“Intercultural Dialogue through…”

Международно обучение
“Intercultural Dialogue through Creative Writing”

1st-9th of March, 2018
Birmingham, United Kingdom

 

Summary:

The training course “Intercultural dialogue through creative writing” aimed to Increase competencies of youth workers and educators to explore ways of using Creative writing as tool of intercultural dialogue and intercultural learning.

Objectives:

• To strengthen knowledge of the participants on using creative writing as tool of Innovative learning at their work with various groups of young people including young people with fewer opportunities;
• To increase competencies of the participants to use methods, techniques and tools of creative writing at their daily work to fully support personal and professional development of young people;
• To explore ways of implementing creative writing as tool of intercultural learning and dialogue;
• To raise awareness of the participants on the ways of using creative writing as tools of fighting stereotypes, prejudices, tackling the roots of discrimination and establishing dialogue among diverse groups in the society;
• To support sharing lessons learned across participant’s countries and support exchanging good working practices in the field of creative writing at youth work;
• To provide the participants an opportunity to develop individual set of competencies including communication, creativity, problem solving and teamwork;
• To increase participant’s knowledge on Erasmus + programme and support developing new project ideas especially under key action 1 addressing the need for intercultural learning and dialogue.

Participant`s profile required:

• youth workers
• youth leaders
• educators
• age limit 22 – 30
• previous experiences in youth work,
• field of non-formal education
• Very good level of English
• ability to take part in all project stages: in preparation activities, TC itself and in follow up activities in their organizations/communities+;
• strong interest in creativity, creative writing, intercultural learning and dialogue, fighting discrimination;
• Previous experiences in the area of creative writing not required. Newcomers in the field of creative
  writing will be welcome.
• Participants will have the possibility to present their cultures and their traditions, during informal moments as well as Intercultural night activity;
• Some priority will be given to youth belonging from minority groups or facing economic difficulties, coming from rural areas or with other disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as participants from Tryavna or the region.

Venue:

The activity took place in Birmingham for this reason the closest airport is the Birmingham International Airport.
Participants were accommodated 2-3 people in the same room in mix nationalities.

Working methods:

All the training was done through the methods of non-formal education. The activities were for example brain storming’s, plenary discussions, simulations, role plays, team building, energizers, ice breakers and many others. Non formal education we remember you that is voluntary, no hierarchical and all its methods are based on the concept of learning by doing.

 

Travel Costs:

100% of the participants‘ travel costs were reimbursed within the valid budget sums calculated according to the official rules of Erasmus+ programme. If a sum exceeded the limit, the excess was paid by the participants themselves. The reimbursement limit was 360€ per participant from Bulgaria.

Financial support:

Project was supported by “Erasmus+” program. Accommodation, meals, program and travel cost (based on distance) are covered from grant. There was NO participation fee. However, 15 BGN were deducted from the travel costs and paid to the sending organisation from each participant, in order to be covered the different taxes, related to the participation of each representative from Bulgaria (bank transfer fees, post expenses, difference in the exchange rates, etc.).

 

YouthPass:

Every participant was individually entitled to receive a Youthpass Certificate, which confirms participation and validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of Training course project. Validating the learning experiences of participants is important in itself and the document can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant. Through Youthpass the European Commission ensures the Training course activity is recognized as a non-formal learning experience.
(*For more information on Youthpass you may click on this page to check it online)

 

““Intercultural Dialogue through creative writing” was so far my most exciting project I have ever been to. It was a training course meant to spread new techniques of boosting creativity, finding new points of view, new angles from which you can reach the goal. Most of the participants were connected to words either through their profession, either through the passion of their hobby.
All the participants from the different countries were really opened up, wide-minded and generous in sharing ideas, clothes, food, etc.
Ilona was the mentor who lead the first 5 days of the project. She was wonderful and managed to be really nice, polite, patient, had nice methods of making people feel comfortable enough to share their intimate thoughts about the Universe and everything apart from the reality.
Birmingham is a really nice city. It was a pleasure that we had time each day to take a walk and feel the atmosphere of the city, moreover – take inspirations for the sessions.
We had different workshops organised by the participants; my favourite was about Improvisational Theatre. It was really satisfying to see how with some guidance, the participants adopt the methods of sharing and learning through sharing.

It was really useful experience for me. Most of all I made amazing people who we made friends with.

Silvia Atanasova and Liliya Hristova”