The project ‘Souls without Borders’ aims to provide high-quality training to young educators/ trainers who are dealing with the issue of refugees’/migrants’ integration into modern EU societies, by setting as a prime aim to disseminate this specific approach-system of integration, composed of non-formal methods of education, to other organizations and NGOs deriving from the rest of the EU countries. Specifically, ‘Souls without Borders’ is seeking to provide young educators with the appropriate know-how, through a well-established and concrete method on inclusion and integration. Hence, after the training’s completion, the young workers/educators will be capable to methodically work with mixed groups consisting of both Europeans and migrants/ refugees, in order to achieve the social integration of the latter into the already existing communities. To accomplish this target, the activities of the training course ‘Souls without Borders’ concentrate on a plurality of related concepts, such as social inclusion; all these concepts are being approached through creative, experiential methods, based on non-formal educational tools, including simulation exercises, role play, creative activities, structured dialogue, group building, energizers and breaking the ice activities, theatrical games, guided discussions, presentations, activation of five senses, on-line activities, experimental processes, cultural activities and strategic planning.
In detail, the youth workers-participants will manage to develop competences, skills and knowledge in order to train other youth workers and educators, by emphasizing on the notion of equality and the importance of existence of an organized group which operates within equality conditions, whilst in parallel shows respectfulness to the individuality of all its component members. Additionally, participants will develop abilities correlated to conflict management, direct thinking and structured dialogue within the notions of tolerance, freedom of speech, anti-racism and multi-cultural bonding, by simultaneously experiencing feelings of sensitivity, compassion and comprehension of common human nature regardless the factor of nationality, ethnicity and religion.
Furthermore, they will broaden their theoretical knowledge and practical skills concerning the notions of diversity, cultural awareness, citizenship, leadership and active participation and they will develop specialized knowledge on human rights. In terms of the technological aspects of the topic, participants will emphasize on how stereotypical behavior towards disadvantaged groups such as migrants and refugees is being cultivated through social networks supported by the net, thus realizing the connection and the action-reaction process between virtual and real world, always in correlation with the topic. Accordingly, they will deepen their knowledge on the notions of cyber-bulling, digital victims and their psychology, and the in-direct violence applied by social networks and the net.
The international training course ‘Souls without Borders’ will be hosted in Larnaca by ‘CIP’ from 24 to 30/10/2017 in cooperation with partner organizations from nine EU countries.
Video testimonials for the activity ‘Facebull’ (one of the activities included in the ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PACK 2.0).
