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Rising Empowered Advocates: Deafblind Youth

2026-1-MT01-KA152-YOU-0003970102026Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: MT|BE|HR|CZ|IT|EL|ES|FR|DE · Grant: €87,260
DisabilitiesInclusion of marginalised young peopleBridging intercultural, intergenerational and social divide

Objectives

Objective 1: To help 40 deafblind youth from 9 countries become more independent by teaching them self-advocacy skills during a 6-day youth exchange in Malta. Objective 2: To produce one 'Deafblind Youth Manifesto' and one "Policy Recommendation Paper" together by the end of the exchange. This paper will explain how to make cities more accessible, directly informed by the evidence-based accessibility audits conducted by the youth participants during their visits to Valletta and Mdina. Objective 3: To start a European network for deafblind youth within one month after the meeting. This will help the 40 participants stay in touch and support each other using accessible technology. Deafblind youth are often left out of society. This exchange helps them move from being alone to having a "collective voice." This youth exchange is about giving youth the power to speak up for their own rights. By working together, they learn that their ideas are important. This helps them stop feeling dependent on others and start feeling like active citizens who can help their communities. In this youth exchange, participants learn by doing. A main goal is for them to practice ProTactile (PT) and haptic signs. This is "non-formal learning," which means they learn from each other, not from a teacher. By using these touch-based ways to communicate, the youth can lead their own group talks and workshops. This is the "bridge" that allows everyone to be included and to share their skills equally. Through the co-creation of the Deafblind Youth Manifesto and the Policy Recommendation Paper, participants engage in a high-impact 'learning-by-doing' process. By conducting Accessibility Audits in cities like Valletta, they transition from passive recipients of care to subject-matter experts on their own needs. This practical application of civic monitoring significantly boosts their self-advocacy skills and mental well-being, instilling the resilience needed to lead inclusion efforts. Ultimately, this process empowers them to return to their home countries not just as participants, but as proactive leaders capable of driving systemic change

Project partners (10)