With M.I.R.T.A., we aimed to promote inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and personal empowerment for adults from rural and disadvantaged areas of Italy, Greece, and Turkey. The main objective was to create local and international learning networks where unemployed adults, artists, researchers, and young people could rediscover shared Mediterranean roots while at the same time valuing the unique identities of each country. Through the performing arts as an innovative tool for non-formal learning, we sought to break down stereotypes related to ethnicity, religion, and culture, while strengthening social cohesion and European identity. We aimed to: include disadvantaged adults in an international community; deliver 21 artistic performances based on shared keywords and personal storytelling; enhance intergenerational exchange; offer new opportunities for personal growth and awareness; and build sustainable cooperation beyond the duration of the project.
We chose to apply for M.I.R.T.A. in order to respond to educational and social needs in rural and peripheral areas of Italy, Greece, and Turkey, which were characterized by high unemployment rates and limited access to lifelong learning opportunities. Our association, which had been active for years at an intercultural level through experiences and collaborations involving artists and communities from different Mediterranean countries, felt the need to build a bridge between cultures and generations. M.I.R.T.A. addressed these needs by creating local and international learning networks, promoting intercultural exchanges and intergenerational processes through the performing arts. The project aimed to strengthen skills, inclusion, and European identity, transforming diversity into a resource for dialogue, personal growth, and social cohesion.