Promoting Social Inclusion through Affirming Diversity

Promoting Social Inclusion through Affirming Diversity

How to minimize social exclusion in youth work as much as possible - this was the main goal of the project we participated in from October 3rd to 11th. We had the opportunity to be part of an amazing group of people involved in various youth organizations with many interesting projects and ideas.

This training course took place in Zadar, Croatia, and included a Slovak group. A total of 24 youth workers from 8 European countries gathered there to discuss how to improve the quality of their daily work, which faces social and cultural barriers.

The project's purpose was achieved through various activities, thanks to which we had the opportunity to discuss social inclusion and share our experiences in this area without any prejudice or judgment. Among other things, we learned how to conduct intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Another activity called "Take a Step Forward" allowed us to reflect on people with different backgrounds, religions, disabilities, or those suffering from various addictions. We also discussed European values and identity issues in workshops that were both theoretical and practical. We outlined points such as: personal freedom, human dignity, solidarity, active civil society, market economy, democracy, and the rule of law. We all agreed that these values are very important to us and that they shape our identity.

Regarding the promotion of active citizenship and social inclusion, we had the opportunity to express our ideas about "active citizenship" and why it is so important for our society. Through role-playing games, we were able to present our own ideas, which we later introduced to all participants. Working in a group full of open-minded people and collaborating in such a multicultural environment motivated us to work hard, but also to have fun and a good time.

Since everyone has different cultural backgrounds, traditions, and opinions, open discussions were a great opportunity to share our personal experiences and thoughts. We learned that we must also look at situations from a different perspective and understand the importance of social inclusion and integration. Thanks to this, we managed to build mutual trust.

At the end of the project, each participant received a Youthpass, a certificate proving our participation, which includes the competencies and skills we gained during the training.

This training was an amazing opportunity for our growth, and my praise goes to the Youthfully Yours SK organization for allowing us to be a part of it.