We intend to go on a real and a virtual journey through Europe with a group of young people. We help to let them see the world through the eyes of asylum seekers and refugees and the volunteers that help them. We discover and confront the challenges of our changing society, and we think critically and constructively about the role of both European and national asylum systems. We focus on rights and the importance of positive reception conditions. We want to create immersive learning experiences by visiting places that are indicative of the difficulties in the life of refugees. We want to think collaboratively about innovative solutions to problems faced by refugees e.g. access to shelter, legal migration, education,... Additionally, we focus on: nurturing and stimulating empathy, ethical understanding, and communication skills. We engage students in discussion and debate about refugees and human rights and have them think about civic responbility. Before and after the journey, we will run an awareness-raising programme in schools, in youth organisations and in society at large. By exposing and promoting experiences, stories, inspirational ideas and practices we create debate and interest for the theme. We notice that in many of the countries we work in this debate becomes more and more polarised and controversial. Young voices might play an instrumental and crucial role in creating a more tolerant attitude and raising awareness. Exchanging experiences with peers will set these young people as change makers. On a total of 20 participants (mainly young people selected from youth groups and schools), we will involve about 5 young refugees to take part in the group and international meetings. This core group will become the driving platform within the project and their representatives play a key role in dissimulation at national level. They will have a key role in dissemination afterwards The basis of involvement for participants with fewer opportunitiets - i.c. young refugees - is formed by existing working groups at national level (a group of 40 youngsters exists already at Belgian level) and a selection process at national level that takes into account groups with refugee background, via existing organisations, workingsgroups or participants. We create possibilities on integration & inclusion by setting common objectives, giving them responsibilities, define clear tasks and responsibilities, involve them in brainstromings and lower barriers (translations and psychological support when needed - young refugees have often faced traumatising experiences during their journey - involving them in experiencing this phase again needs utter care and coaching). The project will increase the competences of direct participants in supporting and initiating projects and programs using the various aspects of environmental education to improve the situation of local communities. This will improve their competitiveness. Exchange of experiences how to involve young people and create tools for more participation, will have a positive impact on the organizations. Strengthened cooperation will further encourage communities to implement the new ideas.
We have offered an experiential learning proces on asylum and migration. CONTEXT There is a need for a substantiated debate about migration. The theme is increasingly polarized and controversial and myths and fake news are too strong. Young voices can play an instrumental and crucial role in creating a more tolerant attitude and awareness. There is a need to break through, especially in secondary education. With this project we gave the opportunity to pupils and teachers to learn about the theme of asylum and migration. There is a lack of information, a lack of authentic encounters, a lack of learning moments on this theme. With this project we gave young people a voice, they became ambassadors for their school and their region. Thanks to their experience, they were able to tell the story of people on the run in a nuanced and substantiated manner, to make the debate possible and to find solutions to the current challenges together. WHO IS INVOLVED? ATTENDEES 15 young people and 7 teachers. The group reflected the superdiversity of society: young people with migration roots, young refugees, young people from vulnerable contexts, young people from various study areas and from different regions. SCHOOLS All involved schools have set up an awareness program with our support within and outside the school. REFUGEES Their stories, their dreams, their aspirations were taken and turned into stories and recommendations towards the policy. CHANGEMAKERS We have met people who try to change the situation of people on the run, to create more possibilities, to help. Our project gave attention to their realizations, was an inspiration for our participants and took their demand for change into the discussions at the policy level. WIDE PUBLIC Many people followed our experiences through our communication channels and the press has also reported a lot about our project. By sharing experiences, stories, inspiring ideas, we create debate and interest in the theme. GOALS - to show the world through the eyes of asylum seekers and refugees and the volunteers who help them. - discover and reflect on the challenges of our changing society - think critically and constructively about the role of European and national asylum systems. - discovering how difficult it is to guarantee rights for people on the run - realize the importance of positive reception conditions. METHOD - create learning experiences by visiting places that are an indication of the difficulties in the lives of refugees both in their own country and in Europe - meetings with people on the run, aid workers, citizens, journalists, lawyers, activists, priests, ... so that they get a varied picture of all the actors involved, their possible impact and their vision of the situation. - thinking together about innovative solutions to problems refugees face, for example access to shelter, legal migration, education, ... - training on non-violent communication, debate training, intercultural skills, basic training in asylum and migration, story telling, ... - consider recommendations at the various policy levels and hand them over to policy makers BEFORE - preparation weekend about image formation, basic knowledge of asylum and migration, debate training - training day about non-violent communication - training day on asylum and integration - visitday in Dunkirk / Calais - transnational meetings in Zagreb, Ventimiglia ROAD TRIP 10 days on the road through Europe. Learning moments and meetings in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. AFTER - return weekend about learning experiences, making recommendations, storytelling - opening photo exhibition and accompanying workshop - screening and start spreading documentary - meeting people on the run - sharing stories and experiences - hand over recommendations to the European Parliament - testimonials in the school and in the community school where fellow pupils, parents, teachers, local associations, ... are informed and challenged to think about solutions. - start up teams in each school of participants and interested students and teachers to tell the story further, to involve other students and to develop further ideas for the future such as 'How do we become a hospitable school?'. RESULT 15 enthusiastic young changemakers and 7 committed teachers who as ambassadors bring the story of people on the run and themselves in their immediate environment bring about change in terms of opportunities and human rights on the run. A photo exhibition with workshops on migration in images. A documentary through which the experiences of the participants and the story of people on the flight can be spread widely Educational sheets about the project to get started in education.