OUR MOTIVATION We were motivated by the desire to explore the world of Mask-Theatre as a tool for engaging and empowering educators, youth workers and marginalised youth. Whereas the effectiveness of physical theatre in youth work is now widely recognized, mask theatre as a pedagogical tool, by contrast, remains comparatively underdeveloped. Still, we were aware that mask theatre builds on an already well established and proven pedagogical methodology and tradition, adding an innovative new element: sculpting and working with masks. This in turn, we thought, could engage participants on an extra cognitive level though their participation in an extended creative process, providing a clear methodology for facilitating identity exploration amongst young people, in addition to cultivating self-awareness, self-confidence and societal responsibility. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of the project was to develop the mask – an ancient cultural artefact – as a cutting-edge pedagogical tool. To do so, we sought to equip youth workers with the competences to use mask theatre as an inclusive learning tool, both in their local and international youth work. In particular, the project aimed to use the mask as a method for working with young people who are socially marginalised and who experiences key markers of disadvantage. We explored the ways in which mask theatre can be used to tackle social isolation and barriers to verbal expression, on the one hand, and to stimulate community building, intercultural tolerance and dialogue, on the other. To achieve these aims the project had the following objectives: - to teach participants how to model and construct expressive masks and for each participant to produce their own expressive mask under the pedagogical supervision of the expert mask-maker Juri Kußmauel - to provide participants with a foundation in the principles and methods of performative mask theatre through offering an immersive participatory learning experienced designed by Richard Kimberly - to combine both aforementioned elements to create a 1-hour mask theatre piece, performed to members of the local community of Grünheide OT Kagel during an open event. - to foster an environment of peer learning and equip youth workers with practical pedagogical tools that can be applied to their target groups - to include participants from partner countries and support them in broadening awareness of and access to non-formal education and learning mobilities in their own regions and communities.