Description
The project "See and Act Differently" aims to combat discrimination and social exclusion of people with disabilities through interactive and experiential activities, with the participation of students and young people with disabilities. In this action involved TOGETHER are primary and secondary school pupils and young people with disabilities (motor-cognitive-sensory). The project consists of educational interactive activities, open dialogue sessions between students with and without disabilities, art workshops and sports. An “Open day” will be organized through this project, under the title "Learning Together". Furthermore, a team of volunteers will be created, with the participation of students and young people with disabilities, in order to familiarize the public with the image of disability, to defend the rights of people with disabilities, to change attitudes and to promote and defend equal opportunities. The experiential actions aimed at information - awareness - education and young people familiar with the image of disability and diversity management. Moreover, it promotes socializing and networking of young people with disabilities with a view to professional integration. One of the ulterior goals will be the promotion and defense of equal opportunities and rights and the strengthening of a society of active citizens.
Summary of project results
The objective of the Project “See and Act Differently” was to deconstruct stereotypes of prejudice about disability by awakening the general population and reshaping their attitudes towards diversity, thus empowering a society of equal rights and opportunities. For the achievement of the Project's goals we followed an experiential methodology, combining educational and interactive awareness activities (open dialogue in schools - artistic & athletic workshops) with participants’ students from mainstream schools working together with young people with disability (intellectual - motor -sensory). The Project was completed with the Open Day "Learning Together". The key speakers were mainstream students who had taken part in all our activities. Throughout the duration of the Project, great significance was given to the dissemination of the information through the creation of a volunteer corps. Surpassing its own goals for the completion of the Project, SKEP collaborated on a national basis with 105 schools and special institutions, 68 of which were mainstream schools and 37 special schools and institutions. 54 interactive activities were undertaken (initial goal 20) meanwhile informing and bringing together 3.931 youth with & without disabilities (initial goal 1.800). A permanent corps of dissemination and promotion of the Project was established with: 33 active volunteers, 201 aware students, 408 instructors, social workers, school directors and 3.931 persons who have benefited (parents, members of various municipalities, local associations etc). The effectiveness of the Project was proven through the impressions & conclusions of the above participants. The feedback from the Open Day "Learning Together" was resoundingly positive, as for the first time in Greece, 201 students presented proposals for a society where youth with disabilities would be given equal rights and opportunities. Just as significant are the noted conclusions that are drawn from the testimonials of 747 students from primary and secondary schools. The conclusions arising from the students testimonies showed that this combined intervention program (educating – interacting – experiencing) facilitated a change of attitudes towards diversity in mainstream students working together with their disabled peers and contributed to the strengthening of a society of active citizens.
Summary of bilateral results