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#strongertogether EU/EaP

2020-1-RO01-KA105-0791402020Youth mobilityfinalized
Countries: RO|PL|HR|LV|CZ|BY|UA|GE|AM · Grant: €19,563
Creativity and cultureInclusion - equityRegional dimension and cooperation

Objectives

The European Union is based on values such as non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality. (Article 2, EU Treaty) However, EU citizens still discriminate and are discriminated against based on: race/ethnicity, religion, age, disability and sexual orientation. Eurobarometer 493 "Discrimination in the EU" (2019) proves that discrimination against Roma is the most widespread (61%), followed by discrimination based on ethnicity and skin color (59%), sexual orientation (53%), religion and faith (47%), disability (44%), age (40%) and sex (35%). (http://tiny.cc/1kk4iz) According to the EU Council resolution on the European Youth Strategy 2019-2027, young people, and especially those who suffer from discrimination, face uncertainties about the future, as an effect of globalization, but especially of the political populism with which they are frequently assaulted, of discrimination, of social exclusion and of fake news. COSI advocates for overcoming socio-cultural obstacles in the way of achieving equal rights and the values of non-discrimination. Entities involved in the partnership are also committed to promoting EU values among young people, with a focus on young people with fewer opportunities, such as those at risk of discrimination and social exclusion. Thus, the need to improve the level of success of spreading the message "tolerance of diversity" in local communities is essential for each partner, and the solution is to develop skills and share practical tools to combat forms of discrimination. All partners developed an individual analysis of SWOT needs among staff and agreed that the main weakness - the lack of digital skills of youth workers in promoting diversity, tolerance and non-discrimination through multimedia platforms. There were also difficulties in reaching the target group in the awareness campaigns implemented and in disseminating opportunities for local young people (indirect beneficiaries), due to the low level of multimedia / ICT skills and lack of know-how. The previous experience of NGO staff in implementing grassroots activities (raise awareness campaigns) at local/national level is the common identified strength, and the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ program and the internationalization of the project is an opportunity for professional development for participants and NGOs by acquiring the necessary skills, but also to build a space (HUB) for the exchange of know-how, good practices, tricks and advice between organizations in the EU and the EaP region. Moreover, the Broadband Search 2020 report reveals that a person has an average of five social media accounts and spends 144 minutes browsing them daily (62.5% more than in 2012). (http://tiny.cc/z5k4iz) Social media is a very competitive landscape, but also an opportunity for NGOs to use digital space to achieve their goals, and the study shows that the top preferences are: Youtube, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. The report "Study on the impact of the internet and social media on youth participation and youth work" explains how online interaction has become more attractive to young people than traditional, face-to-face communication, signaling that civil society needs to keep up with change of mindset if they want to achieve their goal. (http://tiny.cc/n6k4iz) Identified threats are: rising extremism/nationalism in EU countries, highly discriminatory political voices, the general public's perception of immigration, the online hate message and false news. The youth workers appreciated the importance of attractive and effective online communication, visual tools and social media platforms to contact local young people with positive messages about diversity, inclusion, tolerance, equality and belonging to EU values and therefore we decided together the project objectives: 1. Improving the skills of 28 youth workers and 8 NGOs in promoting tolerance for cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, and combating discrimination among young people, using multimedia software (content creation) and social media platforms (channels dissemination). 2. Capacity building of 8 NGOs on the effectiveness of awareness campaigns by learning new digital skills and exchange of good practices between practitioners from EU countries and countries in the EaP region. 3. Promoting Erasmus+ and ESC programs as collaboration tools for future projects/events by creating a HUB, in order to achieve new collaborations, share specific results and approaches, good practices and successful strategies used among participating NGOs in the EU and the EaP region.

Project partners (9)