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Crossing Borders to Build Cross-Cultural Competencies in Youth
Start date: Dec 20, 2016, End date: Oct 19, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Diversity and contact between different cultures is ever-growing in Europe. The continent has always been home to a wide range of people groups, but in past years the need for increased social inclusion and intercultural dialogue has become a more obvious need, due to increased globalization and digital connectivity around the world, the growth of religious extremism and xenophobia, and the continuing flow of migrants into Europe from other parts of the globe. As some of Europe’s historical animosities continue unresolved in the modern age, these new questions of diversity in the 21st century make the picture even more complicated. It is hard to change old stereotypes and prejudices, but youth are generally teachable and open-minded, and they desire to see and experience new things in the world. It is important to expose youth to diversity and teaching about social inclusion while they are young and in a highly-formative stage of life, as it may affect their attitudes on the topic for the rest of their lives.For this reason, we have designed a project that exposes youth to other cultures and improves their competencies in the areas of intercultural communication and sensitivity, develops their commitment to the social inclusion of different groups, and increases their awareness of their important role in changing society -- beginning in their local communities.The project is designed to provide youth from 4 different European countries (Albania, Armenia Moldova, and Romania) with the chance to have meaningful dialogue and interactions with youth from other countries, ethnic groups, and cultures. Through an international youth exchange, followed by local community service-learning projects on issues of diversity and tolerance, and ongoing online interactions, this project aims to make a significant change in the lives of young people as they move forward as more tolerant, respectful and culturally-competent citizens, able to contribute to peace and diversity in their own communities and beyond.Goal: To facilitate cross-cultural interactions and provide non-formal educational tools for young people that empower them to increase tolerance, promote social inclusion, and build respect for diversity, at both the international and local level.1. Objective A: Development of Cross-Cultural Competencies in Youth and Youth WorkersThe cross-cultural competencies and sensitivity of 32 youth and 16 youth workers from across Europe are increased.a. Activity A1: Youth exchange in Romania (6 days, travel not included) which will include workshops on cross-cultural understanding and communication; cultural events; and initial planning of community service-learning projects on the themes of tolerance, social inclusion, and diversity. The entire week will be planned based on the themes of non-formal and experiential education, thus promoting participant engagement, empowerment, and transformative learning. 2. Objective B: Active Citizenship and Participation in Local CommunitiesYouth are empowered to use non-formal learning tools and newfound cross-cultural knowledge to promote diversity and social inclusion in 16 communities across Europe.a. Activity B1: Youth and youth workers share about their experience at the youth exchange and what they learned with their local IMPACT clubs.b. Activity B2: Youth IMPACT clubs lead community service-learning projects on the themes of diversity, social inclusion, etc., inspired by their experience and learning at the youth exchange. The youth workers will support the youth clubs in planning and implementing these service-learning projects but the youth will remain the primary drivers of the local projects.3. Objective C: Long-Term SupportParticipants and their sending organization are supported by an international network of partners sharing innovative non-formal methods that are useful for promoting intercultural dialogue among youth.a. Activity C1: Development of an online space to share information and stay in touch between project participants. This online space will also provide a platform for ongoing informal coaching amongst participants in the exchange, as well as a place for ongoing reflection on learning using tools like Youthpass.b. Activity C2: Collection and distribution of non-formal educational resources about diversity and intercultural communication. Each partner will contribute at least 3 resources (games, stories, other methods) in English and their local language, for shared use and adaptation across the international network.
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