Back to search

BEAT IT! with a Beat - Music vs COVID

2021-1-HR01-KA152-YOU-0000205992021Mobility of young peoplefinalizedGood practice
Countries: HR|IT|HU|RO|SI · Grant: €21,009
Creativity, arts and cultureDemocracy and inclusive democratic participation

Objectives

The project intended to give space to the young people involved to process the memories and emotions about the recent Pandemic of Covid-19. In order to let them express feelings, opinions and overcome the difficulties of that period, the methodology chosen was music and the creation of an album about Covid-19 memories. Last but not least, the project aimed to reflect on the inequalities generated by the pandemic giving the opportunity to get young people aware of these issues. Young people have suffered because of restrictions - for months they weren't able to attend school, meet friends, date, do sports and participate in cultural activities - which significantly decreased their mental health and wellbeing. The project created a safe space to process months of lockdown and the harrowing experiences caused by the coronavirus and turned them into the message of solidarity sent by young people to everyone affected by the crisis - in particular to the "invisible" of our societies (such as migrants and minorities, sometimes depicted by racist propaganda as the spreaders of the illness). Nonetheless, labour market during the pandemic, made it difficult to young people to attend VET trainings and/or getting a job, making it more difficult to get oriented in a future career. Among the topics faced during the project, we analysed the consequence in terms of mental wellbeing, in terms of lost of freedom and compression of human and civil rights and generally, on the loss of important rituals of passage to adult age such as graduation exams, proms or 18th birthday parties, mourns. As the issues treated are pretty tough and sensitive, the idea of create an album rooted in the idea of creating something useful and positive out of tragic events and bad feelings. The main goal was therefore giving young people the chance to reflect about their future and how to go ahead with their future using storytelling (more specifically, songwriting) and encourage the cooperation between young musicians, in order to self-produce an album. All activities were based on non-formal and peer education. The project was created by young people for young people. Adults were there only to help facilitate the process which means that young people were free to express themselves without filters from adults The objective of the project were: >promote the wellbeing of young people, prevent their isolation and exclusion and encourage creative expression – it was achieved by creating a safe space in which young people, surrounded by others in a similar situation, could reflect on their experiences and express them through a music jam, debate mediated by music, songwriting workshops, concert and recording sessions. >encourage the exchange of experiences between young people from different backgrounds and cultures using a common mean of expression (music) – it was achieved by gathering young people from Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and Romania, and facilitating the discussion about COVID-related issues in a creative way. >promote the message of solidarity, understanding, friendship, European values and human rights among the participants and broader audience – it was achieved by composing and recording an album of 8 original songs and promoting it during a concert, a busking session in the streets during the YE as well as uploading it online. >increase the key competences of young people, including those with fewer opportunities – especially personal, social and learning to learn, citizenship, entrepreneurship, competence in cultural awareness and expression - it was achieved by a careful choice and design of non-formal education activities aimed at delevoping participants' self-reflection, individual and group work, cretive musical competences as well as raising their awareness about inequalities and disadvantaged groups. >promote active citizenship and participation, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity – it was achieved by empowering young people representing different cultures to take the initiative, face their personal and generational challenges, and take responsibility for the message they want to send to the world in a form of music. >promoting diversity - music is a universal language but at the same time, it's shaped by the culture it expresses itself in. It was achieved by familiarising participants with the folk music of their countries or ethnicities (especially in the case of the Hungarian partner who welcomed foreigners legally residing there) which was reflected in the creative process in this project. Moreover, at the musical level, this mobility enriched the musical expression of participating young musicians who could experience different cultures by living and playing together with other people.

Project partners (5)