"Changing Minds!" is a project which aims to exchange practices between a diverse range of youth and community based organisations in both Ireland and Romania which deal with young people in the area of youth work, disability, challenging stereotypes and influencing policy. With the help of the latest digital technology, the overall objectives, supporting the main aim of exchanging and learning from models of good practice are: (1) To change attitudes and prejudices often encountered in Ireland in relation to people from less developed countries (this partnership will focus on negative attitudes towards people from Romania which, if successful, will lead to be people becoming more positive and welcoming towards EU citizens from ALL countries). (2) To change negative perceptions of disability which are evident in less developed EU countries (again we will start by focusing on Romania - and then expanding to include all countries). Central to this will be two learning activities, whereby young Irish and Romanian people will be given the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of working with people with disability within Romania, as well as taking part in interactive workshops, conferences and being upskilled in digital media technology. It is hoped that this exchange experience will help the young participants to promote change amongst their peers and at local and regional level, whilst at the same time attempting to impact on policy change at EU level. The project will involve 17 participants who are made up of young people from both Ireland and Romania. This core group will be involved in the partnership from beginning to end and will work with each other to achieve the primary aims of this partnership. This group will get to know each other from the learning activities and both physical and virtual mobility planned. It is anticipated, given the challenging nature of the work involved, that this group will form a close bond which will allow them to be comfortable around each other and truly learn from and exchange their experiences. The group will be supported by 8 adults/accompanying persons who have extensive experience in the area of disability and social equality. This will ensure that all participants are suitably supported for the duration of the partnership. The partnership is made up of 5 organisations: The Aurelia Trust - an Irish organisation who work with vulnerable and disabled people in Romania, lead organisation in this partnership. A.T.I.C. - a youth organisation in Romania with extensive Erasmus+ experience who will support the implementation of the project. Skibbereen Commmunity School - a new second-level school that was opened last year after the amalgamation of three schools. Will work on this partership with St. Gerald's College, Castlebar and other second-level schools in Romania. D.G.A.S.P.C. - a governmental organisation in Romania with responsibility for ensuring standards are met in the caring for people with disabilities, homeless people (adults and children) and any vulnerable persons. Ludgate - new digital hub in Skibbereen, responsible for digital aspects of the project including the effective "virtual" communication between the transnational partners. The opportunities presented to young people in both partner countries via this partnership are immense, both practically with the opportunity to work in the area of disability and virtually with opportunities to train/learn in digital technology, media and website design, vlogging/online memoirs/diaries, language training and so on. This is invaluable to young people who live in a rural community or are otherwise rurally, economically or socially disadvantaged. Project Results: A website will be designed documenting the entire life-span of the project, including vlogs, short documentaries and a record of an intense social media campaign run for the duration of the project. Fun, easy-to-read conference reports will also be made available after the hosting of our two youth-led interactive conferences in Ireland and Romania. Materials will be developed to support these reports by the participants which will be used , firstly, by teachers in Skibbereen Commnuity School, St. Gerald's College and second levels schools who work with A.T.I.C. in Romania and later will be given to other schools and youth organisations around Ireland, Romania and the EU. It is envisioned that this is the first step in a much longer term process and begins by the partner countries challenging stereotypes in the area of disability which, by the very nature of the partners involved, will also impact on poverty and social exclusion in a wider context. With the combined skillset and potential reach of this project consortium, the impact of Changing Minds will be effective and wide reaching across the EU.
Changing Minds is an inspiring Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership involving Irish and Romanian young people. Changing Minds began with one young man’s passion and belief that attitudes towards disability could be changed and that negative stereotypes of less developed countries could be challenged. These beliefs became the main objectives underpinning the project, which was led by a 21 year old co-ordinator, a clear example of a genuinely youth led partnership. An equally impressive and influential peer support element to the project came about through the addition of five young Aurelia Trust volunteers who, leaning on their previous experience, took an active role in mentoring and supporting our teenage participants. The project co-ordinator, combined with the accompanying young volunteers added unprecedented value to our teenage participants experience on both transnational learning activities and to meeting the overall project objectives. Four partner organisations willingly got involved with the co-ordinating organisation, the Aurelia Trust, and a strong transnational team quickly emerged between those representing each stakeholder. Young people from rural areas of both Romania (in Constanta and Galati) and Ireland (in Skibbereen and Castlebar) got involved via the partner organisations and at times there was an intergenerational team of over 30 people travelling through Romania. Two week long transnational learning activities took place, one in Romania and one in Ireland, involving directly working with people with disabilities. This was courageous and challenging work and a very intensive experience for all involved, which led to a strong team bond. In order to change other people’s attitudes it was first necessary to reflect on our own. Mindfulness, reflection and group sharing were intrinsic to the methodology of the project, given the nature of the work. Core qualities were developed and enhanced such as self-awareness, kindness, compassion, empathy and gratitude. Central to the project was the development of key skills in the young participants, such as leadership skills, entrepreneurial skills and personal growth. These skills were accelerated along with communication skills and a huge growth in participants confidence. This was largely due to the original project outcomes being met along with so many more unanticipated outcomes, such as their growing interest in creating historical and educational resources. As well as an interest in disability, an interest in the history of disabilities in both countries emerged and the young participants shared this through the creation of very moving and striking mini-interviews with senior relatives who had lived through communist Romania. The project was documented and evaluated in its entirety through the use of video. This encouraged the young people's use of interview skills as well as allowing for significant self reflection. A youth-led conference was held in both countries, encouraging and developing skills in planning and organising, event management and public speaking. The conferences allowed the results and learnings from the partnership to be widely disseminated and the use of digital media catapulted this project forward, in terms of the creation of a striking and useful website, the development of a powerful social media campaign by the participants and the production of a project documentary. These results were core to the success of the project, aiming to change people’s minds about disability and reducing negative stereotypes associated with some developing countries. The youth-led and peer support model that is key to the success of Changing Minds is a model that is possible to replicate. Changing Minds was an ambitious project which has left a strong legacy in terms of motivational teaching and learning tools, such as video documentaries and video interviews available for all to access through the Changing Minds website. This project has not only changed minds but has changed the lives of all involved in its implementation. It is a project which we feel will continue to transform attitudes, long beyond its 13 month duration.