In this winter we were in Polish mountains with organizations “Youth Spirit Center” from Jordan and “Youth for Equality” Slovakia for project “My Story My Strength”. We had a great time together. Some tried skiing for the first time, others overcame their weakness by entering the Kondratowa Valley. We visited Zakopane and relaxed in the thermal baths. Apart from all the entertainment, the trip was a lesson in interculturalism. Polish participants have improved their language skills. Our work method was digital storytelling. Youth worked individually searching for their own topic, creating storyboards, collecting media, recording history and editing the final product. Participants opened and shared emotional stories. Very often difficult stories.

PROJECT RESULTS:

Project aims to reach marginalized youth. We will encourage our youth to plan activities that have high educational value and let them learn outside of the classroom. Most participants would never be able to afford or organize such a trip on their own.

Our experience has shown that taking part in international projects, though difficult at first since it requires leaving their comfort zone, usually leads to a significant increase in self-esteem. Having trainer professionals – trainers, educators, psychologists – to their disposal during these trips gives them a much needed feeling of safety that allows them to explore new skills and talents.

In keeping with the objectives of the Erasmus+ Programme, this project will be a good setting for working on inclusion and diversity. Our youth have often voiced a concern that they feel stigmatised simply because they are living in foster care. This project will give them the opportunity to exchange experiences with youth their own age but in an entirely different cultural setting and using a medium that they feel very comfortable with.

We have identify the following key objectives:

1. Increasing self-esteem and initiative of particiapnts by giving them the opportunity to record a personal story that shows their ability to overcome obstacles and difficulties they may face;
2. Supporting youth in gaining a deeper cultural awareness and strengthening intercultural dialogue;
3. Improving key competences such as: initiative, working in a diverse environment, independence and communicating with a team;
4. Strengthening language skills which will allow project participants to become active members of the EU community and seek other international project opportunities. Improving language skills also usually leads to significant increase of grades in school which additionally boosts the self-steem of our participants;
5. Enhancing media literacy by using the digital story telling method.