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Świat na wyciągnięcie ręki

2024-1-PL01-KA152-YOU-0002179052024Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: PL|SK|MD|CZ|UA|GE · Grant: €39,925
Cultural heritageCreativity, arts and culturePromotion of alternative forms of participation

Objectives

The goal of implementing our project was to create a space for genuine, meaningful, and accessible cultural exchange that could significantly contribute to the personal development of young people and support their openness to the world. We believe that understanding other cultures is essential for building a more empathetic, conscious, and tolerant society, and that the experiences gained through such initiatives can lead to success in personal, social, and professional life. Our inspiration for this project came from our previous experience with the Erasmus+ program, which made us realize how powerful and transformative participation in international initiatives can be. We observed how young people, by getting to know other cultures, learn new ways of thinking, begin to understand the world from a broader perspective, and overcome their own prejudices and communication barriers. They gain not only knowledge but, most importantly, skills—empathy, flexibility, the ability to collaborate, and to manage various cultural situations. These observations became the foundation for developing the project “The World Within Reach.” Before we began writing the project, we conducted research to ensure the topic truly reflected the needs of young people. We prepared a short survey and shared it with members and supporters of our organization. The responses of 25 people aged 19–30 confirmed our assumptions—the majority expressed strong interest in learning about other cultures and in participating in intercultural events. Notably, 23 respondents said they would like to meet and befriend people from other countries, and 21 considered mutual intercultural understanding to be very important. At the same time, the results showed that many had never had the opportunity to participate in any form of cultural exchange. We also observed that many of the obstacles preventing young people from joining international projects were financial. That is why one of our key assumptions was to make the project accessible also to those with fewer opportunities—we planned for half of the participants to come from such backgrounds. The objectives we set for our project were developed jointly after many discussions and analysis of the current situation. The most important ones include: Intercultural education – we want participants to gain practical knowledge about elements of culture: beliefs and values, customs and traditions, social norms, language, and communication. This knowledge will be delivered through workshops, presentations, international group work, and creative activities. Strengthening cultural identity – we aim for participants to feel proud of their own heritage and learn how to express it. We want them to better understand the meaning of their own culture and respect the cultures of others. We expect that most of the 42 participants will gain greater confidence in expressing their cultural identity. Development of intercultural communication skills – the project will support the development of competencies such as cultural sensitivity, active listening, respectful self-expression, identifying stereotypes, and avoiding prejudices. We want participants to be better equipped to function in international environments—both professionally and personally. Creative cultural presentation – each participant will have the opportunity to present selected elements of their culture in an artistic way (e.g. through dance, singing, storytelling, multimedia presentations), which will help build mutual understanding and increase engagement from all sides. All project activities will be carried out over the course of 8 months and will involve 42 participants from various backgrounds. The project will conclude with cultural presentations and a joint publication documenting the results and good practices. Ultimately, our main goal was not only to enable young people to learn about other cultures, but also to equip them with tools to function consciously in a globalized world, to overcome prejudices, and to help build a society based on respect and openness. “The World Within Reach” project responds to the growing need for intercultural dialogue, and its objectives directly address the real challenges young people face in Europe and beyond.

Project partners (6)