Main Idea

Ensuring equal participation of youth in society is one of the biggest challenges of our times. Young people from deprived and marginalized communities as well as youth from rural areas experience huge lack of opportunities. This problem exists all over the Europe and all over the world. Inequality in opportunities became even more evident in times of COVID-19 pandemic. In the extreme situation of pandemic vulnerable groups and disadvantage communities became even more vulnerable than before. People from deprived communities and vulnerable groups are "left behind", their voices are not that loud as the voices of privileged groups.

One of the most powerful tools to deal with the problem is participatory art. This tool can help youth workers, young leaders, community developers to ensure engagement, advocacy, skill building and social innovation in their work with disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

On one hand art practices stimulates young people to be creative and express themselves through photos and other visual art, on the other hand, youth develop communication tools which can be empowering and strong in delivering the messages. Moreover, art helps to avoid stereotypes, show full picture with all the challenges and opportunities.

The aim of the project is to equip youth workers and young leaders with the tools of community art practices and to encourage them to use these tools for raising socially important topics and working in socially disadvantage or marginalized communities.

Project specific objectives are:

• to get familiar with the tools of community and participatory act practices (photography, collage, etc.),

• to explore ways of communication and delivering messages through art

• to get the knowledge and competences on project planning and implementation,

• to get practical experience of designing, developing, implementing and evaluating project in the local community using art methods.

One of the main strong points of the project is a comprehensive approach and win-win relationships between project participants and youth from local community. Project designed in the way that participant will not only attend the training course, but also get real practical experience. They will design and develop their own projects and implement them in local community with local youth. Such an educational approach and design ensures that participants are gaining knowledge, skills and competences in using art methods and at the same time practical experience in dealing with the group from local community as well as the experience of practical youth work in international team. This comprehensive approach will ensure the best result and education input in quite a short time. All the processes, including practice phase, will be totally self-conducted in the groups of participants but under the mentorship of trainers. Additionally, huge effect will be made on local community and local young people. Mini-project conducted by international group will empower local youth for using art, participation in society, self-development, searching and creating opportunities, which is a strong step in the community development.

The idea is to use a variety of different Non Formal educatonal methods as well as art teqhnicues and methods. Project is not covering technical side of photograpy. No special photo equipment needed.