Description
This project is implemented in two underprivileged municipalities in Athens, the municipality of Ilion and that of Aspropyrgos, that have mixed Roma and non-Roma populations. While focusing on the Roma, it aims at educating both Roma and non-Roma children on their rights and obligations as citizens and on the importance of co-existence. The project uses the Convention of Children's Rights and modern experiential techniques to promote greater citizenship awareness among the children. In particular, Roma and non-Roma children from Ilion are expected to strengthen their relations and ties, and Roma children from Aspropyrgos to learn the value of coexistence with the non-Roma. All children acquire knowledge and skills on how best to navigate the world around them while contributing to the advancement of their local communities. This project is implemented in collaboration with the UNESCO Club for Culture of Peace and with the contribution of the Ombudsman for Children and the Council of Europe.
Summary of project results
This Project aims at the comprehension of the notion of citizenship by multicultural teenager groups in the Municipalities of Ilion and Aspropirgos (regions with strong multiculturalism), according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Children. We have implemented experiential workshops (alternative educational methods, where children participate actively in the formation of knowledge as well as in the ways to understand it) based on the rights-obligations diptych, as well as activities where co-existence and interaction were promoted (summer multi-cultural camp, etc). The actions have been carried out in collaboration with the UNESCO Club for Culture of Peace as a partner, with the contribution of the Council of Europe and the participation of the Ombudsman for Children in special meetings/discussions with the teenagers. This Project has touched on issues of multiculturalism, including vulnerable groups, such as the Roma, that suffer the implications of social exclusion to a great extent. Seventeen schools from West Attica and the West Athens regional unit were involved in our actions, wherefrom various demands on the improvement of the educational system and school life were formed by the participants. Through the voting that was conducted in the electronic forum of the Project,
www.fryktoria.gr, the most prevailing demands were set forth to be then presented before the Regional Council of Attica. Finally, in the closing festival for the completion of the Project the actions and their results were presented as well as a forum theatre performance by the pupils that had attended this workshop. This Project together with its 418 participants set forth the importance of being a conscious citizen already from school life. Teenagers have learnt how to fight for what concerns them while the basis for the creation of co-existence and tolerance conditions in local communities has been set.
Summary of bilateral results