INCLUSION OF REFUGEE YOUTH THROUGH AN APPROACH TO LIFELINE MAPS AND ART: BOOKS WITH LIFE Erasmus Project

Project Title

INCLUSION OF REFUGEE YOUTH THROUGH AN APPROACH
TO LIFELINE MAPS AND ART: BOOKS WITH LIFE

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Integration of refugees; Inclusion – equity; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

Not all books exist physically, and probably the most exciting, terrifying, and hopeful ones can only be found in the paths of life, in the terrible journey of young refugees who have abandoned their family, home, and land because of war, hatred, or hunger. Young people are like books that tell great stories, bestsellers that should be listened to instead of being read. Each of them is a digital book that creates a library that offers people segregated and/or stigmatized by their host society the hope that they will build relationships of solidarity that foster their inclusion and contribute to end violence to newcomers.

This project has been based on the LIBRARY OF LIFE STRATEGY, an innovative work method specifically adapted to work with young people, especially young migrants and refugees, to enhance their social inclusion through art, intercultural dialogue, participation, and awareness. This project wasn’t greatly impacted by COVID-19, since the pandemic began in its final stage; even so, this innovative methodology had to be adapted to the times of COVID-19.

From this starting point, 5 European entities (2 from Spain, 2 from Greece, and 1 from Italy) and several collaborating entities (neighborhood, youth, and migrant associations) have collaborated disseminated, and advised, providing experience in the field of non-formal education, artistic methodologies, and working with young migrants and refugees. For 28 months we have developed a work of European impact that has allowed us to exchange good practices, establish an active European network in the middle term, and create the LIBRARY OF LIFE STRATEGY with a European scope and improve it thanks to the contributions of expert entities in the work with refugees, in the field of youth, and art.

Thanks to the holding of 4 Transnational Meetings (M1: VALENCIA – FRACTALS June 1st 2019, M2: GREECE – EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION (EDV) November 2nd 2019, M3: ITALY – FONDAZIONE EMMANUEL February 28th 2020, and M4: VIRTUAL April 30th 2021 due to COVID19), dozens of national activities where materials were created with young Europeans and refugees, virtual meetings, and quality networking, we have built a stable EUROPEAN NETWORK that will actively work in the long term to promote the social inclusion of young refugees and migrants, and to put an end to hate speech through the LIBRARY OF LIFE STRATEGY.

This innovative strategy proposes promoting a personal dialogue between young migrants and Europeans, in which each participant takes the role of a book telling their own life. Not just his/her greatest successes or scariest experiences, but a story of the little things that connect with the “reader” allowing him/her to see their similarities and establish bonds of empathy. Through these spaces for dialogue, supported by multiple preparatory activities and artistic initiatives, the project -despite the Pandemic- accomplished the following achievements:

– The inclusion of young migrants and refugees was favored through an innovative methodology of learning and exchange of experiences based on art and intercultural dialogue.

– The social awareness of young local Europeans was enhanced, promoting values of solidarity, mutual respect, tolerance, and diversity, thus preventing xenophobic, racist, and intolerant behaviors.

These objectives and achievements were reached thanks to the various results produced in the project. One of the most relevant of them is the “METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE FOR THE INCLUSION OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES THROUGH ART: LIBRARY OF LIFE”, that details an innovative participatory methodology aimed at young migrants or refugees, “LIBRARY OF LIFE”, and also includes multiple activities with objectives, necessary resources, evaluation, etc. to facilitate the training, tools, and resources for youth workers and other organizations that want to replicate this experience.

The EUROPEAN LIBRARY OF LIVES https://www.fractalseducart.org/books-with-life was also created, where you can see the experiences of the pilot tests carried out during the project applying this methodology with young migrants and refugees. This virtual space collects the life paths of dozens of young migrants and locals, and has also been complemented with various very appealing and graphical audiovisual resources aimed at young people, showing ways to overcome the imposed barriers and fight for inclusion.
Lastly, it should be noted that the good dissemination of the project’s results has enabled it to have a relevant impact on partner organizations and also outside them, especially in Spain, Italy, and Greece, although its impact is expected to continue in the long term and spread to more EU countries.

Project Website

https://www.fractalseducart.org/books-with-life

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 44500 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASOCIACIÓN FRACTALS EDUCACIÓN ARTÍSTICA & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Educational Innovation
• Fondazione Emmanuel- Don Francesco Tarantini
• Social Cooperative Enterprise Drosa Texni
• SOVINT Cultura y Desarrollo