The Long Way to Europe

TLWE Contract Title The Long Way to Europe Contract Number 2017-1-IT03-KA205-010978 Funding Period 01/10/2017 - 31/03/2019 Funding Agency Europe for Citizens Programme Total Cost 100,000.00 Lead Partner Comune di Tiggiano (Italy) Partners STOWARZYSZENIE MOJE MARZENIA SPELNIAJA SIE (Poland) FATTORIA PUGLIESE DIFFUSA ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE (Italy) DIRITTI A SUD (Italy) GO FREE - ASOCIATIA PENTRU SPRIJINIREA SOCIETATII CIVILE (Romania) ASSOCIATION FOR HISTORICAL DIALOGUE & RESEARCH (Cyprus) CONCORDIA AQUITAINE (France) BEDEKOVCANSKA UDRUGA MLADIH (Croatia) NACIONALINE NEVYRIAUSYBINIU VYSTOMOJO BENDRADARBIAVIMO ORGANIZACIJU PLATFORMA (Lithuania) ASSOCIACAO CHECK-IN - COOPERACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO (Portugal) UDRUZENJE GRADJANA "ZIL VERN" - CENTAR ZA MULTIKULTURALNU SARADNJU (Serbia) FUNDACJA EDUKACYJNE CENTRUM ZYDOWSKIE (Poland) ASOCIACE TOM CR, TOM 21105 DUMANCI (Czech Republic)

The Long Way to Europe (TLWE) is implemented in the context of the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union, under Strand 1 ‘European Remembrance’, with an aim to reflect European cultural diversity and elaborate on the causes of the Nazi totalitarian regime in Europe. TLWE intends to give the opportunity to more than 300 participants, from 10 European Countries (Italy, Cyprus, Romania, Poland, France, Portugal, Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia and Lithuania), to reflect, with the use of formal and non-formal methods, on the fundamental principles of freedom,democracy and human rights. TLWE is inspired by the story of a deported Romanian Jewish painter. Through the four main stages of the trip of Zivi Miller, the youth, during 18 months, will take part to four international events in Romania (January 2018), Poland (May 2018), Italy and Cyprus. They will learn from the past and reflect on the future of Europe and the sense of being active citizens. Each event will be focused on specific issues directly linked to Zivi’s esperience, such as: discrimination and racism in Romania, crimes against humanity and human rights in Poland, inclusion of migrants in Italy and freedom of movement and peace in Cyprus.

During the international events, the young participants will learn, see, reflect and act upon the lessons of our history. Thanks to the visit to museums and historical sites, the testimonies of witnesses and experts, discussions and debates within the groups, the participants will be able to tackle these issues and to focus on today's state of affairs in Europe. These reflections will be expressed by the young participants with drawings, murals or graffiti. They will also be trained to share their visions and expectations about the future of Europe as active citizens and to share it with the tool called ‘Porteurs de paroles”.

These innovative and participative practices of public place interaction will be used to promote directly in the streets the debate and the participation of the citizens about the European Values. These methods to raise awareness will be not only experimented during the International Events, but also organized by the youth in their communities (30 local events).

Overall objectives

To contribute to citizens' understanding of the EU, its history and diversity and to raise awareness of remembrance, common history and values and the aim of the EU.

Specific objectives

• Fostering respect of such fundamental principles as freedom, democracy and human rights, tolerance, inclusion, equality, diversity and intercultural dialogue;
• Bringing together youth (18-30 y.o.) from 10 different European countries and different social and cultural background in order to share experiences, opinions and values, to learn from history and to build our future by acting in the present;
• Fostering actions, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organizations at European level;
• Bringing Europe closer to its citizens by promoting European values and achievements, while preserving the memory of its past;
• Encouraging interaction between citizens and civil organizations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and emphasizing the Europe’s diversity and unity.

Target Groups

The participants of the project will be youth from 18 to 30 years old. To ensure the diversity of the participants we will promote a gender balance and diversify their social and cultural background. Youth from minority groups and refugees will also be a priority target group. Each partner will take part to the project with 8-12 young people (18-30 y.o.)

Activities

• International Event 1: Meeting in Bucharest (RO), “The origins of Nazism: discrimination and racism”, February 2018, where Zivi was born; 22 international young participants (2 per partner) + 3 trainers/coordinators.
• Local Event 1: artistic exhibition and participative workshop in the streets: “The future of Europe, discrimination and racism”.
• International Event 2: Meeting in Auschwitz (PL), “The Holocaust: crimes against Humanity and human rights:”, May 2018, where Zivi was deported; 22 international young participants (2 per partner) + 3 trainers/coordinators.
• Local Event 2: artistic exhibition and participative workshop in the streets: “The future of Europe and the Human Rights”.
• International Event 3: Meeting in Santa Maria al Bagno (IT), “The refugees life: Integration and inclusion”, September 2018, where Zivi and his friends where hosted by friendly local families; 22 international young participants (2 per partner) + 3 trainers/coordinators.
• Local Event 3: artistic exhibition and participative workshop in the streets: “The future of Europe and the Integration”.
• International Event 4: Meeting in Cyprus (CY): “The exodus: freedom of movement and peace building”, January 2019, where Zivi was prisoner, with the final evaluation and the final exhibition of the murals painted by the young participants; 22 international young participants (2 per partner) + 3 trainers/coordinators.