Youth in
Action
3.1 – Youth
in the World
„Shooting
Down Stereotypes”
25th
October – 1th November 2013
Florina (Greece)
Dear Partners,
On the behalf of the Association
of Active Youths of Florina (OENEF) we are privileged to welcome
you to the multilateral youth exchange, which is being realized within Action 3.1, entitled: “Shooting
Down Stereotypes”. The project takes place between 25th of October and 1st of November 2013 in Florina. Below you can find a brief
description of the project.
About the idea and main objectives of the
project:
Shooting Down Stereotypes” is a
multilateral youth exchange designed under the frame of the Youth In Action
programme, action 3.1, the basic motivation of this project is to gather
youths around Europe to work together in the concept of a common European
future. The main goal of the project is therefore to increase the European
awareness of youth.
Europe can be seen as a box full of cultures,
traditions, beliefs, languages, mentalities, lifestyles and so many other
peculiar features, which make incredibly complex the concept of Diversity. All
these aspects cannot always fit each other, differences often lead to conflicts
at an interpersonal or social level, such as: xenophobia, discrimination,
violence, misunderstanding, exclusion, intolerance and so on. Social issues are
clearly visible at each corner. In this context stereotyping and prejudices
support the development of those negative effects.
Through “Shooting down Stereotypes” we want to
connect youngsters from different corners of Europe, and try to make them aware
about these delicate issues. We want to build up a social environment, safe and
creative, towards a better understanding of diversity.
As people are different because local history
and geography; traditions, cultures, politics, mentalities and lifestyles have
developed in a way that often goes beyond tolerance or understanding.
The main aim of the project is to fight
stereotypes and prejudices using cinema as a central tool. Cinema is one of the
seven arts, which nowadays gives large possibilities of expression. We mean to
present and use all the aspects regarding cinema, including techniques,
details, histories, styles, going deeper into the creation process.
Moreover most of young people carry in their
pockets expensive items which we think that are used in a wrong way rather than
in a productive way. An example, for instance wasting so much time on facebook
instead of, being active or getting involved for real matters.
The general objectives of the project are:
- To raise awareness about social problems
(exclusion, discrimination, xenophobia, etc.)
- To provide knowledge of film production
which can be used for developing skills in the social-media area;
- To support creativity and active
participation towards acknowledging problems/issues in the local communities;
- To enhance cultural diversity;
- To debate new perspectives of the use of
free time;
- Last
but not least on the list, to get youth motivated and inspire a sense of
initiative.
“Shooting Down Stereotypes” is a youth
exchange within the Youth in Action frame, action 3.1. The project will take
place in Florina - Greece for 7 days and the main theme will be arts &
culture.
A non formal methodology will be based on
brainstorm, team building, energizers, visual presentations, role games,
technical workshops, thematic visits, cultural evenings, debates.
The activities will be based on a non formal methodology
Local
organizations will support the event letting young people take part
into their activities and with the local community, then participants may
express their creativity. We will encourage them to make the difference, to
understand that they are the difference and can go beyond the limits of their
age and they do not need to wait for becoming adults to start up, managing or
handling any kind of activity. What is really active participation? This is the
question we'd like to answer with the participants. Greece is getting through a
particular moment and that is why it is a perfect environment where to set up
the activities. And then the Greek youth, people who well know what means going
beyond and looking ahead and in this way youth initiatives multiply the message
and people become the change. Greece needs also this kind of space: where
people listen to each other and look for the solution rather than discouraging
each other.
Partner
organizations and number of participants:
The event gathers together 30 young people from six different
European countries: Greece, Italy, Serbia, FYR Macedonia,
Montenegro and Croatia. Each country has 4 participants aged between 18 and 26 years
+ 1 leader (no limit age) (5 in total).
