| Project Code | 2018-3-UK01-KA205-059966 |
| Type of Action | Strategic Partnership |
| Countries Involved | NL,LT,EE,ES,MK |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Budget | 195.259,13 EUR |
| Objectives | to encourage young people to climb out of their trenches and overcome their differences and possible conflicts by connecting with each other through storytelling and by learning how to deal with differences and conflicts in a constructive way to offer youth professionals theoretical bricks to think about and develop workshops to connect youth with different backgrounds in order to build strong, resilient, respectful and peaceful communities |
| Target Group | Young people Educators Social workers |
| Summary of the Project |
| The “Picture your Story Strategic Partnership” is focused on developing innovative tools to help youth from diverse cultural backgrounds build stronger, more resilient, and peaceful communities across Europe. The project will result in a digital toolkit that combines picture language and storytelling, designed for use by youth workers both within and outside the EU. This toolkit aims to address the common issue of conflicts among youth, which are often intensified by the influx of refugees and underlying fears of the “other.” The project is relevant across all EU countries, as it seeks to foster mutual understanding and respect among young people from different backgrounds. Recognizing that many existing programs aimed at resolving these conflicts lack sustainability and effectiveness, the partnership has identified a need for new methods. Many past initiatives have struggled to achieve long-term impact, often failing to create lasting connections between people of different identities. To address this gap, the partnership plans to develop a new methodology that combines picture language with storytelling. This approach is intended to enhance mutual understanding and encourage respect among diverse groups, ultimately contributing to more peaceful and cooperative communities. The combination of picture language and storytelling was deliberately chosen for its complementary strengths. Picture language is particularly effective in highlighting similarities and differences between individuals and cultural groups, making it a powerful tool in today’s visually-driven youth culture. By using visual communication strategies, the project aims to engage young people in a way that resonates with them, encouraging them to connect with others and share their stories. However, the partnership acknowledges that picture language alone is not enough to foster deep empathy and mutual respect. To address this limitation, storytelling tools will be integrated into the methodology. Storytelling has been proven to guide the sharing process in a direction that fosters empathy and understanding, which are essential for building respect among diverse individuals. Research and past experiences of the project partners indicate that personal stories are particularly effective in creating empathy, making storytelling a key component of the project. By combining these two approaches, the partnership hopes to create a sustainable and impactful solution for building resilient, respectful, and cooperative communities in Europe. |
| Results of the Project |
| As a result of the project, a new and innovative methodology and toolkit were developed, combining picture language and storytelling. This toolkit was designed for use by youth workers, social workers, and community leaders in areas or communities at risk of conflict. Its purpose was to foster mutual understanding, respect, and acceptance among people from diverse cultural backgrounds. By facilitating these connections, the toolkit empowered communities to work towards becoming more resilient, respectful, sustainable, and cooperative, ultimately helping to prevent conflicts and build stronger social ties. The project results can be accessed from here : https://bit.ly/4fEyEdM |
| Significance of the Project |
| This project is considered crucial in addressing the marginalization of youth because it directly targets the challenges faced by young people from diverse and often marginalized backgrounds. Marginalized youth frequently encounter barriers to social inclusion, understanding, and acceptance due to their cultural, ethnic, or socioeconomic differences. These barriers can lead to heightened tensions, exclusion, and conflict within communities.By developing a toolkit that combines picture language and storytelling, the project aims to bridge gaps between these diverse groups, fostering mutual understanding and respect. The toolkit is designed to empower marginalized youth by giving them a platform to share their stories and experiences, thereby validating their perspectives and integrating them into the broader community dialogue. This approach helps counteract their marginalization by promoting inclusion, reducing prejudices, and enhancing social cohesion, ultimately supporting the development of more equitable and supportive communities. |
