Let's FOLK!
Start date: Aug 5, 2014,
End date: Jul 4, 2015
PROJECT
FINISHED
Project ‘LET’S Folk!’ will take place in Atakum, Samsun, Turkey between 1 and 8 November 2014. It will gather 37 participants, between 18 and 25 years old, from six countries: Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, Crotia and Turkey, interested in art, national traditions and curious about the world. It was created with the aim of preserving and promoting folk culture of different countries, as well as to raise awareness about other European nations, learn about their origins and thus to fight against harming prejudices. The projects name's extension is "LiveEnjoyTry'Spread FOLK!" and all this describe our aims.
We want to share our own skills and show that despite differences we can be united thanks to our common interests and goals. We will discuss the discrimination during the special workshops, games and also by contacting with other, differing youngsters. The whole week all together we will work on preparing choreography that will be presented on the last day to the local community of Samsun. We apply non-formal education methods and involve into the process of arrangements in order to give the youngsters a chance to be active in social life and expressing themselves, also we want them to use their own creativity to invent and prepare a final performance.
The main theme is to show colorfulness and multiculturalism of European countries. We focus mostly on dance and music because we believe that this will have a positive impact on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle (dance as a sport) as well as will show the opportunity for young people to spend their free time in a very fruitful way. Firstly they will keep fit, secondly they will support and spread traditions of their countries. What is more we will gather youth not only from various countries, groups will be also multi-religious. Despite all this differences, we will be all united in the common dance. As a result of cooperation we will try to disprove some stereotypes and prejudices about societies and will keep all our activities in the spirit of solidarity, respect and mutual understanding. Our aim is also to include Samsun's local community into our actions so that we could develop creativity and entrepreneurship. We will give participants a chance to present their skills and ideas.
Youngsters will have an opportunity to get new useful skills like organizing final event, possibility to improve English by cooperating in multicultural group, as well as preparing choreography and learning foreign songs and dances.
Idea of project is to promote Turkish culture among the young people from different countries, as well as foreign folk culture among the Turks. We believe this project will also make positive contribution to Turkey by showing it's fascinating culture, positive and open attitude of society, legendary hospitality, and stunning views. All these aspects will help to break the stereotypes generated in Europe about Turkey, and will convince more people to explore Turkey.
We have more in common, but there are as well differences in our origins, and traditions. Especially now, in the age of globalization, we should be proud and preserve our cultural heritage. Maintaining traditions and broaden the knowledge about it will make us more aware and open minded citizens. What’s more during our project we will be able to notice that our contemporary culture and and we, as a youth and as a human beings, are similar. It will cause the reinforce of awareness of young people’s sense of European citizenship.
Consequently, it can be obviously observed that there is a need for an association of young people about folk dance in Atakum, Samsun. After our programme, besides having representation of young people who likes folk dancing in Atakum thanks to the Association, it will be ensured that young people who needs to financial support will be reinforced and Erasmus+ programmes will be spreaded to large masses, especially to young people who have lack of opportunities.