. The geographical boundaries of the community already extend from the Baltic countries and Belarus to the Western and Southern Europe, and the USA. From an initiative launched 6 years ago, it has grown to become a tradition and a renown annual event.

More information on the previous Rallies:

USB Rally 2011
USB Rally 2010
USB Rally 2009

What is the topic of USB Rally 2012?
This year USB Rally will be devoted to the development of entrepreneurial competences of Belarusian youth. Entrepreneurship includes the process of exploring new opportunities in the market place and arranging resources required to exploit these opportunities for the long term benefits; it also includes the process of planning, organizing. Entrepreneurial competences are creative and innovative competences aimed to adapt in response to the changing environment. The main attention will be devoted to the social entrepreneurship which includes the ability to find innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. It’s very important not to leave societal needs to the government or business sector, but this is the society itself which has to find find innovative solutions to persistant problems. All this is very important to create competent, self-confident and ambitious civic society, which in future could contribute to the changes within the country. Existence of powerful entrepreneurship’s potential within the country and entrepreneurial citizens abroad could contribute not only to the reduction of unemployment and development, but also to strengthening of the civil society that is competent to defend its rights, foster the political and economic changes, solve societal problems. These competences would not only contribute to the democratization process in Belarus, but also would be vitally important after the democratic changes would appear, as country is expected to face deep economic problems and chaos, accompanied by the passivity of population.

How can you contribute?
Your active participation and suggestions for the programme of USB Rally 2012 are indeed very welcome. Take the initiative, propose a workshop and email to the EESC (info@eesc.lt) to make the Rally even more lively, innovative and progressive!

What do the organisers offer?
Join the unique project that combines both training and development with vibrant cultural programme and informal networking. Join the USB if you are a newcomer. Come, celebrate and strengthen your USB ties, should you have already experienced the rally!

The organisers will cover your return travel costs from the place you reside to the Vilnius (Lithuania); will provide with the accommodation and food during the event. Participants who do not possess a visa to enter Lithuania, will be assisted with visa application process (visas will be issued free of charge).

What’s the application procedure?
The participants will be selected on the basis of the motivation expressed in the application form. Thus it absolutely necessary that you dully fill in the application form! Please note that places are limited. Please send your filled in application form to us as soon as possible!

Belarusian youth (18-35 years old), studying abroad, Belarusians studying in their motherland and USB alumni (former students that participated in previous USB Rallies) are all welcome to apply. The EESC will carry out a selection of the registered candidates. Results of the selection will be available by the beginning of July 2012.

To apply for the participation at the USB Rally 2012, please download the application form as a Word document HERE , fill it in and send to info@eesc.lt by the 1st of June 2012.

Please note that incomplete, late and applications lacking the obligatory attachments shall not be considered in the selection process. The deadline for submission is June 1, 2012!

If you have any questions regarding the USB Rally 2012, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@eesc.lt  or phone +370 5270 59 93      .

Please forward this information to potential USB Rally 2012 participants you may know.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Kind regards,

The EESC team