ARTS ST.R.E.E.T. – Arts as strategy to raise employment and territorial development

The project

The project “ARTS as STrategy to Raise EmploymEnt and Territorial development – ARTS ST.R.E.E.T.” arises from the awareness that the active participation and involvement of young people are a fundamental asset in the process of revitalizing historic centers, triggering employment opportunities and the overall redevelopment of places that often suffer from depopulation and present situations of abandonment and degradation. With ARTS ST.R.E.E.T. young proponents intend to develop an action of inclusion, social innovation and urban resilience through the creation of an idea of social enterprise which, inspired by the enhancement of cultural heritage through the use of new technologies in an inclusive manner, can lead them to develop skills self-employment, but also to make them reflect on the issues of active and conscious citizenship, European integration, equal rights for all, making young people themselves protagonists of this process of urban, economic and social redevelopment. It also represents a widely shared need to counter the growing lack of interest of young people in broad issues of public life, the lack of knowledge of basic civic education, awareness of their rights as citizens and European citizens, the ability to build bridges and not walls, towards the other and the “different”. Not only: demonstrating how creativity can represent a new form of self-employment by developing creative entrepreneurial activities, the project will represent an added value to support young people in defining their future. To make these topics interesting for young people, however, it is necessary to address them in a language that is familiar to them. Thanks to the focus on urban regeneration as a possible tool of economic rebirth for the territory, ARTS ST.R.E.E.T. intends to activate the interest towards the themes of the creative, cultural and handicrafts, stimulating entrepreneurship.

Aims

– To enhance intercultural awareness, ensuring a more active and conscious participation in society and in the life of local urban communities, enhancing youth creativity.
– To increase the creative, self-entrepreneurial, digital and transversal competences of the participants, with the realization of non-formal learning activities that concern teamwork, respect and enhancement of multiculturalism, increase in self-esteem and autonomy in learning by doing, acceptance of differences, tolerance, active listening, participation, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses.

In this sense, it is clear that ARTS ST.R.E.E.T. fully meets Youth E + priorities, which aim to improve the skills and key abilities of young people, including those with fewer opportunities, 100% integrated into our project, as well as promoting active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity, a proactive and resilient reflection on the issues of participation in the life of local communities, of European citizenship, also through a renewed entrepreneurial leadership inspired by respect for differences, equal opportunities, and the use of digital technology for the use of cultural heritage.

Participants’ profile

The participants are 6 young people between the ages of 18 and 22, One participant must be fewer opportunities (Cultural differences – Economic obstacles – Social obstacles), plus a Group Leader representing each country. The participants will be selected following these bullet points:
1 – Target age: 18-22 years old
2 – Fewer opportunities situations: disability, deprived economical situation, geographical obstacles, social obstacles.
3 – Diversity of the group: experience, nationality, minorities, access to the EU opportunities.
4 – Gender balance
5 – Participants must have creative skills and attitude
6 – Motivation of participants: interest in developing their responsibility as citizens, and in promoting the cultural heritage of their native country. Interest to the activities (creativity, non-formal education, participation, citizenship and human rights), availability to participate to the preparation of activities during the exchanges, availability to realize youth activities on local, regional and international level after the exchange.
7 – Knowledge of English which will allow the participant to get engaged during the programme activities.
8 – Predisposition to make multicultural and integration experiences.

Activities

1. APV. The aim is to compare the points of view and to develop a detailed exchange plan, taking into account the potential risks and conflict elements. This will take place on the 16th and 17th April 2020 (travel days excluded) in Viterbo and only one Youth leader per partner can take part.
2. Youth Exchange for a period of 8 days from 26 th may to 2 nd June 2020 (travel days excluded) held in Viterbo where the activities will be shaped around: the development of creativity, leadership, the ability to work in groups, training of communication skills, management of interpersonal relationships within a team, but also – which is a primary objective of the project, from the educational point of view – on understanding the importance of active citizenship and corporate culture, respect for diversity in all its forms, education for tolerance, dialogue and interculturalism. The use of methods and tools proper to non-formal education are also particularly suited to the theme of creativity and urban regeneration: non-formal education is characterized, in fact, by a strong practical sense and is goal-oriented, thus being particularly suitable for the realization of the outputs of ARTS ST.R.E.E.T.