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Spoznajmo raznolikosti, ki nas bogatijo

2024-2-SI02-KA155-YOU-0002795152024Discover EU inclusion actionfinalizedGood practice
Countries: SI · Grant: €10,055.75

Objectives

The project “Let’s Get to Know the Diversity that Enriches Us” was aimed at young people with mild intellectual disabilities and various associated conditions. The participants came from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, where parents or guardians were often unable to offer their children the experience of travel – not only due to financial limitations but also because of their own personal challenges (e.g., lack of knowledge, mental health issues, chronic illnesses, parenting difficulties, etc.). The young participants expressed a strong desire to explore the world and travel; however, due to a lack of supportive factors in their families and their own specific needs, they were unable to realize such experiences. In their local environments, they were frequently exposed to various risks such as addictions, ineffective conflict resolution, populism, conspiracy theories, and increasing racial and cultural intolerance. The project thus addressed a complex combination of social, developmental, and educational challenges. The project had the following objectives: • to provide young people with their first international mobility experience, in which they actively participated in the planning and implementation of the journey, • to encourage understanding of different values and lifestyles of other cultures and to foster intercultural dialogue, • to enhance digital literacy through the use of various digital tools, • to raise environmental awareness and promote sustainable behaviour, • to teach young people how to independently and safely use public transportation, • to promote reflection on personal experiences and to evaluate the learning process, • to enable the presentation of newly acquired knowledge and experiences to their peers. The project activities were carried out in accordance with the principles of youth work and non-formal education. The participants were actively involved in: • route planning, • obtaining the European Health Insurance Card, • booking accommodation, • preparing content for the trip, • learning basic vocabulary, customs, gestures, legends, and stories of the host country. These activities contributed to strengthening European identity, understanding common values (such as respect, equality, and democracy), and developing social and communication skills. The project enabled participants to: • experience their first independent trip abroad, • develop skills in cooperation, trust, conflict resolution, and initiative-taking, • acquire practical knowledge (e.g., using public transportation, working with digital tools), • gain a deeper understanding of other cultures and compare them to their own, • boost self-confidence and social inclusion. In addition, at the end of the project, the young participants prepared presentations for their peers, further strengthening their role as carriers of experience and positive role models. The project “Let’s Get to Know the Diversity that Enriches Us” successfully achieved its objectives and offered a valuable experience to young people with fewer opportunities. It contributed to their personal development, greater social inclusion, and active citizenship. Thanks to comprehensive preparation and ongoing support, the project serves as a good practice example in the field of involving vulnerable groups in international youth mobility initiatives.

Project partners (1)