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Description
This project aims to enable children aged between 7 and 8 and beginning to understand the moral rules of behaviour to accept physical differences through actions that use artistic techniques. These will allow children to develop personally and socially in line with principles of diversity, accepting everyone as they are and avoiding various forms of discrimination and violence. Training workshops for professionals will be held, including multidisciplinary workshops of artistic expression (dance, music, painting, theatre) and the public presentation of results through events such as exhibitions and shows. An e-book is also planned for the project.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to empower children (ages 6 to 14) through the arts. By celebrating diversity and broadening their horizons, this project helped kids understand and embrace the natural physical differences that make each of us unique. It was all about fostering acceptance and self-love in a fun and creative way.
The project was implemented in 8 schools in Évora (southern Portugal) and 8 schools on the island of Madeira, involving 448 elementary school students, primarily in the 2nd grade, during the 2021/2022 school year. It offered moments of artistic experimentation in dance, music, and plastic arts, emphasizing the importance of integrating the arts into education.
Key Achievements:
- Methodology: A new intervention methodology was tested, featuring artists who developed activities in various artistic areas. These activities promoted self-reflection, knowledge acquisition, and experiences about oneself and others, fostering awareness of physical differences and improving interpersonal relationships.
- Positive Impact: Teachers and parents testified to these added values, supported by questionnaire results showing a significant increase in the percentage of children concerned with human rights, from 54% to 98%.
- Collaborative Art: The students co-authored 16 murals with urban art artists, conveying a message of diversity within the school space. Each mural was a vibrant representation of the students'' understanding and acceptance of physical differences, incorporating elements of their personal experiences and cultural backgrounds. These murals transformed the school environment, making it a more inclusive and visually engaging space.
- Legacy Creation: These works also illustrate an e-book on physical differences, helping to disseminate the message "I AM AS I AM."
In quantitative terms, the following was achieved:
-448 youths mobilised by NGOs to engage in human rights work;
-16 awareness raising campaigns carried out;
-98% share of target group showing concern for human rights.
In terms of capacity building, the promoter carried out a needs assessment and prepared an action plan. This led to the development and implementation of an institutional communication plan, a new organizational image, a new logo and a new website.
All proposed targets were met and exceeded.
Summary of bilateral results
The project established a valuable relationship between the Portuguese team and the Norwegian entity FRAMBU, starting with essential training on disability and inclusion. This training helped the Portuguese team in their artistic interventions and in creating a questionnaire to assess students'' openness to diversity. The partnership continued throughout the project, culminating in a positive results-sharing session. Both parties see the potential for future projects, including visits from the Norwegian team to Portugal and replicating the project in Norway. An online session between choreographer Gonçalo Pinela and body positivity specialist Carina Carlsen highlighted the project''s success and suggested further sessions to empower teachers on diversity topics.