The main objectives of the project were: 1. Enhance the Capacity of Youth NGOs: We aimed to strengthen the ability of youth organizations to guide young people in embracing diversity through European collaboration. We adopted new interactive, non-formal education methods to manage cultural diversity, facilitated by two short-term joint staff training sessions. 2. Promote Diversity and Equal Opportunity: We encouraged diversity and equal opportunity through participatory arts and dance by organizing two Folk Dance Festivals in each participating country during the project. 3. Improve Networking Among Partners: We developed a new learning e-tool, a website that would serve as a global resource. This platform presents techniques and strategies to combat stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, and social exclusion, fostering a culture of diversity and equal opportunity
All partners in this project were acutely aware of the challenges posed by cultural diversity in modern Europe. This diversity manifests in various forms within their organizations and social environments, including culture, nationality, gender, race, sexual orientation, educational background, and religion. A common concern among our partners was the tendency of mainstream youth to exclude peers from different origins and cultures. We collectively recognized that the low acceptance of culturally diverse peers among large groups of young people was a significant issue in our communities. Many young people viewed the cultural differences of their peers as a threat, often due to a lack of awareness about other cultures and the influence of stereotypes and misinformation perpetuated by the media. The project aims to foster collaboration among partners, enabling them to learn from each other and share effective strategies for addressing these issues. The objectives are to promote a culture of diversity and equality, reduce intolerance, and enhance the social inclusion of young people from ethnic minorities through arts and dance.