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CONNECT

2019-3-EL02-KA105-0054322019Youth mobilityfinalizedGood practice
Countries: EL|ES|EE|PL · Grant: €32,816
Creativity and cultureInclusion - equityDisabilities - special needs

Objectives

Our society is a group of cooperating groups made up of individuals who come together, interact with each other and finally achieve a common goal, their smooth and peaceful coexistence. Thinking about this unique puzzle of people that makes up our society, and how we can clarify it to define the value of social inclusion and intercultural differences, we focused on the art of modern mosaics. The technique of mosaic allows us to understand at practical level, the importance of each unit, coexisting and supporting one another. We are all different individual ''small stones", with different colors and shapes, textures and origins, but when we unite and become an integral whole, we can succeed in developing common goods. Just as small stones come together and coexist on a mosaic, giving a sense of harmony and perfect coexistence, the same happens with our society. Practicing the art of stone and modern mosaic in particular, which takes place in such a creative and dynamic learning environment, reinforces personal and social skills, social solidarity, communication, conflict management and the ability to self-integrate. In non-formal education of young people, art is a sure and safe area for developing personal abilities and enhancing creativity. Through artistic practices, people with disabilities and young people with social integration difficulties are empowered to “liberate” and express their deepest thoughts and suggestions for a better world, a world that embraces diversity and pursue equality. Engaging with the art of mosaic will give them the opportunity to learn more about the history of an ancient art, which perfectly represent the process of society's composition. Groups of people come together, overcoming obstacles, and through social interaction, contribution and integration, we create societies, in which we live. In modern mosaic art workshops, participants can develop communication skills by expressing their feelings and ideas about their social surround and their unhindered integration as a whole. Interacting with others in an intercultural group will enhance their self-esteem and increase their motivation to participate in solidarity and cohesion activities. Coming together with people from different countries will get over any phobia about the foreign and the different and will enhance cohesion at an international level. Practicing in a multicultural environment can also overcome language obstacles and enhance integration. In view of the above, we would like to organize an exchange involving 32 young people, including people with disabilities and young people with fewer opportunities from Estonia, Spain, Greece and Poland. The exchange will last 8 days and will take place on the island of Lefkada (Greece). Participants will work together to prepare an art exhibition of modern mosaics at the Town Hall of Lefkada on social inclusion, active citizenship and social solidarity. They will have the opportunity to exhibit a collective and group works (as they will work in groups of three) in front of the local people of Lefkada. Through this exhibition, young people's self-confidence and self-esteem will be enhanced and their socialization through art will be achieved to the maximum. Our main concern, during this exchange is to provide appropriate support to all the participants, to help them to understand the value of social inclusion, participation and tolerance in diversity. We will provide the necessary knowledge for their artistic practices to achieve a cultural creative result through cooperation and co-existence. Through our youth exchange we want to achieve the following objectives: 1) to urge young people with disabilities to participate in artistic multicultural and creative exchanges to develop artistic, social and political capacities based on intercultural exchange, peer support and peer learning. 2 ) to encourage a group of young people with mental and/or physical disabilities to create together their own modern mosaic, based on their own ideas and thoughts about the social inclusion and participation. 3) to engage people from different countries with different backgrounds, abilities and profiles in a multicultural group in order to promote inclusive culture that promotes dialogue and improves personal skills. 4) to promote and allow, through the art of mosaic, a non-formal learning process, social inclusion, personal development and active participation of young people of different origins and capacities, especially those of lesser EU society. 5) to enhance intercultural dialogue and collective reflection among beneficiaries through the exchange of experiences, ideas, knowledge and best practices. 6)Raise awareness among citizens of partner communities through peer education and encourage them to adopt artistic methods. 7) to generate innovative entrepreneurial ideas in terms of promotion the sustainable creativity through practices of art.

Project partners (4)