The overall objective of the "ELPIS" project was twofold: first, to foster sensitivity and transversal cultural skills in a broad target group of adult and young adult learners on the already mentioned, wide-ranging and complex themes of female migration and the European conflict. Secondly, to promote these themes and awareness-raising practices through the arts, while placing a strong emphasis on creative methodology, the value, and the possible practical applications of various artistic forms, with particular focus on theater. In doing so, it was possible not only to promote European values, history, and memory, but also to significantly engage adults and educators (who are not typically "art-goers") with the arts. This work was particularly impactful in peripheral and significantly disadvantaged areas, especially in Italy.
The main needs identified during the application phase, addressed by the project, were: 1. The Limited knowledge of European value history among adults and young adults. In this case, the goal was to promote the development of a path to rediscover the memory of the European conflict, challenging our conception of peace and democracy, which are much more recent achievements than commonly thought (ELPIS was founded at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine). 2. Personalizing our perception of migration, challenging common biases. For this point, the aim was to develop an artistic journey of rediscovery, from an emotional and subjective perspective, of what the phenomenon of migration truly is, specifically from a female perspective. 3. The devaluation of the arts in the formal curriculum. In response, ELPIS aimed to foster transversal skills through artistic practices, from theater to visual arts. This approach not only promoted research and cutting-edge knowledge but also introduced innovative methods for educators to directly evaluate the effectiveness of recreational activities linked to non-formal learning.