The long term project “It’s All About Solidarity” (2019-1-BG01-KA205-062198) – Strategic Partnerships for Youth – Key Action 2 funded by the Human Resources Development Center under the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission started in August 2019. The project is coordinated by the International Foundation for Y-PEER Development, Bulgaria, with partner organizations from Italy (CET Platform), Greece (Hellenic Youth Participation), Austria (GEMMA) and Turkey (Youth Approaches to Health).
The project focuses on the social inclusion, integration and empowerment of young refugees and migrants.
The main objectives of the project are:
– To share best practices and methodologies between the participating organizations, in the field of working with young people from migrant background using storytelling (online and offline)
– creating audiovisual materials and organizing storytelling events (Living Libraries), in order to build the capacity of youth workers and organizations in this field.
-To build the capacity of youth workers from the participating organizations and to promote active participation in the civic life, tolerance and understanding of diversity.
-To empower youth workers from 5 countries to gain skills and knowledge in the field of youth work, civic engagement, working with young refugees and migrants, combining the know-how and expertise of all participating organizations.
-To give visibility and recognition to young migrants and refugees who have positive stories of integration in the local communities, in order to inspire other refugees and migrants and also members of the local communities.
-To promote the culture of community solidarity towards vulnerable groups, to raise awareness on cultural diversity and values through intensive intercultural dialogue.
-To engage celebrities (opinion leaders, influencers, policy makers, artists, etc.) from partner countries in order for them to share positive messages related to the integration of refugees and migrants.
-To promote the social inclusion of young refugees and migrants and their integration in society and to empower them to be active members of their local communities, feeling equal and appreciated members of these.
-To have an impact on the local level through the planned activities, including the Living Libraries in each of the participating countries, involving young refugees and migrants and other stakeholders, civil society, to promote tolerance, understanding and appreciation of diversity, to challenge negative attitudes, prejudice and stereotypes and to contribute for a positive change in attitudes and behaviors towards disadvantaged groups, such as young refugees and migrants.
-To create a strong partnership between the participating organizations and partners on the local level in each country, creating synergies between the youth field and institutions.
-To build the capacity of the participating organizations and their members for working in the field of international youth projects and engaging disadvantaged young people, such as refugees and migrants.
The first international kick off meeting took place in Bulgaria in September 2019 where the coordinators of the project met and discussed about the specific goals and objectives of the program.
During the project 5 youth workers had the opportunity to participate in a training course which took place in Bulgaria in November 2019. The meeting aimed to empower the youth workers to use story telling methods in their work and also to share among them tools which can help them in their everyday work with refugees and migrants.
After the training, we interviewed 3 refugees who live in Athens and we discussed with them about their integration in the city and in the local environment.
Here you can find the 3 interviews:
Mozan Ali :
Mohsin:
Mohamed :
Also we talked with a social worker, who is constantly working with refugees and asylum seekers in Athens:
Social Worker:
We asked young people to share with us what Solidarity means to them:
Additionally, we implemented an online living library event where young people had the opportunity to listen to refugee stories and discuss about rights, integration matters, solidarity.