The project is a 17-month initiative, carried out jointly and coordinated by 5 youth non-profit and non-governmental entities from 5 countries of the European Union (Greece, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, and Spain) with a long history in working with young people at international level and with an outstanding level of experience and knowledge in the use of non-regulated and participatory methodologies. The main aim of this project is to improve media literacy and thinking competences among youth workers and NGO leaders, to enable them and their peers and colleagues to promote, organize and implement new educational (social, cultural) activities to disseminate both competences, using new settings and formats and by the means of NFL and ICL methodology. To be capable to read and interpret the different media and to communicate in a positive, constructive and non-violent way (out of fear, hate, and discrimination), we need to understand not only the meaning, relevance and benefits of critical thinking but also the different types of thinking (lateral, logic, systematic, negative, positive), not only because they are used by the media, but also because thinking, reflection, and feedback are a basic element of any non-formal and intercultural learning process. General project objectives are:1. To develop a more holistic understanding of media literacy and thinking competences and its connection, as driving forces to build more inclusive, participatory, and peaceful societies, as part of the culture of peace and nonviolence and as a relevant source of lifelong learning.2. To promote non-formal and intercultural learning as a valid methodology for the recognition, development, and validation of both competences.3. To build the competences of the teams of each organization, including youth workers (managers, educators, journalists, volunteer leaders, multipliers), so that they can improve their work through their development, as a way to empower other young people, including young leaders, professionals, and individuals with fewer opportunities, who are victims of discrimination, hate speech and other forms of violence, taking place both online and offline. The project will have a positive impact on the 21 youth workers who will participate in international mobility activities (two meetings and one course), including the 5 national coordinators and members of the national teams responsible for carrying out the local activities. Throughout the project, each entity will interact with other entities (at least 4), with which it will meet, plan, and carry out joint activities (such as the preparation of multiplier events or follow-up actions). The project has positive impacts on the people who participate in the various activities (minimum 10 activities with the participation of at least 80 young individuals in total), inside of the promoter entities (35 in total), in a number of youth workers in the different cities and countries and in a significant number of public and private entities in each country participating in the 5 multiplier events (100 people at least in total).It will empower young people to be more respectful and empathetic when expressing themselves and their views, opinions, thoughts, and life experiences.

<< Objectives >>With this project we wanted to increase the level of inclusion of Roma people and to raise the awareness of people against discrimination and their stereotypes about Roma. This project idea was coming from the prejudices and stereotypes against Roma and feedback, observations that we received from our communities and partners, we realized that there is a big need to break this discrimination and stereotypes. In order to do this and raise the participants current strengthens, we implemented this project.The objectives of the project were: 1. To increase the knowledge on civic involvement and participation of the 45 participants during the youth exchange;2. To develop the artistic skills (theater, music, dance) of the 45 participants3. To increase the confidence in their own forces and the motivation of the participants4. To increase the level of acceptance and understanding of interculturality and diversity for the 45 participants5. To develop the capacity of the 45 young people to plan, organize and promote educational and artistic events.Through this project we promoted tolerance among young Roma and non-Roma and reduce prejudices and stereotypes among the 45 participants. At the same time, we increased the level of confidence of young people in their own forces not to refuse to get involved or participate in something before they convince themselves that they can't, just because that's how they were told or that's what others think about them.This project aims was to reduce young people's prejudices and help them to value diversity, talent and knowledge. At the same time, our project responded to the needs of our association and our partners to develop new activities that ensure a constant and continuous participation and involvement of young Roma and non-Roma in their activities.<< Implementation >>In the youth exchange we will had a total of 45 participants as follows:- From Romania we had a group of 9 young Roma and non-Roma people from Resita city, Mociur and Dealu Mare neighborhood, two ghetto neighborhoods that face a lot of prejudices and stereotypes from the community (the people from Resita think that the roma people from these neighborhoods are thieves, lazy, unwashed, criminals) and the majority of the population avoids to get in touch with these communities. The young people in these communities are involved in a series of activities of the youth center in some organisation from Resita, and just few of them are student in our school, TRAIAN VUIA THEORETICAL HIGH SCHOOL, and havebeen the subject of some researches related to the level of unemployment or school dropout. Most of them did not finish 8 primary classes because they decided to leave school to work abroad or to start a family. Working abroad has made them speak different languages, in particular English and wish for more in life, but the disappointments experienced in the past due to prejudices and stereotypes made them not trust in their strengths and not get involved in community life.-From Macedonia the 9 participants were young Roma and non-Roma from the city of Gostivar, a small nord town where the Roma community is very isolated and the place they live is considered a ghetto, most of the population refusing to have contact with them. Some of these young people are local volunteers and want to show positive things about themselves and make the other residents of the city know them as they are, to accept diversity and interculturality and to be more tolerant. These young people face educational difficulties, exclusion, poverty and discrimination constantly. At the same time, an obstacle for them was also the fact that they belong to the Muslim religion, being discriminated against both because they are Roma and Muslim.-From Spain we had a group of 5 participants that come from marginalized communities in the north of Spain, most of them being migrants helped by this association, from Eastern Europe who are involved in the programs offered by the NGO. We had 4 participants from the last category mentioned earlier, from each country, and they will be considered the project experts and the ones who will prepare the scenarios for the theatre forum, LARP or of the different artistic moments staged by the participants.-From Bulgaria we had 9 young participants who, under the guidance of their NGO, came to promote tolerance, interculturality, involvement and respect of human rights among young people. They came from the region of Blagoevgrad, some of them being Roma or from families with serious economic problems, and due to their situation they are excluded or are excluding themselves from the activities of the community.<< Results >>Impact on participants:As expected, the project had a major impact from a personal development perspective. In fact, the young participants increased their self-esteem and confidence, they became more aware of their strengths and weaknesses and to overcome to some of them. At the same time, we offered them the opportunity to learn about theater, flash mob, participation and involvement and how they can motivate through these methods the other young people at the local level to become more tolerant and understanding on what interculturalism means. We wanted this project to have an impact on the 45 young people involved and make them more tolerant, moreunderstanding, more open and responsible when it comes to other young people in the community in which they live, or with violent or discriminating individuals or groups, they had the possibility to know the roma culture and the culture of the other five partner countries. We also realize that the young participants became better to understand what they need to do, to promote understanding, tolerance and interculturality among young people and make other young people in their communityunderstand better these things. They acquired new knowledge and skills, they had more trust in them. They developed their teamwork and social skills and communication in foreign languages. The participants knew more about the disadvantages of living in a ghetto and, in at the same time, learn more abouthow they can reduce the inequalities that result from it. They are more aware of the European dimension of education, European citizenship and civic responsibility, knowledge and use of Europass CV and Youthpass Certificate. By participating in this project, the 45 participants improved their artistic skills, learn how to organize and put into practice activities based on different forms of theater: LARP, Theater forum, Improvisation, flashmob. The young people also became more aware of the effects of prejudice, stereotypes and discriminations. Impact on partner organizations:With the partner organizations we have been able to strengthen our collaboration and work in a positive climate. We were able to improve their working quality, through the fact that we all acquired more knowledge and skills in developing the activities of theater and other types of street art, promoting tolerance and understanding, in disadvantaged environments. We expected and we succeeded to make the group leaders from every country to improve their attitudes, skills and knowledge in working with young people from disadvantaged groups, using the theater and other types of street art to promote tolerance and understanding in the community. By selecting disadvantaged participants from Macedonia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain and Romania and disseminated the result of our project we improve the imagine of the ONG in their country. They now are capable to sharing / exchanging experience / expertise about discriminations and exclusion also with other organization in their country. Impact on the other target groups:The residents of Brebu(especially the young people) and Reșița (especially the young people in the local high schools and the people from the three marginalized neighborhoods Calnic, Mociur and Dealul Mare) became more open to new people from other country and more tolerant and understanding after the implementation of this project. Expecially during a visit in the High school Traian Vuia, young people learn about the opportunities offered by the Erasmus + program and other EU youth programs. Young people and communities in partner countries are now more open, more tolerant, they will know more about mobility, about project results andabout Erasmus + opportunities. When they return home they will put into practice what they have learned about promoting the tolerance through artistic ways. In the long term, we believe this project will contribute to increasing self-confidence and self-esteem, civic involvement for promoting tolerance and understanding of young people in partner community.

In Romania populația din mediul rural reprezintă aproximativ 46% din populatia țării. Conform „Strategiei naţionale privind incluziunea socială şi reducerea sărăciei pentru perioada 2015-2020” - Sărăcia este de trei ori mai răspândită în zonele rurale decât în zonele urbane. Datorita gradului mult mai ridicat de saracie si a vietii care este mult mai grea in mediul rural populatia din mediul rural este mult mai afectata de saracie si de marginalizare. Tinerii din mediul rural sunt privati de servicii, de activitati si de acces la ceea ce tinerii de la oras numesc viata normala. Acest lucru a facut ca acesti tineri sa fie mai retrasi, mai putin implicati si sa nu fie interesati de activitati de tineret sau de voluntariat. Totodata activismul acestor tineri este foarte scazut. La fel si stima de sine. Acelasi lucru se intampla si in comunitatile rurale in care lucreaza asociatia noastra, tineri din Milcoveni in urma discutiilor avute cu ei, pe langa faptul ca nu aveau cunostinte despre oprtunitatile care exista pentru tineri, despre voluntariat fata de care au o retinere foarte mare, despre tot ce insemana implicare. Totodata acestia au semnalat faptul ca nu sunt ascultati de nimeni, ca nu au acces la nici in fel de activitati sau informatii. Atunci cand am intrebat cum s epot ei implica sau ce le-at place sa faca acestia nu au stiut ce sa raspunda. Pentru a descoperii daca modul de gandire al tinerilor din activitatile si experienta asociatiei noastre este asemanator cu alte tari am rugat partenerii nostrii din strainatate sa ne spuna ce fel de experiente au avut ei cu tinerii in cea ce priveste munca si activarea tinerilor din mediul rural. Experientele fiind asemanatoare i-am invitat pe 3 din partenerii nostrii la un schimb de tineri in care sa oferim posibilitatea acestor tineri sa discute pe aceasta tema si sa gasim solutii impreuna cu ei pentru aceasta problema. Prezentul schimb de tineri este realizat cu scopul de aoferi tinerilor din mediul rural posibilitatea sa inteleaga cat de importanta este implicarea lor in activitati civice si de voluntariat menite sa contribuie la dezvoltarea comunitatilor unde traiesc Obiectivele proiectului nostru au fost: 1. Sa crestem gradul de motivare a 40 de tineri din 4 tari sa se implice in activitati civice si de voluntariat 2. Sa crestem gradul de cunoastere a 40 de tineri despre munca voluntara si contributia acesteia la dezvoltarea comunitatilor locale 3. Sa crestem gradul de cunostere a 40 de tineri despre ce insemana activismul si procesul de luare a deciziilor la nivel local si cum pot ei sa contribuie la dezvoltarea comunitatii prin implicare 4. Sa crestem gradul de cunoastere al celor 40 de tineri in legatura cu obiceiurile, traditiile, mancarea si povestile din cele patru comunitati rurale din Romania, Ungaria,Italia si Rebublica Ceha implicate in proiect. 5. Sa crestem gradul de cunoastere a celor 40 de participanti in legatura cu spunerea de povesti si cum pot activa comunitatea prin povestiri. Activitatile schimbului au fost bazate pe practica si au cuprins metode de lucru in special din domeniul educatiei nonformale, punandu-se accent pe invatarea prin practica. Pe durata celor 11 zile am avut sesiuni despre voluntariat, implicare civica, am organizat o activitate de ecologizare in comuna Berliste cu voluntari din sat, am organizat o dezbatere cu autoritatile publice din Berliste, am descoperit traditiile din cele cinci sate ale comunei Berliste: Iam, Rusova Noua, Rusova Veche, Berliste si Milcoveni, am gatit, am descopertit mult mai multe informatii despre cele cinsi tari implicate in proiect si am reusit sa implicam tineri si adulti din sat in activitatile noastre. Dupa terminarea schimbului fiecare grup national a organizat o campanie de promovare a voluntariatului si a implicarii la ei acasa impreuna cu ceilalti tineri de la ei din sat. In urma acestui proiect cei 40 de tineri au devenit mult mai activi si mai implicati in activitati civice si de voluntariat, ajungand sa stie mult mai bine cum sa isi mobilizeze comunitatile si au devenit mult mai toleranti fata de tineri din alte tari. Totodata acest proiect a crescut numarul de tineri din mediul rural beneficiari ai programului Erasmus plus si numarul de organizatii care realizeaza activitati cu tineri din mediul rural oferindu-le un model de urmat.

Project ‘Let me tell you a story – A tale from the forest’ was created by young people from Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus and Czech Republic. It is continuation of actions from year 2015. The goal of project is to learn ‘living history’ through conversations with partisans involved in fights of World War II same as commemoration of their fate during interactions with local societies of our countries. Project was advertised with publications made by participants and with happening in middle of Zamość old town. Our actions are an input in peace building in the world, advertisement of European Union Values and possibilities of Erasmus+ programme. We have increased meaning of non formal education in development of young people in Europe. Methods of non formal education: Integration games, Language animation workshop, intercultural communication workshop, team building, presentation, meeting with expert, discussion, trip, work in international group, oxford debate, happening, Evaluation.Meeting took place in Motycz Leśny n. Lublin: 06-16.04.2016 and involved 43 young people.

"At a time when Europe attends the arrival of thousands of refugees fleeing the war in their country, opinions are divided. Many were the countries that immediately opened their doors but not always sharing community-minded. We observe every day, especially on social networks comments against the reception of refugees, which are the most diverse nature. Some people express their fear of the unknown, others fear that the economic crisis worsens, others simply express their displeasure to receive ""these people"" in their countries. More than what they say, the problem is how they say it. We are constantly faced with the most cruel words, highly incoherent thoughts that just show ignorance about the current state of war in those countries where these people flee in search of a better life. This project arises in this context, and aims to sensitize participants to this subject. Through most formative moments, subjects will be discussed such as human rights, the realities covered by the refugee figure, legislation and asylum policies at European and national context, the current situation of refugees, the arrangements for the reception and integration processes. Through role-play, drama, brainstorming, debate and construction of street campaigns, will be worked on themes such as citizenship, active participation, the advantages and disadvantages of communication and the internet media, hate speech and the associated risks, how to respond constructively to hate speech, among others. At the end of this project, participants will have acquired the skills necessary to recognize and act against this violation of human rights. Through discussion on all these topics, perspective to complete deconstruction of the stereotypes created around this issue, which has created so much controversy over the past few days. The ultimate goal is that the community pass to understand the host of these citizens as a ""human duty"" and, above all, end the hate speech that has been observed and that could lead to situations of great conflict. At the end of the project, participants will be able to work these same issues with the community of their countries of origin. This project aims to: - To promote knowledge and debate on human rights and the realities covered by the refugee figure; - To raise awareness among young people about the hate speech and risks deriving from it; - To promote literacy in the media and on the Internet; - To promote education about the media and the Internet; - To reduce tolerência levels to hate speech; - To mobilize and train young human rights activists; - To monitor online hate speech and develop tools for constructive responses; - To support and show solidarity to people and / or groups that are the target of hate speech; - To encourage youth participation and citizenship. This project will be held in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, between 12 and 20 May 2018, with the participation of 40 young people from 8 different countries. For this project, young people will be selected with an active role in society, which are part of an organization or that, somehow able to influence others. These young people should include skills such as leadership, proactivity, dynamism, ability to work in teams, critical spirit, empathy, negotiation skills and self evaluation. These young people, since they already have some of the above skills may improve them and acquire new tools during this project, in order to manage to motivate and mobilize their local communities, contributing to a change of mentality and attitude to problem of each country, placing young people as active elements of their own change."