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Description
The project is a collection of 20 all-day educational events focused on human rights education, reducing xenophobic moods, radicalization and youth intolerance towards discriminated groups - with an emphasis on the group of "foreigners". The aim of the project is to develop young people''s critical and empathetic thinking, to educate them about the human rights of vulnerable groups and to build civic awareness. It combines principles of art therapy, non-formal education and personal experience, which are applied in a safe and open environment.
The project responds to needs of youth towards a more sensitive and critical perception of serious social themes, human rights education, empathy and solidarity towards vulnerable groups, aims to reduce tension, extremist and xenophobic moods and intolerance, boost creativity and civic awareness.
The partial objectives of the project are 20 expert discussions on migration, stereotyping, coexistence with migrants to prevent discrimination and xenophobia, 20 theatrical productions of American Emperor, 20 discussions, 20 living libraries to confront youth with a vulnerable group of migrants, 80 creative workshops led by renowned art lecturers in theater, literature and fine arts.
The primary role of CVEK in the project is training, implementation and evaluation of research activity as an important part of the project. In order to identify attitudes, values, opinions and knowledge of students in the field of human rights and migration, CVEK will prepare a questionnaire which will be distributed to all participating students before and after their participation in project activities.
Mareena will provide guests (foreigners and immigrants) for live libraries – a part of project activities. They will also prepare a full-day training for potential „books“ of live libraries in orders to prepare them for their live performances.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several societal challenges and issues, with a primary focus on fostering a more nuanced understanding of migration in Slovakia. The overarching goal was to counteract the prevalent negative political discourse surrounding migration in the country. By organizing a series of events, the project sought to promote critical thinking among young people (aged 15 to 25) about significant social issues, facilitate the development of knowledge in the realm of human rights, cultivate solidarity towards vulnerable groups, diminish extremist and xenophobic sentiments, encourage creativity and artistic expression, and contribute to the enhancement of civic awareness. Additionally, the project aimed to challenge negative stereotypes associated with migration and create a more positive and informed perspective among the participants. The initiatives undertaken also included targeted training sessions, research activities, and collaborations with various organizations, professionals, immigrants, educators, and students to address the multifaceted aspects of the migration discourse and promote positive societal change.
The project involved a wide range of activities and outputs aimed at engaging and educating participants. Under the Psoty na Slovensku (PNS) initiative, 25 events were organized, with 10 held in an online or hybrid format and 15 in the traditional format in Bátovce. These events featured reprisals of the play "Americký cisár," theatrological discussions, living libraries, creative workshops, discussions on migration and human rights, and short lectures on the third sector and independent culture in Slovakia.
Additional initiatives included one group and two individual training sessions for immigrants, conducted in collaboration with partner Mareena. Research on the perception of migration and attitudes among young people was carried out by CVEK.
The project established collaborations with various entities, including six partner organizations, 20 experts on migration and human rights, 16 professional lecturers, nine immigrants, three theater theorists, and 18 educational institutions (comprising six universities and 12 secondary schools). The project engaged with 824 students and 50 educators.
Through these diverse activities and collaborations, the project aimed to instigate positive shifts in the perception of migration, dispel negative stereotypes, and contribute to a more informed and open societal dialogue on these significant issues.
The project aimed to bring about positive changes in societal perceptions and attitudes, particularly among young people aged 15 to 25 who participated in Psoty na Slovensku (PNS) events. The impacts were diverse and included increased critical thinking on societal issues, enhanced knowledge of human rights, developed solidarity towards vulnerable groups, reduced extremist sentiments, encouragement of creativity, and heightened civic awareness.
For immigrants, the project facilitated participation in group and individual training sessions, contributing to their integration and skill development.
On a broader scale, the project aimed to influence society by shifting public discourse on migration, challenging negative stereotypes, and promoting a more nuanced understanding of cultural diversity. Additionally, it sought to raise awareness about the third sector and independent culture.
The impacts were assessed through research conducted by the partner organization CVEK, revealing positive shifts in perceptions among young people post-PNS events. This included a notable increase in the belief that a culturally diverse country has greater potential for development, a decrease in the perception of cultural diversity leading to conflicts, and improved knowledge about migration. The findings suggested that events like PNS have the potential to attractively engage young people in topics often associated with negative stereotypes in public or political discourse.