Objectives: - To make ‘walls in the mind’ the subject of discussion and reflection, whilst taking into account their ambivalence: they act as barriers to understanding and connection; they separate people, social groups and systems; yet they can also offer protection, much like medieval city walls once did, serve as a justification for a sense of powerlessness, or symbolise unfulfilled potential, - “Discovering the other” through art and culture, the acquisition of knowledge, encounters, and the joy of (intercultural) learning, - Promoting dialogue between people from different regions of Europe in order to practise inclusion within the European context, - Achieving social inclusion by involving learners with fewer opportunities (see target groups) in projects with a European dimension and through participatory approaches that allow participants to contribute their ideas, experiences and skills, - Networking between European organisations and project participants, - Developing a deeper understanding of the societies of the partner organisations; developing the skills of the trainers involved (thematically, methodologically, and in the use of digital tools).
Cohesion in Europe thrives on active citizens who champion democracy, human rights, tolerance and a sense of community, and who reject repressive political demands. This requires mutual understanding, a European outlook, interaction and positive experiences. This is countered by increasing social divisions within societies and experiences of social exclusion. These find their echo in various ‘walls in the mind’ towards social groups, declining trust in political institutions and, at times, seemingly irreconcilable discourses. At the same time, differences between Eastern and Western Europe appear to persist. To prevent these from becoming polarising, the project aimed to spark interest in others through encounters and the gradual development of a performance, whilst making a sense of belonging tangible through participatory collaboration. The consortium was deliberately composed of organisations from Western, Central and Eastern Europe. It responded to the expressed need for greater contact and exchange, joint activities, curiosity about ‘worlds’ beyond one’s own borders (learners) and methodological training (trainers).