Description
The project offers innovative educational sessions for children aged 5-12 and young students aged 13-17. The goal is to increase the awareness of children (1,350) and young people (576) of the discrimination against people with mental disorders and the need for acceptance. Methods: workshops (36); a Muppet theatre with disability (90 shows); this will include developing skills in using everyday equipment used by people with special needs. We will pilot using dolls with disabilities. Children and young people will accustom themselves to different others, will appreciate things they have in common and will learn the basic facts. The foundations will establish sustainable models of interaction. Volunteers will have a chance to design their work together with or for people with disabilities. The project will last 16 months and will be implemented in the provinces of Małopolska, Wielkopolska and Lower Silesia. Leader: Friendly House Foundation; partners: L'ARCHE Foundation (delivered pilot sessions) and The World of Puppets, Iceland
Summary of project results
"Discrimination and exclusion affecting adults with mental disabilities has also affected attitudes among children and young people.These may be changed through information sharing, emotional communication and exposure to positive personal experience that shape attitudes. Therefore, the project aimed at improving children's and young people's awareness of the problem of discrimination against people with disabilities and the need for acceptance. The goal was to be achieved by organising themed sessions in schools and supporting joint initiatives. 255 volunteers completed 55 joint initiatives; 2,360 children 5-12 and 1,014 young people aged 13-17 from 62 schools were trained and encouraged to engage in interactions with people with mental disabilities. The project offered 102 sessions for children using puppet shows where the puppets were 'disabled' and played out real-life episodes from the lives of people with disabilities. Furthermore, 53 workshops were organised for youth to address the problem of discrimination. The project produced two puppets with a Down syndrome, a video entitled 'I am,' a set of class scenarios; the puppet show actors received training under the project. Project beneficiaries included children and youth aged 5-17 from 62 schools. The partnership with The World of Puppets from Iceland, lead by world-famous puppeteer Bernd Ogrodnik, helped tap into the vast experience in prototyping puppets with a Down syndrome. The L'Arche Foundation delivered sessions for children using the puppet show techniques."
Summary of bilateral results
Measure A As a part of planning the project on raising awareness of children and youth on the problem of discrimination of people with intellectual disabilities the Foundation contacted the Bruduheimar "World of Puppets" from Iceland. Organizations met during study visits to Poland and Iceland to work on a common project. Measure B "The Friendly House Foundation organized two days of specialized training provided by the project partner from Iceland. The participants of the training were trainers-puppeteers performing within the framework of the Disabled Puppet Theatre (within the thematic project) and people interested in this type of activity and cooperating with the project partners (total of 13 people). The training concerned the puppet skills, in particular, improvement the skills of communicating with teen audience; maintain contact with the audience; prepare for the unexpected turn of events (on stage and in the audience); coping with crisis situations. Participants gathered all the difficult questions / situations that took place during the performances and discussed possible ways of solving them. The work was carried out in the form of the workshop, using puppets with disabilities and other equipment, like balls, sticks, paper bags, etc.