Summary
Objectives
The Training Course “PERSPECTIVE BEYOND BORDERS” is a two-stage Erasmus+ project on the topics of diversity, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and working with vulnerable groups. It will bring together 34 youth workers and youth leaders from 10 countries (Erasmus+ program countries: Malta, Italy, Greece, Turkey) Erasmus+ Partner Countries: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russian Federation, Ukraine), to tackle issues on refugee crisis, communication between different cultures and religions, effects of hate speech and racist comments, inclusion, integration, conflict management, using outdoor and self-development methods. It will focus on developing practical and theoretical knowledge and skills in working with individuals and groups in the development of key competencies combating hate and finding ways to appreciate the richness of diversity.
This project focuses on youth workers, NGO workers, trainers, anyone who has direct contact with refugees, immigrants, or other minorities/vulnerable groups and are working on promoting peace and inclusion. This two-level training course aims to re-evaluate the concepts of diversity, to raise cultural and religious understanding, enhance emphatic and listening skills, gain tools for communication and conflict transformation, to share experiences and good practices.
The first stage is entitled, “Same and different” will take place in Bakuriani, Georgia on 15-22 September 2019, while the second stage “Co-creating and co-living” will take place in Dingli, Malta on 15-22 November 2019.
The first stage is entitled “Same and Different” has the following objectives:
– Raise participants’ awareness and understanding of other cultures, countries, and religions;
– Develop awareness about personal concepts and believes one has about diversity, different cultures and religions and habitual ways to communicate and to react to the conflict;
– Raise awareness of risk factors under which conflicts tend to arise;
– Identify effective methods that help to create inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue through fostering non-violent communication;
– Gain tools for effective communication and conflict transformation;
– Experience and gain basic knowledge on a variety of experiential outdoor activities as a tool for transformation, dialogue, and connection;
– Build international networks and contacts, to promote active participation in society and develop a sense of European Citizenship and identity;
– Exchange best practices in relation to youth work and conflict, inter-religious and cultural dialogue.
The second stage is entitled: “Co-creating and co-living” and has the following objectives:
– Equip youth workers and trainers with knowledge and tools for dialogue, conflict transformation and creating connection;
– Develop trainer-ship skills, communication skills, and organizational skills;
– Gain insight about the refugee life and experience in working with refugees by implementing workshops for them;
– Gain theoretical and practical knowledge of how to build a workshop and debrief it, how to work with migrants;
– Gain experience in leading outdoor activities to promote inclusion and understanding of diversity;
– Develop creativity and international collaboration.
Activities
First Stage: “Perspective Beyond Borders: Same and Different” (15-22 September 2019) will take place in Bakuriani, Georgia. The TC will be focused on personal development and will invite the participants to re-evaluate the concepts of diversity, get aware of the proper beliefs and values, to increase their cultural and religious understanding, enhance emphatic and listening skills, gain tools for communication and conflict transformation, share experiences and good practices. Participants will experience various Outdoor activities as a tool for tackling the issues mentioned above, will have a study visit to IDP settlement, “Open house” project and outdoor involving local communities. The outcome of the TC: developing practical and theoretical knowledge and skills in working with individuals and groups in the development of key competencies regarding combating hate and finding ways to appreciate the richness of diversity.
Second Stage: “Perspective Beyond Borders: Co-creating and co-living” (15-22 November 2019) will take place in Dingli, Malta. In this TC participants will reflect on their work as youth-workers and trainers, gain theoretical and practical knowledge on how to build a workshop, group dynamics, how to lead outdoor activities for inter-cultural groups and how to debrief them. During the course they will apply this new knowledge by organizing and implementing workshops in the local refugee center on topics of diversity, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and communication, thus developing their creativity and trainer-ship skills in working with sensitive groups and gaining direct experience of what they have learned in the first and second levels of the training.
The Methodologies are: experiential learning (or learning by doing), applying various outdoor tools in order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. Participant becomes the protagonist of the learning experience, gets new insights and learning after observing and reflecting over his or her behavior in different outdoor and indoor workshops, exercises, games, processes and role plays and gets a possibility to try out new approaches, implement all what was learned, new tools and ways of communicating in a safe environment of a group setting.
It will bring together 34 youth workers and youth leaders from 10 countries (Erasmus+ program countries: Malta, Spain, Greece, Turkey) Erasmus+ Partner Countries: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russian Federation, Ukraine) to tackle issues on refugee crisis, communication between different cultures and religions, effects of hate speech and racist comments, inclusion, integration, conflict management, using outdoor and self-development methods. It will focus on developing practical and theoretical knowledge and skills in working with individuals and groups in the development of key competencies combating hate and finding ways to appreciate the richness of diversity.
The general profile of the participants are the following: newcomers in NGO sector and youth workers working with vulnerable groups, who are motivated to work on their self-development and improve their communication skills, trainers skills, and intercultural-dialogue skills. From each partner organization we intend to include at least one participant with difficulties to adapt to the society (i.e. young people with immigrant backgrounds, from broken families, etc.), NEET category (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and who are looking for opportunities to improve their skills and work in the youth field. The priority will be given to the participants by fewer opportunities and disadvantaged young people (by educational, economic, social, geographical point of view), youth coming from segregated groups, minorities in the local society, etc. The age group of 20 and above.
Impact
The impact of this project firstly lies on the improvement of participants’ professional performance, in their daily work with disadvantaged individuals by increasing their knowledge and tools on the topics, as well as participants’ personal development, self-awareness, and self-reflection about their attitudes, beliefs and values, collaboration and solution-oriented thinking. The project will also strengthen participating organizations capacities, increased work quality and expanded partnerships network.
Through exercises, discussions, presentation of examples of good practices in the field of youth work with minorities&refugees, promoting inter-cultural dialogue and diversity as an enriching concept, we want to encourage peer learning and inspire youth workers to discuss follow-up and take action in their own countries following the Training Course. Moreover, during the TC special attention will be paid to developing skills and competencies of the participants that are needed when working with migrants and minorities thus empowering them to make real change in their local communities and societies.