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Πιο κοντά ΙΙ

2023-3-EL02-KA152-YOU-0001839452023Mobility of young peoplefinalized
Countries: EL|IT|BG|RO|PL · Grant: €41,579
European identity and valuesEnvironment and climate changeYouth employability

Objectives

Europe is facing challenges that are testing its resilience and sustainability, as well as its ambitious vision of green transformation. In addition, social, cultural, geopolitical, and economic challenges are weakening the rule of law, and its founding principles are constantly being questioned. However, the pandemic is no longer the main concern or an acceptable reason to justify delays in corrective interventions for inclusive and cohesive societies, delays in social transformation. Finally, the road to digital adaptation and technological transformation remains long. The “CLOSER II” program, through its non-formal and informal learning methodology, was a challenging incentive for reflection on the above. The main exchange addressed some of the main challenges threatening Europe's sustainability and created opportunities for disadvantaged young people, those with special needs and disabilities to learn about the policies and initiatives for its recovery. It focused onhelping young people understand the values and principles on which these policies are based, connect with them and with the European project, and develop skills for personal and social educational development and active participation in society and democratic life in order to highlight and further promote them after the completion of their joint program. To contribute to the ambitious vision of a technologically advanced, environmentally conscious, fair, cohesive, democratic Europe, while also improving employment prospects. In particular, the program sought to encourage dialogue and constructive discussion among participants from different countries, as well as the exchange of views, ideas, concerns, emotions, knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to EU initiatives for environmental, democratic, and digital transformation. It created opportunities for them to carry out their own related work and analysis and, at the end, to evaluate the program and learning outcomes themselves and help publicize them for the benefit of more young people, more youth organizations, and better local societies and policies for young people. The program sought to serve as a cry of anguish against the dramatic inequalities of wealth and power, injustices and violations of human dignity and fundamental human rights, the rise, worldwide, of cruelty, indifference, corruption, environmental degradation, and the extinction of endangered species. He wanted young people to be a source of hope that not only persists despite the above, but also because of this situation. Therefore, in the context of his learning environment, mutual understanding, multicultural and intercultural tolerance, inclusion and cohesion, non-discriminatory behavior, and respect for the rights and justice for all equally, without discrimination, prejudice, or stereotypes. This promoted diversity, solidarity, and equal opportunities among young people as a simulation of the necessary behavior they should exhibit as responsible people and active citizens in society, in Europe, and beyond. The learning environment focused on young people understanding their peers, their culture, history, and civilization, their different lifestyles, morals, customs, and behaviors, as well as themselves. It invested in and capitalized on the diversity of the groups and highlighted intercultural skills that are not innate but must be cultivated, strengthened, and taught in order to be maintained. More important than ever, it taught that these skills help to address the root causes of critical problems at every level—cultural, social, economic—that young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, a migrant or refugee background, young people living in remote areas and/or facing socioeconomic difficulties, encounter them in various forms: favoritism, racism, hatred, xenophobia, marginalization, radicalization. It sought to create an informal learning environment without dividing lines as a fundamental prerequisite for the smooth coexistence and healthy functioning of the heterogeneous society outside it, which is rapidly changing, which requires communication, cooperation, and mutual understanding, overcoming barriers with people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, different nationalities and cultures, and with special needs. Finally, the aim of the program was to increase its added value and European dimension so that its results would benefit more young people and youth organizations, local communities, and the youth sector itself in the future.

Project partners (5)