A delegation from Greece, Finland, and the Netherlands spent two days in meetings (23-24 September) at PEN-International discussing how developed countries of Europe might become involved in the PEN-International program as participant trainers - sharing their skills with PEN partner countries. The team decided to put forward a small-scale 'Leonardo' proposal to the EU. This proposal will serve as a 'pilot' for a larger EU/USA cooperation proposal - for which an RFP will be forthcoming either later this year or early next. The group agreed that the Finnish Association of the Deaf would be invited to serve as a consultant on the 'Leonardo' proposal and that there would be an invitation for the World Federation of the Deaf to serve in an even greater capacity in the EU/USA cooperation proposal. In addition, there were discussions as regards including deaf teacher trainees in the 'Leonardo' proposal as talent/workers. PEN-International will serve as a consultant on both projects and will adapt/adopt the products of these development efforts for use by PEN partner institutions.
The delegation from the EU consisted of:
- Venetta Lampropoulou, Greece - Delegation leader
- Minna Saulio, Finland
- Tarja Tellervo, Finland - Representing President Markku Jokenin of the WFD
- Anna Christina Eikelbloom, the Netherlands
