Stop-motion Melting Pot

19-29.01.2023

Taevaskoja, Estonia

Event summary

Stop motion animation (also called stop frame animation) is an animation that is captured one frame at a time, with physical objects that are moved between frames. When you rapidly replay the sequence of images, it creates the illusion of movement. If you understand how 2D drawn animation (early Disney) works, stop motion is similar, except using physical objects instead of drawings.

You see stop-motion animation all the time—in commercials, music videos, television shows, and feature films—even if you don’t realize it. While it is common for people to think of stop motion as just one specific style, such as clay animation, the reality is that stop motion techniques can be used to create a wide range of film styles.

But why stop-motion? Well, because it removes some elements that are present in regular movies and makes filming way more accessible for those who have no prior experience. This has led us to create Youth Europa’s very first stop-motion film project that aims to bring this awesome medium closer to youth and youth work.

Our project will bring together 36 awesome participants from Estonia, Spain, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Greece. We will spend together 9 action-packed days learning more about stop-motion and other connected topics in order to help you create your very own stop-motion films and workshops.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission Erasmus+ programme. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Where you'll be staying

Venue & Location

This event will take place in Taevaskoja, Estonia. The venue is located in a secluded place surrounded by extraordinary scenery. It has a calming charm and relaxing vibe that is away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The accommodation is recently renovated, a modern cabin with lots of light. It’s only 700m away from one of Estonia’s most famous natural sightseeing attractions. Hopefully, the weather is on our side, and we will be able to show you the beauty of this place as much as possible.

Our participants will be accommodated in comfortable renovated houses with triple or quadruple rooms, with a nice view of the surrounding nature.
Place includes:

Modern Finnish sauna
Hot tub, cold tub, and you tub
Indoor seminar room
Possibility of hiking in the beautiful forests
Stay in the cozy indoor spaces which have lots of light
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served at the same location every day, and we are also providing vegetarian and vegan options

We genuinely believe that this is the perfect place to thoroughly enjoy the company of new-found friends, big healthy doses of clean, fresh air, and participate in the planned activities. The Taevaskoja holiday center is also surrounded by nearly 40km of hiking trails. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a unique and picturesque part of Estonia.

Discover non-formal learning!

What can you expect?

Stop-motion workshops

This project helps you discover the wonders of stop-motion filmmaking technique to enrich your future activities and enable you to work with new topics. The participants will learn the basics of how to use various materials and equipment, and how to facilitate workshops.

Networking

Every international project is an amazing opportunity to meet like-minded people who come from various backgrounds. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, don’t miss out on a chance to gain new contacts, share experiences and make life-long friends. All of this while being immersed in the beautiful nature of Estonia!

1-day Local Event

After learning about the method, we will visit a youth center in the city nearby, invite local youth and make some films together! This will be a great opportunity to learn how to teach others the basics of stop-motion animation and get valuable feedback.

Have fun while developing yourself!

Social program

In our organisation, it’s become a tradition that each national group will take turns presenting different aspects of their culture during the national evenings. In perspective of helping this project to be as memorable as possible, take this opportunity to prepare a unique and extraordinary presentation and think of it as a good way to represent your cultural background for the rest of the participants. Don’t be afraid to be creative! It’s highly recommended to bring some typical food, snacks or drinks for others to taste during the intercultural evening.

How to get to the event?

Travel

You must arrive before late evening on 19.05 at the venue and have to participate in the entire duration of the event. You can get to Taevaskoja by flying to Tallinn or Riga and taking a train or a bus to Tartu. From there, you will continue by train or by bus to your final destination. We will provide more traveling information once you have been selected to join the project. If you need more information, please contact us for more details. We will cover your travel cost up to a certain limit. You will receive your reimbursement after you have provided us with all the documents within a month after the event. If you’re economical, it’s possible to get your full travel expenses covered!

Selected participants need to contact the organizer and send their travel info before buying the tickets. It is really important not to buy anything before receiving the green light from us. We will, of course, assist you in every way possible!

The travel reimbursement limit depends on the travel distance. The upper limit per country is:

Estonia (0-9km): 0€
Sweden (499-1999km): 275€
Slovakia (499-1999km): 275€
Czech Republic (499-1999km): 275€
Greece (2000-2999km): 360€
Spain (3000-3999km): 530€

Meet the people behind Youth Europa!

Organisers

Since every project that we are carrying out is based on our own interests and skills, you can expect us to be highly motivated and energetic. Our extensive experience makes us more flexible and helps us make meaningful adjustments to the program. This means that if something doesn’t fit or seems boring, we will always have a plan B and C.

Proof of participation

YouthPass Certificate

As a participant of this event, you will receive YouthPass – a certificate of non-formal education recognized all across Europe that allows you to describe what you have done and learned. On top of that, it can be a great way to stand out at a job interview or when applying to a university, not to mention the part where you get to show off to your friends:)

Send your application!

Deadline: 04.12.2022

Contact us

Ask us anything!

Frequently Asked Questions

How the heck is this so cheap?

This project is supported by Erasmus+ program. This enables us to keep the participation fee very low and even remove it for people who are in financial difficulties. We know it sounds too good to be true, feel free to check out the reviews:)

Not at all. We try to focus on non-formal learning methods. This means that all activities are interactive and you will usually work in groups.

What are the participation requirements?

Everyone who comes from the eligible countries and is 18 to 30 years old is welcome to apply. There are no prerequisites, we actually welcome people who have no prior experience at all. Also, this event is not political. We don’t care if you hold conservative or more liberal views. Just be friendly and cooperative, we’re all here to learn, make friends & have fun!

How do I sign up?

Click the “apply now” button below if the deadline has not passed. Fill the form and answer all the questions as sincerely as possible. We will get in touch with you if you have been selected. Make sure that @youtheuropa.org mails don’t go to your spam!:)

How are participants selected?

The participants are selected based on their motivation and interest in the topic. There is no catch, you just need to be sincere and honest in your application. Also, if you’re not selected in this project, it’s more likely that you get selected for the next ones.

How do I buy the tickets and plan my trip?

Questions such as this one will be answered by the organisers or your group leader. Don’t worry, we will help you find the best possible option!

What kind of travel cost will be covered?

We will cover your trip to and from the project destination. There are some limits that apply, this is based on your travel distance. These limits are mentioned in the information above. If you buy the tickets early enough, it’s common to get your travel 100% covered.

How & When do I get my travel reimbursement?

After the event, all participants will fill the reimbursement form where you will be asked to upload the travel cost documents (itinerary, boarding passes, invoices etc.). The reimbursement process usually takes between 1-2 months. Remember that we will help you on every step of the way.

Do I have to speak in front of a group or lead workshops?

Nope. You will not be forced to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. But it’s definitely a great place to step our of your comfort zone. This is going to be a journey in your personal development:)

I still have some questions

No problem, get in touch with us and we will do our best to provide you some answers. You can do so by heading over to the contact page.

Stop-motion Melting Pot