Publication created by participants of the project:
TAKE ME AS I AM Youth Exchange Poronin 2016
The project was financed by:
THEÂ EXCHANGE
Intercultural dialogue, tolerance, combating racism and xenophobia were the ideas and values existing in our project. We were working together for understanding and dialogue,
promote
cultural
diversity and values that promote community building. The project brought together representatives of different faiths, people from different cultural backgrounds, focus on dialogue, cooperation and the search for solutions.
These were young people aged 19‐25 representing 4 countries Bulgaria, Turkey, Czech Republic and Poland (in total 37 people). The project relied on the
active
participation
of
the
participants, was created by them, was implemented by them, responding to their needs and interests. We were using such forms of work as workshops, meetings,
discussions,
presentations, film evenings.
debates,
Let us stop describing the project from the third person perspective. Let us talk about the project from our point of view. It was only a couple of days. Only. But in these copule of days we have discovered new cultures, we learned how to listen, not only hear. We have understood, now we know. We have achieved a lot only becouse we were working together. Without our friends, colleagues, learders, the goal would be impossible to reach. We've learned how to learn, how to teach, how to share our knowledge. While teaching you learn even more than you teach. We will remember it. And we will go through our life with this quote in our heads and hearts.
Friendship‐ the most important thing for us. Thanks to friendship we could count on support. Thanks to support we could fight our weaknesses and fears. During the exchange we had an opportunity to discover. We have been to Kraków, where we discovered jewish culture, we could look for our common roots, common characteristics, common cultural aspects. We went also for a walk in the mountains. It was a good lesson of cooperation for us. The trail wasn't the easisiest one. But together we could do it. Some of us had to keep up, some of us had to wait, some of us had to take responsibility. Using only few words‐ we were cooperating. Sharing our strenght while helping the others. Just like in the process of building a shared society. Society in which prejudices, stereotypes, hate is not existing.
Reflection groups / Evaluation of the project Participants everyday had a meetings in multicultural groups, where they reflected their thoughts about passed day. The last day they reflected their thoughts after all the week. They were asked few questions: The highlight of this day/project? What did you learn? What can be improved and how? What do you feel at the end of this day/project? Here we are sharing few opininions and reflections after our yourh exchange: "I've learnt how to be a friend with people of very different culture and to respect them. I've learnt more about myself due to it. I practice my english to be more fluent and faster.I'm very thankful and happy about participationg in this project. Till now I've never met Turkish people and it opened me whole new doors of tolerance because they are really different. I had a really great conversation with some of them and I found them very kind and brave (especially girls). My problems are nothing in compare to them."
"I learnt to be more tolerant, new english words, a lot of things about myslef, every new opinion is good because give me new perspective."
"I've sent this week with amazing people. This was my first project and before I didn't know, what to expect. It was so much better than my expectations. The people, the program, accomodation... and the countryside, everything was just great. I learnt a lot about another countries. I think I'm more tolerant to another people because we are all the same."
"I'm absolutely satisfied with my participation in this project. In the end I feel more confident, more aware of topics of religion, tolerance and interculturality. I think that we all done amazing job and conduct this project in proffessional way. The methodology was great selected and implemented. I really enjoyed group dynamics. I'm taking with me a lot of new knowledge and skills" "Eventhough we had problems with understanding English, nobody made us felt so."
SOCIALÂ CAMPAIGNS
During our exchange we've created three social campaigns about tolerance, multiculturalism, social inclusion. Even though they are not huge campaigns, they are honest, and are carrying a sincere message. We believe that thanks to them we will contribute to the process of building a happy, multicultural, shared society of European Union.
What is Loesje? Loesje is an international free speech organisation started in Arnhem (Netherlands) in 1983 and went international in 1989. Its charter is to spread creativity, positive criticism, ideas, philosophical ponderings and thoughts on current events by way of short slogans on posters. The posters are signed by Loesje, which is a Dutch female name, representing "a world wide collective of people who want to make the world a more positive creative place" It is not clear how many active writers there are and also the number of people who decide to spread the posters that can be downloaded from the poster archive. The organisation cannot hold track of who spreads posters and where, partly because it is impossible to see how often a poster is downloaded (or printed at home) from the website, and partly because Loesje is not responsible for any misdeeds of individuals who paste posters on illegal places where it is illegal.
WORKSHOPSÂ SCENARIO
None of us is a racist Excercise one: You are boarding the "Deer Valley Express" train for a week‐long ride from Lisbon to Moscow. You are travelling in a couchette compartment, which you have to share with three other people. With which of the following passengers would you prefer to share? 1. A Serbian soldier from Bosnia. 2. An overweight Swiss financial broker. 3. An Italian disc‐jockey who seems to have plenty of dollars. 4. An African woman selling leather products. 5. A young artist who is HIV positive. 6. A Roma man (Gypsy or traveller) from Hungary just released from jail. 7. A Basque nationalist who travels regularly to Russia. 8. A German rapper living a very alternative life‐style. 9. A blind accordion player from Austria. 10. A Ukrainian student who doesn't want to go home. 11. A middle‐aged Romanian woman who has no visa and a 1‐year old child in her arms. 12. A Dutch hard‐line and aggressive feminist. 13. A skinhead from Sweden ostensibly under the influence of alcohol. 14. A wrestler from Belfast apparently going to a football match. 15. A Polish prostitute from Berlin. 16. A French farmer who speaks only French and has a basket full of strong cheese. 17. A Kurdish refugee living in Germany who is on his way back from Libya.
Instructions 1. Individually select your three first choices of the people you would most like to travel with and the three you would least like to travel with. You have 15 minutes to do this. 2. In groups, share your choices of the 3 best and the 3 worst companions, and discuss the reasons which led to your decisions. Then try to come to a consensus on a common list of the three most favoured and the three least favoured companions. You have 45 minutes for this part of the activity. 3. In plenary, each group presents its conclusions followed by a debriefing and evaluation of the exercise.
Issues addressed • Prejudice and limits of tolerance. • Images and stereotyping about different minorities. Aims • To challenge participant's stereotypes and prejudice about other people and minorities, and about the images and associations the text raises. • To reflect on the perceptions different participants have of minorities. • To raise self‐awareness about the limits of tolerance. • To confront the different values and stereotypes of the participants. Time: 90 minutes ‐ 2 hours. Group size: Minimum 5, maximum 40.
Who wants you to be in their group? Issues addressed: • Majority ‐ minority relations • Discrimination Aims • To start discussion about different groups in society • To raise awareness about prejudice and discrimination • To encourage empathy with the experience of rejection or exclusion. Time:10 minutes Group size: 16+ Preparation Coloured sticky paper spots. For example, for a group of 16 people you will need 4 blue, 4 red, 4 yellow, 3 green and one white spot. Variations 1. Use coloured sticky paper spots as above but don't have someone who will be the odd one out ‐ at the end everyone will be in a group. 2. Preparation as for variation 1. Ask the players to get into groups so that everyone is in a group, but no group has more than one person with the same coloured spot i.e. you will end up with a 'multi group. 3. Use "jigsaws" made from pictures which will stimulate discussion.
Instructions 3. Noone may talk, they may only use non verbal communication. Debriefing and evaluation 1. Stick one spot on each player's forehead. Players should not know what colour Help the group explore their feelings about what they did and what they spot they have. learnt: 2. Tell the players to get into a group with others who have the same colour spot. • How did you feel at the moment when you first met someone with the same 3. Noone may talk, they may only use non verbal communication. colour spot as yourself? Debriefing and evaluation • How did the person with the odd spot feel? • Did you try to help each other get into groups? Help the group explore their feelings about what they did and what they learnt: • What different groups do you belong to e.g. football team, school, church? • How did you feel at the moment when you first met someone with the same • Can anyone join these groups? colour spot as yourself? • In our society who are the odd ones out? • How did the person with the odd spot feel? • Did you try to help each other get into groups? • What different groups do you belong to e.g. football team, school, church? • Can anyone join these groups? Debriefing and evaluation • In our society who are the odd ones out? Tips for the facilitator Help the group explore their feelings about what they did and what they learnt: • How did you feel at the moment when you first met someone with the same Be aware of who gets the white spot. colour spot as yourself? You can take the opportunity to manipulate the composition of the final groups, • How did the person with the odd spot feel? but do not make it obvious. Let the players believe that the spots were • Did you try to help each other get into groups? distributed at random. • What different groups do you belong to e.g. football team, school, church? This activity can also be used as an icebreaker and to get people into groups for • Can anyone join these groups? another activity. • In our society who are the odd ones out?
Tips for the facilitator Suggestions for follow up Be aware of who gets the white spot. Review the membership policy of your group or organisation. Can anyone join? You can take the opportunity to manipulate the composition of the final groups, What can you do to make your organisation more open and welcoming to but do not make it obvious. Let the players believe that the spots were everyone? distributed at random. Being the odd one out doesn't always mean we've been excluded, sometimes it's This activity can also be used as an icebreaker and to get people into groups for by choice that we want to stand apart from others and be different. If you want another activity. to work more on looking at what it means to be an individual you could use 'One Variations equals one'. If your discussion touched on disabled people being the odd ones out, then you 1. Use coloured sticky paper spots as above but don't have someone who will be may like to consider doing the activity, 'See the ability!' in Compass. It is a the odd one out ‐ at the end everyone will be in a group. practical activity to encourage empathy with people with disabilities. 2. Preparation as for variation 1. Ask the players to get into groups so that everyone is in a group, but no group has more than one person with the same coloured spot i.e. you will end up with a 'multi group. 3. Use "jigsaws" made from pictures which will stimulate discussion. Suggestions for follow up Review the membership policy of your group or organisation. Can anyone join? What can you do to make your organisation more open and welcoming to everyone? Being the odd one out doesn't always mean we've been excluded, sometimes it's by choice that we want to stand apart from others and be different. If you want to work more on looking at what it means to be an individual you could use 'One equals one'. If your discussion touched on disabled people being the odd ones out, then you may like to consider doing the activity, 'See the ability!' in Compass. It is a practical activity to encourage empathy with people with disabilities.
Project was held by:
This publication has been realized with the financial support of the European Commission. Publication reflects the views of the authors and the European Commission and the National Agency of Erasmus+ Programme is not responsible for the information contained therein.
PUBLICATION IS FREE