Communicating Human Rights in Diversity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Communicating Human Rights in Diversity

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 : Capacity Building for youth in ACP countries, Latin America and Asia

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

The main aim of “Communicating Human Rights in Diversity” has been to develop sustainable strategies to assist youth and volunteering NGOs to infuse a culture of human rights in their diverse local contexts. The project is based on a learner-centred educational approach that acknowledges the value of personal action and personal change taking into account the social context in which learners are situated. This took place through a human rights in diversity training (henceforth termed HRE approach) that laid emphasis on interpersonal, intercultural communication, a key factor for conflicts in the fast-paced globalized world we inhabit. A culture of human rights in diversity was infused in volunteering NGOs by examining instances when the human rights of vulnerable groups, e.g. people with disability, LGBT, women, street children, etc. are not respected. This awareness became the basis for change in practices supported by HRE modules and methods developed in this project. This served to build capacity of youth and social workers, volunteers and organisations changing perceptions and practices within their organisations and in their diverse local communities.

With 19 participating countries – Austria, Finland, Iceland, France, UK, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, India, Vietnam and Indonesia – this project comprised the following components:

a) Taskforce meeting to plan process and structure
b) ‘Training for HRE Multipliers’ building capacity of 21 youth workers in human rights and qualitative research
c) Eight-month EVS for 14 volunteers – 9 from EU and 4 from non-EU countries
d) HRE modules implemented by HRE multipliers with volunteers and/or host organisations to infuse a culture of human rights in diversity within local NGOs (minimum 50 direct beneficiaries)
e) Qualitative study testing socio-cultural and personal impact of volunteering and the human rights in diversity approach on the 14 EVS volunteers
f) Taskforce meeting to discuss results of the study and plan the evaluation conference
g) ‘Gauging Impact Conference’ with 21 HRE multipliers evaluating the entire project, discussing follow-up, dissemination and usage of project outcomes and products

The learner-centred HRE approach built capacity by improving intercultural learning, communication and transversal skills of youth and host and coordinating organisations. Through the exchange of experiences and good practice, the project served to strengthen cooperation and improve capacity, management and support systems of youth and volunteering organisations. The qualitative study enabled the assessment of the capacity building of youth workers indirectly, i.e through the project’s impact on volunteers’ socio-cultural and personal development. The study filled gaps in knowledge about practices that lead to the maximising of volunteers’ learning outcomes with the aim of enabling future volunteers to reach their full potential.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 146365,44 Eur

Project Coordinator

FÖDERATION DER NATIONALKOMITEES IM INTERNATIONALEN KULTURELLEN JUGENDAUSTAUSCH – ICYE E.V. & Country: DE

Project Partners