Summary

The international project “Splashes of Diversity” includes a series of interconnected activities where youth workers and youth from different cultural backgrounds will meet and experience non-formal and informal learning in intercultural environment.
The project’s main focus is youth with fewer opportunities and different cultural background.
The project’s general objectives are:
– to raise awareness and understanding of other cultures and countries;
– to promote diversity, intercultural dialogue, tolerance between young people from different countries and coming from different backgroungds;
– to expand their knowledge on the notions of multiculturalism, acceptance and tolerance;
– to provide young people with fewer opportunities with international mobility;
– to share experience and encourage new youth initiatives;
– to facilitate international exchange, networking and cooperation.
The project contains 2 main parts: youth exchange in Ukraine and youth exchange in Latvia. In each of the youth exchanges young people from Latvia, Ukraine, Greece, Italy and Greece will take part. There will be 36 participants taking part in every of the youth exchanges: 5 young people (18-25 y.o.) + 1 group leader per country. Each of the youth exchanges will last for 8 days (excluding arrival and departure days).
The objectives of each of the youth exchanges are the same as general project objectives, but additionally each of the youth exchanges will focus on the certain specifics. During the youth exchange in Ukraine we will discover about the definition of culture in general, learn about participants’ cultures and intercultural communication. The final activity of the youth exchange will be theater production which participants would have to create by themselves and to present to the local public. The youth exchange in Latvia will be dedicated migration and inclusion of asylum seekers. The final product of the youth exchange will be photo exhibition about migration and diversity which participants will present to the local public.
The methods will be used all based on the non-formal education principles: role play simulations, group work and discussions, brainstorming, team building and trust building activities, energizers, ice-breakers, getting to know each other activities, intercultural nights, reflection groups, city game, photography workshops, theater production, working on the community action, community presentation, evaluation activities, sport games, living library, etc.
As a valuable project result we expect that the youth will take a subject that they are concerned about, will look at it clearly and objectively to establish a solid message, then will find a creative method to give that message to others. Young people with fewer opportunities would have a chance to gain and valuable life lesson and increase own self-esteem. Additionally, working in an international group will give the participants an opportunity to network and form international relationships that can lead to lifelong friendships. We expect that young people will become aware about the importance of the respect to diversity and tolerance and about their personal and mutual responsibility for it as active European citizens.
To deliver their final product the youth will need to maintain an open dialogue with each other. They will need mutual tolerance, intercultural awareness, and will need to create solidarity beyond the borders of the European Union. They must break down prejudices and stereotypes, and build consensus based on common understanding and respect.
The hosting communities will benefit from the intercultural experience through hosting people from different European countries. We expect that not only the hosting communities, but all the local communities of the participants will benefit from the project, as all the participants will come back home and multiply the experience they’ll get.
As longer term benefits we expect that the project will promote diversity, active citizenship, tolerance, inclusion, multicultural dialogue and international cooperation in the participating countries and further.

Results