In the footsteps of a migrant Erasmus Project

Project Title

In the footsteps of a migrant

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Migrants’ issues; Inclusion – equity; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

Educational Life Action Role Play games (EduLARP) let learners step into the shoes of others and experience new situations, which could be an effective method in sensitizing people about their prejudices and stereotypes, addressing people’s empathy and provoking reflection and critical thinking. As we did not find an existing role-play game that offers a holistic and accurate picture of the migration process in Europe and as migration & xenophobia became a more and more urgent topic in 2015 and the following years, we decided to join forces and work towards a new and innovative method that embodies the migration process in all its complexities.
Objectives:
Our consortium developed a modular and multi-dimensional EduLARP called Minosia Labyrinth on the topics migration and inclusion. Minosia Labyrinth is available in five different versions. There is a European version in English, which is focussing on the common procedures, rules and similarities in the migration system and inclusion processes of the involved countries of the European Union. Furthermore there are four additional country versions in the national languages of the partner organisations, which are adapted to the specifics of the migration system and inclusion processes in the countries of the partner organisations. To enable the method to be used as widely as possible, the game is available in a complex and a light edition. The main target-groups of the method are the members of the mainstream society and people that are in work or social related contact with migrants groups. All materials needed to implement Minosia Labyrinth, the handbook; video-tutorials and a promotion video could be found on the project website: www.minosia.eu

Number and profile of participants:
Our consortium consisted of 4 partner organisations from Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy, representing experiences from North, West, South and Eastern Europe and different perspectives on migration. Our development team was formed by 2-3 people per partner that are all experts in the fields of migration and inclusion, youth work and/or education. The inclusion of migrants and their perspectives in our teams & in the project was one important. Our direct target group were multipliers in the fields of non-formal and formal education that can use the game in their daily work with youth, (young) adults, transnational learners groups etc. Our indirect target group were learners and trainees in (non-)formal adult and youth education that experienced the game as participants.

Description of activities & methodology:
The main activity of this project aimed at the intellectual output of an innovative and modular station-based EduLARP that brings the migration and social inclusion experience to life. The project focused therefore mainly on the development, try-out, evaluation and dissemination of the educational tool. Tutors were trained to foster the implementation of the EduLARP.

According to the fields of expertise, the tasks in the consortium were distributed; a constant quality monitoring and evaluation process ensured guided the project. In general the project consisted to a large extend of knowledge & good practice exchange, qualitative and quantitative data research, game-design and development of a new method, try-out phases, tutor training and dissemination events. 11 partner meetings connected the different phases of the project.

Results and impact envisaged & long term benefits:
The envisaged impact of this project reached across multiple levels and touched different target groups. The objective was to make the situation of refugees and migrants in Europe more noticeable and comprehensible and to impart knowledge on topics such as causes of fleeing, escape routes, bureaucratic obstacles, living conditions, legal status, conflict on values etc. The EduLARP is a tool to challenge and fight stereotypes, racism, xenophobia and polarization in European societies and to strengthen democratic values, diversity and respect of human rights. Besides the production of a new high quality non-formal method, the project also fostered good practice exchange and cooperation between our partner organisations, strengthened their networks and transcultural skills, extended their teaching skills and knowledge on methods development and empowered their capacities in raising empathy and awareness for migrants and their realities in Europe.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 279271 Eur

Project Coordinator

solar e.V. & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Stichting Refugee Company
• ASOCIATIA A.R.T. FUSION
• SOCIETA’ COOPERATIVA SOCIALE CAMELOT A R.L.