The main goal of the project “Match with Arts and Culture” is to promote cultural mentoring as a tool for social inclusion of young people. Project's objectives are: -To empower marginalised and vulnerable groups of young people in the local communities through meaningful mentoring relationships and easier access to culture; -To encourage the civil participation of young people through taking part in the cultural mentoring program and thus making an impact on the local environment; -To boost the social inclusion and cohesion through promoting new cultural mentoring program for disadvantaged youth; -To help disadvantaged youth groups untap their potential, develop new skills and discover interests in the fields of culture and use them to respond to social challenges they face and improve their soft skills; -To shape culturally aware communities and to empower the young people to be more confident, including in times of crisis.
BBBS is a mentoring organisation with long experience and as such we are aware that mentoring is a universal instrument to empower vulnerable young people and we’ve witnessed the power of mentoring also during the COVID-19 outbreak. Mentoring services are more needed than ever. All people in need should know that there’s someone behind them when they feel lonely and isolated. On the other hand, culture is a key factor in sustainable development and social change. Culture strengthens social cohesion and builds bridges between groups and peoples, creates peace and is a significant economic player. The project idea is based on linking together two powerful engines of change and integration for young people: mentoring and culture, aiming to fight their deepening social exclusion. The partnership built in the project develops and applies a different method for mentoring disadvantaged groups in order to bring them closer to culture and arts and to improve their social skills and integration. The main target groups in the project are young volunteers in the role of mentors and disadvantaged young people in the roles of mentees.