Changing Minds! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Changing Minds!

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Disabilities – special needs; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

Changing Minds is an inspiring Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership involving Irish and Romanian young people. Changing Minds began with one young man’s passion and belief that attitudes towards disability could be changed and that negative stereotypes of less developed countries could be challenged. These beliefs became the main objectives underpinning the project, which was led by a 21 year old co-ordinator, a clear example of a genuinely youth led partnership. An equally impressive and influential peer support element to the project came about through the addition of five young Aurelia Trust volunteers who, leaning on their previous experience, took an active role in mentoring and supporting our teenage participants. The project co-ordinator, combined with the accompanying young volunteers added unprecedented value to our teenage participants experience on both transnational learning activities and to meeting the overall project objectives.

Four partner organisations willingly got involved with the co-ordinating organisation, the Aurelia Trust, and a strong transnational team quickly emerged between those representing each stakeholder. Young people from rural areas of both Romania (in Constanta and Galati) and Ireland (in Skibbereen and Castlebar) got involved via the partner organisations and at times there was an intergenerational team of over 30 people travelling through Romania.

Two week long transnational learning activities took place, one in Romania and one in Ireland, involving directly working with people with disabilities. This was courageous and challenging work and a very intensive experience for all involved, which led to a strong team bond. In order to change other people’s attitudes it was first necessary to reflect on our own. Mindfulness, reflection and group sharing were intrinsic to the methodology of the project, given the nature of the work. Core qualities were developed and enhanced such as self-awareness, kindness, compassion, empathy and gratitude.

Central to the project was the development of key skills in the young participants, such as leadership skills, entrepreneurial skills and personal growth. These skills were accelerated along with communication skills and a huge growth in participants confidence. This was largely due to the original project outcomes being met along with so many more unanticipated outcomes, such as their growing interest in creating historical and educational resources. As well as an interest in disability, an interest in the history of disabilities in both countries emerged and the young participants shared this through the creation of very moving and striking mini-interviews with senior relatives who had lived through communist Romania. The project was documented and evaluated in its entirety through the use of video. This encouraged the young people’s use of interview skills as well as allowing for significant self reflection.

A youth-led conference was held in both countries, encouraging and developing skills in planning and organising, event management and public speaking. The conferences allowed the results and learnings from the partnership to be widely disseminated and the use of digital media catapulted this project forward, in terms of the creation of a striking and useful website, the development of a powerful social media campaign by the participants and the production of a project documentary. These results were core to the success of the project, aiming to change people’s minds about disability and reducing negative stereotypes associated with some developing countries.

The youth-led and peer support model that is key to the success of Changing Minds is a model that is possible to replicate. Changing Minds was an ambitious project which has left a strong legacy in terms of motivational teaching and learning tools, such as video documentaries and video interviews available for all to access through the Changing Minds website. This project has not only changed minds but has changed the lives of all involved in its implementation. It is a project which we feel will continue to transform attitudes, long beyond its 13 month duration.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 59630 Eur

Project Coordinator

Aurelia Trust & Country: IE

Project Partners

• DIRECTIA GENERALA DE ASISTENTA SOCIALA SI PROTECTIA COPILULUI CONSTANTA
• Skibbereen Community School
• ASOCIATIA TINERILOR CU INITIATIVA CIVICA
• Ludgate Operations Limited