Description
Drama Citizens is an educational drama project with a research component. It responds to the growing sense of helplessness and lack of control among secondary school students in the Masovia Province (excl. Warsaw). It adds to existing civic engagement programmes. Activities: 1) A series of developmental workshops and drama activities dedicated to 32 young people and 24 adults in two municipalities followed by local civic projects implemented by youth and youth jointly with adults. This will help build inter-generational community leadership groups well rooted in the local environment and enriched by the exposure to the experience of the Icelandic partner, the Foundation and their own. 2) Research into the impact of drama approach on civic attitudes among young people conducted in partnership with Polish and international experts. Research findings will provide a resource of knowledge and best practices on the use of drama in civic projects.
Summary of project results
"Young people from smaller towns and villages in Poland do not feel motivated to undertake any social activities. They are often convinced that the place they live in is worse than a big town (Equalizing Educational Opportunities - Practical Guide 2011). That is why they do not get involved in the life of their local communities, they do not see the value of taking initiatives. What is more, they are often afraid of working with and being assessed by adults. According to the report Youth 2011, young people do not cooperate with adults because they are afraid of the adults moralizing, criticising and imposing of ideas. The aim of the project was to increase the impact of secondary schools students on their environment. Thanks to the project implementation, 18 students from the Długosiodło municipality and 15 students from the Sadowne municipality, supported by 57 adults from their respective municipalities, were prepared for developing and implementing activities addressed to their local communities. 42 young people, cooperating with 10 adults, developed and implemented activities already during the project implementation. A cycle of workshops and developmental activities were conducted for the youth and adults and then such methods as applied drama and tutoring were used for intergenerational groups. Additionally, a study on how the drama method can impact the development of citizenship was conducted and the report was published. The project beneficiaries were secondary schools students from Sadowe and Długosiodło municipalities in the Mazovian voivodship. The association invited Askorun ehf, an organization from Iceland, to cooperate on including experiential learning into project development."
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership with an Icelandic partner helped members of the Association learn a new method of working with groups. The partner trained the Association's trainers on experiential learning and the method was later applied during youth workshops. The association gradually introduced the new method into other projects and disseminated it further. The project included an additional meeting about experiential learning for trainers and educators. The partner played a video recording of a presentation about the subject and facilitated exercises based on its guidebook. In order to reinforce the project outcomes, the Association organised a Civic Action Festival; adults who routinely work with youth could learn more about the methods Stop-Klatka applied in the project: drama, experiential learning and tutoring. The Icelandic expert facilitated some of the Festival's sessions, which was highly appreciated by participants. The feedback largely stressed a high level of motivation to implement the method elsewhere. The partnership helped the Association's trainer develop new skills and introduce a new method to complement drama. It also allowed Stop-Klatka to promote the effectiveness of its methodology among clients and other organisations.