BRACT project aims to foster youngsters’ engagement in volunteerism for the support of vulnerable groups, offering to the youngsters the opportunity to learn an innovative artistic methodology which uses art in a community building perspective for the promotion of social inclusion. The project also intends to raise awareness among civil society of social issues, tackling the diffused lack of active citizenship.The Action lasts 13 months and involves 4 partner organizations: CBiH, as applicant, which already has experience in European projects management and works on the reduction of poverty and the support of vulnerable groups; CS and AP, which both work directly with youngsters, enhancing their self-engagement and promoting volunteerism; MT, an Italian professional theatrical association in charge of brining their innovative artistic approach. The Consortium members, which have already cooperated in other European and regional projects, have invited MT to join the partnership in order to have its members involved not only just as trainers, but also in the whole project ideation and implementation. The project involves a group of youngsters from the Balkan region in three capacity building activities, providing them with exchanges of best practices and trainings on BRACT socio-educational animation method. Then, the project includes a mobility activity (Youth Exchange “Follow me to Art”, YE FA) taking place in Lezhe (Albania), addressing Balkans youngsters and young Italian volunteer artists. Guided by 2 MT trainers, the YE participants experience the positive effect of volunteerism, putting into practice the artistic tools for community building learnt during the previous activities. The YE FA participants, through a residential week of artistic workshops and performances, get to know each other and the local community, exchanging experiences and knowledges, helping the reconstruction of local social bonds, severely stroke by the earthquakes.As a result of the project the youngsters are provided with artistic, intercultural and transversal skills which they can bring back to their communities, contributing in the community building of their territories.
The main aim was to foster youth’s engagement in volunteerism and offer them training on a social innovation methodology, which uses art to promote social inclusion from a community-building perspective. The Action motivated youngsters to acquire skills, needed for socio-educational and community animation to support vulnerable groups (SO1). The Action raised awareness and increased young people’s knowledge about volunteerism and its contribution to community building (SO2).
The Action “Building Relationships: Art & Community Training” was based on the sharing of practices among several local youth entities in the 4 countries involved. B.R.A.C.T. targeted the field of youth, youth unemployment and arts. The Consortium aimed to bring experience and new methodologies in creating activities aimed to promote youth volunteerism and its possibility to contribute to the improvement of the quality of socio-educative animation with vulnerable groups and communities.
<< Background >> The Action “Building Relationships: Art & Community Training” was based on the sharing of practices among several local youth entities in the 4 countries involved. B.R.A.C.T. targeted the field of youth, youth unemployment and arts. The Consortium aimed to bring experience and new methodologies in creating activities aimed to promote youth volunteerism and its possibility to contribute to the improvement of the quality of socio-educative animation with vulnerable groups and communities. << Objectives >> The main aim was to foster youth’s engagement in volunteerism and offer them training on a social innovation methodology, which uses art to promote social inclusion from a community-building perspective. The Action motivated youngsters to acquire skills, needed for socio-educational and community animation to support vulnerable groups (SO1). The Action raised awareness and increased young people’s knowledge about volunteerism and its contribution to community building (SO2). << Implementation >> The implementation of the Action respected the initial plans and achieved the defined indicators. The Action, which started in October 2020, has been deeply hindered by the Covid-19 pandemic (outbreak in March 2020): the gathering of people and transnational meetings were not possible for a long period. The pandemic provoked delays and forced the Consortium to ask for a no-cost extension of 12 months. Therefore, it was possible to complete all the activities and achieve all the results. << Results >> The Action targeted the specific needs of youth in the region: 1) the lack of innovative methodologies and capacities for volunteerism; 2) the lack of awareness and knowledge about voluntarism. The Action improved the situation in both areas, by providing training, and exchange of good practices among youth and young CSOs. The main result was the development of a stronger culture of voluntarism in each community, offering new solutions for youth unemployment and limiting their social exclusion.