ARTIVISTES In Action

• Program: Youth Exchange
• Action: Key Action 1, Mobility of young people
• Dates: 14 -23 November 2022
• Venue: Kalamata, Greece

On Wednesday 23/11 the international exchange of young people entitled “Artivistes in Action” was successfully concluded. The Youth Exchange was organized in Kalamata K.A.NE. Social Youth Development organization, in the framework of the European Learning Programme Erasmus+. In it participated 25 young people and 5 youth group leaders from Greece, the Czech Republic, Spain, the United Kingdom and France.

For 10 days, the young participants practiced the Circus arts (acrobatics, clowns, music, theater, etc.), exchanged ideas and experiences and finally created an excellent performance together which was presented at the Ergatiko Kentro Kalamatas on Monday 21 November evening, open for the public and on the morning of Tuesday, November 22 for high school students of our city.

Circus arts were chosen as a tool in this exchange, as circus is a distinct art that combines theatre, acrobatics, dance, comedy and drama. It has been used for entertainment, reflection and education.

Therefore, we consider that the circus is an art with a strong educational background that is primarily based on building the character of the person who does it. It requires very strict discipline, concentration, self-restraint, loving cooperation, team spirit, respect for the partner and respect for the audience.

In the performance they created entitled “Peace, Love and Unity”, the young people wanted to highlight the calamities that war brings and the importance of Peace and Unity in our world.

You can watch the entire video here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=y74-n4APd2U&feature=shares

At the same time, the participants did small actions every day throughout Kalamata and, thus, had the opportunity to get to know the city, its beauties, and its inhabitants and to visit local businesses.

The participants left Kalamata, having collected new experiences and with the promise to come back to Kalamata one day, bringing their families and friends with them.

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ARTIVISTES in Action was a KA1 mobility of  young people project implemented in the framework of the European ERASMUS+ programme.

K.A.NE. Social Youth Development, Greece was the coordinator of the project.

PARTNERS

ASSOCIACIÓ VALENCIANA DE CIRC, Spain

BRNO FOR YOU ZS, Czech Republic

CRL 10, France

SPAGHETTI CIRCUS- UK

The project aimed at:

– the creation of an international cooperation framework of 30 young people from 5 countries based on the circus and as a direct result their empowerment.

– the organization of a socio-educational youth exchange activity, for people who face social exclusion, poverty, discrimination or are victims of racism.

– allowing young people with fewer opportunities to experiment with an art that will help them build attitudes, skills and knowledge

– the creation of a positive climate that will contribute to the exchange of opinions, knowledge, ideas, cultural elements through cooperation and solidarity.

– the promotion of an important youth work tool that can contribute to the inclusion of people with fewer opportunities in Erasmus+ youth projects.

– the promotion of the values of Europe, the Programme and youth work to the participants themselves and the public that came into contact with the team and the results of the project.

This project is in link with the objectives of our organization and the Erasmus+ programme, more specifically with the aim to increase young people with fewer opportunities participating in it, to offer them youth work perspectives and tools, to include excluded groups, to reintegrate young people with fewer opportunities into social and professional life and at the same time highlight the role of youth work and the profession of youth worker in achieving social cohesion and development.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.