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Description
The Integr(ar)te Project aims to respond to the problem of non-acceptance, social discrimination and exclusion of young people on the basis of race and ethnicity. The project operates in Lisbon and Olhão in areas marked by high levels of cultural diversity and of socially and economically deprived families. The project directly benefits 120 young people between the ages of 10 and 14, with a significant presence of children from ethnic minorities. It offers spaces for artistic creation where participants (young people, teachers, NGOs, and the public sector) will be agents of social transformation, reducing discrimination and exclusion through methodologies such as Theatre of the Oppressed.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several significant issues faced by the partner schools, which were part of the TEIP (Territory for Priority Educational Intervention) program. These schools were located in culturally diverse neighborhoods with a high number of families experiencing severe socioeconomic difficulties, job insecurity, and low educational levels. Specifically, 68% of students at João da Rosa and 57% at Francisco de Arruda required social support and food supplements. The schools had various ethnic minorities and immigrant students, with 8% in Lisbon and 5.7% in Olhão (Algarve region), leading to language barriers and communication issues. This situation resulted in increased incidents of discrimination, racism, xenophobia, and hate speech. Additionally, the teaching staff was demotivated, resistant to new tasks, and struggled with diversity. High absenteeism and school dropout rates, particularly among Roma students from the Siroco area, were also prevalent. The project sought to improve learning outcomes, school climate, and the relationship between school, family, and community through initiatives like intercultural clubs and mixed group activities, aiming to foster positive interactions and showcase successful examples to teachers and staff to encourage belief in change.
The project was developed in five components between June 2021 and November 2024. In the Planning component, the team conducted visits to partner schools to understand their educational projects and identify the student profiles for the design and planning of activities and sessions. These activities focused on themes such as inclusion, citizenship, human rights, and equal opportunities, using the Theatre of the Oppressed methodology. The objectives and activities were also presented to other members of the school community, including teachers. Following this, two 16-hour training sessions were held for mentors involved in the project''s Artistic Practice component, conducted simultaneously in Lisbon and Faro by partners GTO (Theatre of the Oppressed Group) and Pedro no Sapato.
The Artistic Practices component began in October 2021 in two school groups, involving classes of students aged 10 to 16 from various nationalities, including Nepal, India, South Africa, Angola, and Brazil. These students included those with special educational needs, those who had repeated grades, and those receiving social support and participating in the Portuguese as a Non-Native Language curriculum. A total of 237 Artistic Laboratories sessions were held, each lasting 90 to 100 minutes, featuring games, thematic exercises, and mini-sketches. These sessions aimed to promote social inclusion, prevent school failure and dropout, and celebrate immigrant cultures. Additionally, 16 Aesthetics of the Oppressed workshops were conducted to deepen the themes explored in the artistic laboratories, fostering creativity and critical thinking. Four sessions featured stories from immigrant community leaders, reinforcing social, inclusion, and intercultural themes. The project also included 11 showcases of student work, two theatrical performances, and two student assemblies to explore the themes of the theatrical performances and encourage civic participation and activism.
In the Dissemination component, three national meetings were held. A project website was created at https://integrarte.atbrilhantes.pt/. Communication efforts included creating the project''s graphic line, flyers, posters, and videos about the activities.
In the Capacity Building component, an organizational diagnosis and action plan were developed by an external consultant, culminating in two training sessions on Impact Assessment and Marketing Plan.
Over the three academic years, 311 students participated, with 201 from the Lisbon region, primarily from 5th to 8th grade, including one 12th-grade class, and 110 students from Olhão, from 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th grades.
In terms of results, the project achieved significant improvements in the socio-emotional skills of the directly involved youth. The initial goal was to involve 120 children and young people, with a target of 24 participants (20% of the total) improving their socio-emotional skills, which was fully met. However, the actual number of directly involved students increased to 311. Among the 127 respondents, there was a 25.4% improvement in socio-emotional skills, surpassing the initial target of 20%.
The project also involved five NGOs, exceeding the initial goal of three. Behavioral incidents and violence in schools were reduced, although specific data could not be verified due to data protection issues. School attendance positive perception among the involved youth showed a 9.8% increase in the first year, and in the final year, there was a 33.3% increase among the respondents. These outcomes highlight the project''s positive impact on the socio-emotional development and overall school environment for the participating students.