Where: San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna

When: July 2019

Who: New generations of migrants and young people with fewer opportunities

Participants: 1 Group Leader (> 25 years) and 5 participants (16 to 20 years);

Countries involved: Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Germany and France

Description of the project: The development and integration of an intercultural dialogue between European cultures has always been fundamental for the establishment and development of the European Community. Putting European cultures in a position to create links and common foundations between different cultures, communities and populations to promote mutual understanding and interaction, is essential for the maintenance of peace and the development of an ever stronger sense of European citizenship. The “InterculturACT” youth exchange project involves 30 young people from France, Portugal, Denmark, Germany and Italy in the Municipality of San Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna) in a project of integration and promotion of diversity, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, through art and the show. The project analyzes and intervenes on the problem of social integration of the territories involved, focusing on the ethnic minorities highly affected by this phenomenon, compared to young people who know and count in their experience the opportunity to travel and learn about many different cultures. In fact, some of these youngsters are part of ethnic minorities and are disadvantaged young people who otherwise would not have the possibility and the opportunity to participate in similar opportunities. The nature of the minor opportunities is mainly linked to their condition of ethnic minorities, which unfortunately predisposes these children to a state of social exclusion, both direct and indirect. As the data show, many of them do not even try to integrate with their peers born in the territory of residence, but tend to be excluded. The nature of the disadvantage is also economic and geographical in many of these cases, since the families of these children live in often unfavorable economic conditions or in rural areas where it is difficult to move. Just to push them to better possibilities, this experience is very important in order to undermine not only certain beliefs about the opportunities for travel and knowledge but also for the coexistence of many different cultures in a peaceful manner, an important element given the historical moment experienced by Europe today, starting from institutions like school. In light of this, the partnership has the general objective of integrating the ethnic minorities and second generations into the territories of the partnership and transmitting the values ​​of active European citizenship on the importance of intercultural dialogue through the instruments of the theater. Furthermore, the following specific objectives are set:

– Involve young people from high schools in the partnership territories in the themes of European citizenship and active;

– Promote European mobility in schools for knowledge of European cultures and the sensibilization to the values ​​of citizenship;

– Promote intercultural dialogue practices through art and entertainment and enhance cultures as a resource;

– Involving young people in an active learning process to improve their transversal skills and their cultural expression.

In particular, we want to meet the EU’s need to improve through alternative instruments, more than non-formal education, teacher education and internationalization education of the countries involved.

The project aims to promote the fundamental values ​​of respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to cultural minorities and consequently promote pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance and equality. Strengthened by these tools, children and schools, will be more open to using non-formal methodologies for integration and social inclusion, favoring moments like this and more favorably inserting European mobility in their programs and in the alternative possibilities of social experiences.