International Cooperation Task Group

EBTA is committed to promoting and supporting cooperation between National Solution Focused Associations and others, who hope to create an association, network or smaller community in countries, where they do not currently exist.

EBTA is convinced that cooperation between countries, e.g. national associations, local communities and networks on an international level creates opportunities to do more than any could have achieved on their own.

We see the PURPOSE of the International Cooperation Task Group as being to encourage, support, and provide opportunities to:

• Learn from each other’s successes
• Share resources
• Consult each other at times of challenge
• Support the development of national associations in countries where there is a potential for them to exist.

We see the ROLE of the task group as being to:

• Promote opportunities for associations, communities and networks and others to connect to each other.
• Create and establish activities which support our aim
• Act as a switchboard, enabling communication to happen.

The task group is committed to learning from what has been tried, with the intention of repeating what has worked, changing what hasn’t worked” and trying out new ideas

To carry out this purpose and role the task group will maintain a contact list of representatives from the national associations and other interested people, and will on a regular basis communicate with representatives of national associations and others to invite them to take advantage of connections to other National Associations and Solution Focused groups.

In addition the task group offers support for conferences around the world with the aim of spreading the knowledge of SF, – all on a voluntary and non-profit basis.

We have established and are currently hosting the following ACTIVITIES:

• SF World Day on the 3rd of May is a yearly day to celebrate the Solution Focused Approach around the world. The celebration can include a single person, community or national association. Further details onsfworldday.com
• SF Summer Camps have taken place since 2016, and are gathering in a relaxed atmosphere with time to reflect and share experiences, ideas and understandings of the Solution Focused approach. A good opportunity for exchange, also between younger practitioners and the older SF generation.
• Annual gathering for representatives of national associations, communities and networks to meet at the annual EBTA conference. An opportunity to share news from your own hinterland, and to request support from others.
• A digital platform on Facebook “SF-international Cooperation Contact Group” where representatives from national associations, networks and groups can connect to each other to create, promote and support opportunities for exchanging ideas and experiences.
• Quarterly online gatherings facilitated by task groups members, where contact persons and others with interest can meet, exchange experiences and share news. A way to stay in touch during difficult times such as Covid-19, started at the end of 2020.

Looking for EBTA support or have a good idea of how to spread the word of SF?- ontact the Task Group Lead, Andreea Žak, at andreea.mihalca@gmail.com.

Criteria for supporting the promotion of solution-focused thinking and practices

Top tips for starting a National Association