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Stand up for Children's rights

2024-3-FR02-KA152-YOU-0002793462024Mobility of young peoplefinalized
Countries: FR|DE · Grant: €59,047
Bridging intercultural, intergenerational and social dividePhysical and mental health, well-beingDemocracy and inclusive democratic participation

Objectives

The Francas of Calvados organize their activities around two fundamental principles: openness to the world and education for citizenship. We create programs that encourage progress toward these two principles through community living, discovery of new environments, experimentation, expression, and dialogue. Our goal is to help children become active participants in their own lives, develop their independence, and improve collective well-being by allowing each one to find their place and understand their surroundings. Our aim is also to give as many children as possible the opportunity to experience a summer camp. We have made this possible thanks to affordable prices and the climate of trust we have built with parents over the past few years. These camps are important because they allow children to grow in a different setting, where group life is at the heart of the project. They are real spaces for experimenting with autonomy, community life, and citizenship—key factors that help children grow and thrive in society. This is why we wanted to broaden our range of camps to include international stays—not only tourist trips but true youth exchanges. For this first exchange, we wanted to work with a partner we already know and fully trust: Lidice Haus. Together, we have been organizing for several years a training course for activity leaders focused on intercultural animation: a BAFA–Juleica program. Our partnership continues because we are convinced that bringing together German and French youth not only strengthens the bond between our two nations but also gives young participants the tools to contribute actively to a more united Europe. The main goal of this project was therefore to allow many young people with limited access to mobility to discover it, while also giving them the chance to experience citizenship within a group through community living, and to foster openness to the world through encounters with other young people, cultures, and individual stories. We aimed to encourage them to “reach out” and avoid isolation as much as possible. All the project partners have observed a growing disengagement of young people from civic participation, both locally and at the European level. This project sought to encourage young participants to take part in discussions about democracy, human rights, and their role as European citizens, thereby fostering a sense of responsibility and involvement. As part of this approach, we chose to address the theme of children’s rights. The organization of community life and the structure of workshops were designed to promote the development of critical thinking in each participant and to encourage dialogue and communication.

Project partners (2)