Õpiränne Portugalis: “Breaking Barriers – Social Inclusion of Minorities”

Asukoht: Albergaria-a-Velha, Portugal

Toimumise aeg: 01.04.2019 – 05.04.2019

Saatvaks organisatsiooniks on Avatud Ühiskond MTÜ. Koolituse eesmärk on tuua kokku üliõpilased, noored, vabatahtlikud, õpetajad, õppejõud, koolitajad, õpipoisid, noorsootöötajad, ja haridustöötajad, et arutada ühiselt sotsiaalsest tõrjutusest ja etniliste vähemuste diskrimineerimisest väikestes kogukondades. Osaleja peab olema vähemalt 18 aastane ning vanuse ülempiir puudub.

Õpiränne on üheks programmi Euroopa Noored kandvaks ja arendavaks jõuks, sest selle kaudu kujundatakse tulevikku silmas pidades noorsootöö kvaliteeti. See toimub peamiselt läbi rahvusvahelise kogemustevahetuse ning noorsootöötajate täiendkoolituse, aga ka rahvusvaheliste võrgustike ja partnerlussuhete arengu toetamise. Noorsootöötajate õpirände kaudu edendatakse väga erinevaid tegevusvorme – alates diskussioonidest Euroopa noorsoopoliitika päevakorralistel teemadel ja lõpetades konkreetsete projektide teostuseks vajalike partnerlussuhete arendamisega.

Noorsootöötajate osalus õpirändes panustab samuti organisatsiooni tegevussuutlikkuse arengusse.

Aastal 2018 pööratakse Erasmus+ programmis erilist tähelepanu noorsootöötajate pädevuste arendamisele ja meetodite jagamisele, mis aitavad edasi anda meie ühiskonna põhiväärtusi ja ära hoida noorte radikaliseerumist.

Projekti töökeel on inglise keel ning sellest lähtuvalt on projektiga seonduv informatsioon ning registreerimine lisatud vastavalt. Korduma kippuvate küsimustega on võimalik tutvuda siin. Kõikide küsimustega võib meie poole pöörduda eesti keeles: info@uhiskond.ee

General information and description of the project

The training course “Breaking Barriers – Social Inclusion of Minorities” is organized by „PRAVE – Associação de Promoção de Albergaria-a-Velha” in Albergaria-a-Velha, Portugal, during the period of 01.04.2019 – 05.04.2019, including three team members from Estonia. There will be 33 participants in total from Portugal; Estonia; Spain; Italy; Lithuania; Poland; Romania.

The idea behind this project arose from the existence large of Gypsy community in Albergaria-a-Velha and, consequently, the risk of the existence of social exclusion and discrimination in these ethnic minorities. The main problem of our project is the social exclusion and the absence of behavior tolerance on the face of difference. Therefore, we emphasize the needs to promote tolerant and inclusive behaviors. Social inclusion and diversity is a multidimensional theme and it´s promotion is very complex and should be analyzed in different contexts. Our proposal involves confronting this resolution through the involvement of youth and social entrepreneurship.

Through the training of youth animators, creating spaces where they can disseminate the previously results achieved, the promotion of sharing spaces for networking and the consequent creation of new impacts, it is possible to actively act on what is, perhaps, the main global problem. The young people who will participate in this Exchange will have the opportunity to develop their capacity of self-examination and critical reflection on the origins of society in which they live, contributing positively to become autonomous informed citizens, aware of their role in society and the cultural values that surround it. At the same time, they benefit from multicultural sharing that will open new horizons and with this, stop looking to Europe as an abstract concept, instead, getting a sense of belonging towards a Europe of “Belong Feeling”

This experience will help break down barriers to diversity-related stereotypes, a problem accentuated with the existence of ethnic minorities in the territory.

The social problem identified is the social exclusion and discrimination against young people of minority’s ethnics, especially Gypsies, as a consequence of discriminatory behavior.

Learning objectives and needs of the training course are:

The identified needs are mainly focused on:

• The need to promote moments of socialization among young ethnic minorities and other young people in favour of social inclusion.
• The need to create relational bridges between young people from ethnic minorities and other young people to reduce discriminatory social and cultural rights barriers;
• To share and explore together the different elements of migrants and refugees’ cultures in different countries;
• To find the impact on migrants’ culture in the mainstream culture in order to recognise the mutual intercultural learning between European and migrants and refugees’ communities;
•  To share methods and techniques on working with European and migrants and refugees young people together in order to break the stereotypes and prejudices;
•  To invent together youth exchanges in order to involve young people from European and migrants and refugees’ communities to act together and gain knowledge about migrants’ cultures;
•  To build a solid partnership among represented organisations.
• Promote the training of youth animators, with a view to the social
  inclusion of young people from ethnic minorities, especially gypsies.

Specific objectives:

1. Raise awareness about social problems and the needs of youth from ethnic minorities;
2. Increase awareness of “inter-culturality” and diversity in society;
3. Promote new actions of social inclusion aimed to ethnic minorities through participatory methodologies, such as non-formal education (NFE);
4. Ensure social values such as tolerance and respect for others, through inclusive practices;
5. Promote the inclusion and social participation of young people from ethnic minorities in society;
6. Promoting intercultural dialogue and cooperation between European organizations;
7. Promote access to European opportunities for social inclusion; personal and social development

The methodology of the training course is:

Experienced trainers will prepare the methods based on the expectations and needs of the participants. They will provide participatory and creative methods which will ensure the participation of experienced and less experienced participants. Some methods we will plan to use: individual, pair and mixed group work, drawings, montage/collage, group discussions, brainstorming, role play, methods’ market, preparing a booklet, visit to good practice project, idea and project development, etc.

Who can participate in the training course:

✓ Youth workers, youth leaders who directly work with young people with different cultural backgrounds e.g. refugees, migrants, foreign kids, young people coming home from othercountries, minorities, Roma young people, etc.
✓ Youth workers, youth leaders who have already run at least one international youth project experience, preferably youth exchange, or were already group leaders in youth exchange;
✓ Having organisational support to further cooperation;
✓ Open to recognise own stereotypes and prejudices and work on these;
✓ Willing to adapt intercultural education into their youth work realities based on the needs of their target groups;
✓ Ready to take part in the whole project;
✓ To be able to communicate English language.

The venue of the training course:

Albergaria-a-Velha is a town and a municipality in the Aveiro District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 25,252, in an area of 158.83 km². It had 19,687 eligible voters in 2006.

By looking at the history, in 1117, D. Teresa, Countess of Portucale, and mother of Afonso Henriques the first king of Portugal, donated to the nobleman Gonçalo Eriz the lands that constitute Albergaria-a-Velha. As part of the donation the nobleman was obligated to maintain open a hospice for poor travels. The document referred to this shelter for the travelling poor, or albergaria, and thus the area was known as Albergaria.

Later, the Carta do Couto de Osselôa was discovered that definitely identified both the first document to refer to Portugal as a Kingdom and at the same figured in the identification of Albergaria-a-Velha as an administrative unit of the country. The Bishop of Coimbra, D. Egas, in 1258, ordered this document to be transcribed in order to conserve it. Also, because it was the older Albergaria, owing to the existence of Albergaria-a-Nova, the community began to be referred to as Albergaria-a-Velha (meaning Portuguese for older).

The fertile lands of Albergaria-a-Velha have been historically a center of agriculture and cattle-raising, so much so, that it has been erroneously considered an agricultural community. In fact, the secondary sector represents 56.2% of the activity within the municipality, while the primary sector occupies 13.6% of the economic activity. This secondary sector includes basic industrial businesses involved in metallurgy, industrial textiles and lumber industries. These companies are primarily small- to medium-size enterprises with less than 20 employees.

The participants will be staying at the Relvas Farm in Branca, Albergaria-a-Velha http://www.quintadasrelvas.pt/who-we-are/

The organization Relvas Farm, is located in Branca´s parish council (Albergaria-a-Velha Council). The Farm has a rich natural heritage where several flora and fauna species live. Here, our associates work daily to promote and develop non formal activities, focus on the artistic and eco-sustainable areas.

Transport from Porto airport to Albergaria-a-Velha will be guaranteed by organisation, PRAVE. 

Relevant information:

The Erasmus + Programme will cover 100% of the accommodation, food and activities and will reimburse 100% of the travel costs for the participants – up to 530 euros. It is recommended to have a disposal for small expenses. Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. Please fill in this form to apply and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch: info@uhiskond.ee

Participants will receive a  “Youthpass” certificate which describes and validates the non-formal and informal learning experience gained during the project, to be attached to the CV.

Registration deadline:  13.02.2019