Description
The project focuses on the youth who made their first steps in the anti-discrimination area in the Cross-Border project implemented the year before. These young people come from 3 small communities located near the national boarders where xenophobia and hostility towards neighbours in the East is a constant challenge. We will help them as they continue to work on multicultural issues and interact with the local community; we will open opportunities for them to meet and exchange ideas; we will hold a series of oral history workshops and storytelling sessions, creative anti-discrimination and multicultural workshops. As a result, multimedia resources will be developed and presented at exhibitions in 8 border communities. The exhibition will focus of identifying and telling personal stories and perspectives of members of minority groups in order to deal bias, prejudice and stereotyping.
Summary of project results
"Xenophobia and hostility towards neighbours from behind our Eastern border is often linked to the towns in Lubelskie and Podlaskie regions, despite the fact that the inhabitants are in permanent contact with Ukrainians and Belarusians. A survey conducted by young people in Dołhobyczowo showed that when asked about associations with Ukraine citizens, 90 per cent of the respondents included “smuggler"" or “UPA"" (Ukrainian Insurgent Army). 2 per cent responded that they did not like Ukraine and Ukrainians. Several people living in Krynki openly declare their Belarusian origin and speak Belarusian language. They meet with social ostracism and also with violent acts (destroyed tyres in their cars). Children and youth are ashamed of their Belarusian roots. In each participating town, the Jewish heritage is an important part or the local history (before the 2nd World War, 10 per cent of Dołhobyczów, 12 per cent of Michałów and 85 per cent of Krynki inhabitants were Jewish). On the towns' walls, there appear inscriptions “white power"" and the SS symbols (Schutzstaffel). The local culture centres engage in presenting multiculturalism. Unfortunately, the local communities do not often show interest in this issue. The aim of the project was to minimize prejudices against representatives of other nations and religions, particularly Ukrainians, Belarusisns and Jews. The project also aimed to support the local culture centres in fighting xenophobia and intolerance. During the project implementation, young people organized several meetings of inhabitants of the three communities. An exhibition was prepared to present the collected recordings, stories and photographs. It was shown in 14 border communities - visited by 2,000 people - and on the Internet. Young people also participated in a series of creative and multicultural anti-discrimination workshops. The project beneficiaries were young people aged 13-20 from 14 border communities. The project partners were: the Municipal Culture Centre in Krynki, the Border Culture and Recreation Centre in Dołhobyczów, the municipal Culture Centre in Michałów. They facilitated contacts with the local schools, disseminated the information about the project in the local communities, helped recruit the participants and provided rooms for conducting workshops."
Summary of bilateral results