In 2010 four dynamic organisations from Belgium, Slovenia and Lithuania are launching a project addressing young people who have come to reside in these countries from abroad to foster their knowledge on fundamental rights and enhance their social integration.

The European Union has become a hub of diverse cultures, welcoming people from all over the world and becoming one of richest parts of the world in terms of culture, traditions, languages and history. Many people enjoy the benefit of living in diversity. However, we still do not always have sufficient knowledge and understanding of those who follow different religious beliefs or sexual orientation, have a different colour of the skin or belong to a different ethnic group. Out of this ignorance stereotypes and fear come up resulting in distrust and even offences towards the different.

In order to build personal security and comfortable life for all of us we need to open our minds and embrace the diverse environment we live in. Everyone should be aware of sharing the same fundamental rights legally recognized by the European Charter.

Project duration: 2010.01.01 - 2011.07.31

Project budget: 111.060,00 €

What is the project about?   

The project aims to promote the fundamental rights of young migrants legally residing in the countries of the European Union. In 2010 and 2011 specific activities will be carried out in Belgium, Lithuania and Slovenia to foster intercultural dialogue and integration of migrant communities, especially young migrants, into mainstream societies.

Despite numerous policies and practices implemented to fight racism, xenophobia and discrimination, they still abound in many European countries. We believe that ignorance brings about fear, myths and prejudices. We shall attempt to dismantle these barriers of understanding by bringing together people from different cultures, sharing their experiences and attitudes and designing joint measures that will facilitate the development of a more open and inclusive society.

What are the activities and targets of the project?

A number of activities will be organised to foster knowledge on fundamental rights and citizenship, to nurture the understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity and to shape positive attitudes of European nationals towards migrant communities. The activities implemented in Belgium, Lithuania and Slovenia will be as follows:

- Workshops to highlight the assets of the European Charter for Fundamental Rights and its enforcement in the above countries as well as to foster the intercultural dialogue between the nationals and young migrants. Interactive approach and artistic measures such as photography, drawings, poetry and theatre plays, will be employed.

- Public awareness raising campaigns on fundamental rights. The actions will be designed and implemented by young migrants in cooperation with the nationals. The artistic productions of the workshops will be used for exhibition during the national campaigns.

- Final workshop in Brussels for representatives of NGOs, public authorities and educators from Belgium, Lithuania and Slovenia to share the experiences of accomplished activities in each country and to design a common educational toolkit. The material will contain participants' insights into the realisation of fundamental rights, also awareness raising and educational measures and tools to meet the demands of different settings and stakeholders, in particular public authorities, social workers and youth educators..

- The project website and internet forum will be launched to promote the results and encourage exchange of information and views among stakeholders.

The project will actively engage all relevant actors, in particular migrant communities, especially young migrants both from the EU and non-EU member countries, public authorities, school communities and NGOs.

Who we are? 

CEDAG-Europe

CNVOS-Slovenia

NISC-Lithuania

PLS- Belgium

CEDAG-Europe

CEDAG is a European platform gathering associations, civil society and umbrella organizations from various European countries. It was established as a network to voice the concerns of  the third sector in Europe and promote its recognition by the European Institutions, especially its economic contribution, its democratic interest and its services commitment towards citizens.

CEDAG mission is therefore to contribute to the proposal of EU legislations enabling the development and the valorisation of the activities of the non-profit sector, to advocate for the adoption of transparent rules of civil dialogue at European and national level and for a clearer legislative framework for the social services of general interest.

Furthermore, CEDAG , by appropriate means, encourage an exchange between members and the dissemination of information and experiences which could contribute to the social, cultural and economic progress of Europe. CEDAG has implemented and coordinated several EU-funded projects aimed at raising awareness on European Citizenship and at promoting Intercultural dialogue especially in the framework of the „Europe for Citizens Programme" promoted by DG Culture and Education from the European Commission.

CNVOS-Slovenia

CNVOS CNVOS is the main provider of information and training about the EU for Slovene NGOs - through its web-sites, weekly e-newsletters, publications on EU institutions, policies and Active European Citizenship - and has a vast experience in organising visible European events, which included: European Citizens Consultations, international conference within Slovene EU Presidency, the Council de-briefings for civil society within the Slovene EU Presidency and Citizens Forums of the European Parliament. CNVOS has also implemented several EU-funded projects: Let's talk about Intercultural Dialogue (European Commission, 2007-2008); NGOs playing active role for European citizenship (European Commission, 2006-2007); European Parliament and NGOs - strengthening the dialogue (European Parliament, 2007); Slovene NGOs becoming members of EU networks and active players in EU arena (European Commission, 2005-2006) and was a national partner in two civil society projects, supported by DG Communication  within the Plan D: Our Europe, Our Contribution, Our Debate  (in 2007) and European Citizens Consultations (in 2007 and 2009).

NISC- Lithuania

NGO Information and Support Centre seeks to empower the NGO sector in particular and the civil society in general to actively participate in the development and implementation of different public policies, the enforcement of the principles of democracy, transparency and accountability in the national and local government institutions, promotion of social rights and responsibilities of citizens and public awareness raising on topical global policies. The Centre provides information, consultations and trainings, develops educational tools and data bases, organises conferences and forums.

PLS-Belgium

PLS is a Think-Tank and a non-profit organisation which has already participated in many European projects that involved participatory activities with various categories of citizens on topics such as school drop out, intercultural dialogue, participation to decision making processes.   PLS is currently doing research on various provisions existing at the EU level that grant and enforce fundamental rights for citizens. Moreover, PLS has solid experience in working with CSOs at the national level and coordinating their actions and valuing it at the EU level, in organising events at the EU level and in producing publications and toolkits useful for the activity of CSOs.

NGO information and Support Centre