Youth Exchange

A large majority of people are affected negatively by discrimination in all its possible forms. Human rights are still often violated and abused. What is more, discrimination is not easily detected. Discrimination and intolerance are interrelated as both are strictly connected with lack of respect for the others' beliefs, practices, or values.

This means that people with different cultural, political, religious backgrounds as well as sexual orientation from others are socially rejected. Intolerance cultivates hatred avoiding those we consider different from ourselves. It may lead to physical injury or even murder.

Discrimination doesn't just harm those directly targeted but it also negatively impacts society. People raised in discriminatory environments face barriers that prevent them from realizing their full potential and therefore cannot contribute meaningfully to society. It appears that discrimination based on factors such as origin (including race and nationality) stands at 24.5%, disability at 22.7%, and gender at 12.7%.

Up-to date data from UNICEF presents the following -

• More than one in three adolescents aged 13-15 years has experienced bullying and about the same proportion of children has been involved in fights worldwide,

• 3 out of 10 students in 39 developed countries have admitted of bullying their peers,

• Corporal punishment at school is still partially allowed in some countries for 720 million school-age children

The discriminatory behaviour should be recognisable. Children themselves as well as those who work with them should be enabled to recognise this kind of behaviour even if they are the discriminators or they are discriminated against. No child should experience violent and discriminatory behaviours. In our project role-playing exercises that encourage empathy will be included helping teenagers develop awareness and promote resilience and self-confidence. Non-formal education and art methods are going to be implemented during the project. These methods will contribute to intercultural learning, physical and emotional development of youngsters while forum-theatre, dance and art will promote self-awareness, enhance communication without words and participants' individual expression of experiences in public.

Extra creative activities are not affordable and accessible by most families, at this age. Young people will be given the opportunity to access the educational process equally and expose their own creative potentials.

The youth exchange will take place in Greece from 25th of July until the 2nd of August 2025. It aims to bring together 36 youngsters (ages 16 – 22) from 6 organisations and 6 leaders (one per organization) and lead them to the comprehension of the topic of discrimination and intolerance consequences as well as those of violence and their impact in each participant's life. Creative workshops (art and dance activities) as well as forum-theatre techniques will be a significant part of the youth exchange to develop the exposure of each teenager's inner potentials and active participation. More specifically, the project's aims are:

• enhancing the participants' European identity and awareness of the need to participate socially in the reduction of climate change among European citizens be empowered.
• the introduction of the types of discrimination and ways of its prevention through art, dance, and theatrical activities.
• the participants' cultural bonding and unity through the understanding of their socio-cultural, political as well as sexual differences.
• cultural awareness, solidarity, and tolerance between countries to be promoted.
• inclusion and active citizenship among participants to be encouraged.

The prevention of the spread of discrimination and intolerance among youngsters is the main aim of the project. For this reason, a variety of art therapy, dance and theatre activities will be used. Creative projects (exhibitions / performances) as well as a dissemination of the project's results will take place to reveal each participant's creative potential and using these tools, ultimately help their local communities.