The Muslim youth forges bridges in Europe: for inclusion, European values and cultural diversity. Erasmus Project

Project Title

The Muslim youth forges bridges in Europe: for inclusion, European values and cultural 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 : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Integration of refugees; Inclusion – equity; Migrants’ issues

Project Summary

When we requested this project in 2017, the great number of barriers and obstacles that both refugees and neighbors of European cities had to live together in harmony, jointly building a diverse and tolerant society capable of achieving a better future was already clear. It was necessary to build bridges between the two groups to avoid hate speech and foster the collaboration and friendship that lead to real inclusion and mutual help… this was the goal of the project “Muslim youth forges bridges in Europe: for inclusion, European values and cultural diversity”.
To this end, we have worked for 20 months to create an exchange of good practices and experiences among dozens of young Muslims from five European countries to have an impact both on European awareness and on the inclusion of refugees to put an end to the rise of Islamophobia and xenophobic behaviors.

For this purpose, a strategic association formed by Muslim youth associations of Spain, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom was created, which on the one hand actively worked with its neighbors to promote inclusion, diversity, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the common values of freedom, tolerance and respect for human rights, and the prevention of violence; and on the other, contributed effectively to improve our networking abilities at the transnational level, increasing the international capabilities of our projects and the impact of our work to help alleviate the social problems of the neighborhoods of several European cities.
Thus, this project has worked directly on two complementary but different areas:

– On the one hand, promoting cultural diversity as a European value, and promoting tolerance through joint work on an equal footing with social entities in the areas of partner organizations, supported by young Muslims trained as intercultural mediators in a previous mobility of youth technicians carried out in a 2016 project.

– On the other hand, this project has promoted the inclusion of refugees arriving in Europe from Syria and other countries in conflict, teaching them the culture of their new host country, showing them the values of European citizenship, and providing advice on the resources they have for integration.

Three transnational meetings have been carried out during these months, plus several virtual meetings and multiple national activities for the development of results and their dissemination. A learning activity was also conducted in Valencia from November 1st to the 7th 2018, in which 30 participants tested the project’s results, finished recording certain parts of the audiovisual guides, and promoted ties with the residents of the neighborhood of Orriols during their creation. This allowed the creation of high-quality tangible results:

– The Audiovisual Guide “FOR A MULTICULTURAL AND INCLUSIVE EUROPE”, that compiles information aimed both at migrants and local neighbors so they know each others’ realities. It includes testimonies of refugees, plus testimonies of neighbors with useful tips for their inclusion. It also has specific materials for their training and a guide of resources to help migrants in their reception.

– The Audiovisual Guide “FOR A MULTICULTURAL EUROPE”, aimed at raising awareness among neighbors by showing a positive image of migration that carries out positive social projects for the whole community, through images about the activities they carry out.

– A network of solidarity and work in which migrants and locals have started to carry out awareness and social inclusion projects together to improve their neighborhoods.

This whole project was carried out through non-formal and informal methodologies that promoted the approach of the young participants to the local neighbors, especially in the learning activity, with the help of experts and prestigious expert entities in mediation (such as: Orriols Convive, Movimiento contra la Intolerancia, CEIMIGRA, etc.).
We believe that we have sowed the seed of a large tree that will shelter people regardless of their religion and ethnicity, in tolerance and equity. A tree whose roots are the sincere work to build a better Europe and to improve the living conditions of all its residents, not matter if we were born here or we have arrived escaping from fear, war, and hatred.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 51080 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASOCIACIÓN DE JÓVENES MUSULMANES EN VALENCIA & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Rat der imame und gelehrten in deutschland
• Giovani Musulmani Italia, Milano
• Muslim Association of Britain