The #ART project aims to combat discrimination (based on gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, and disability) in the districts of the Municipality of Milan.
The initiative seeks to promote the empowerment of at least 250 young people and 30 Youth Workers by helping them build awareness of their skills and discover their talents through a multidisciplinary approach, designed to prevent and counter discriminatory behavior in youth gathering spaces.
Specifically, the project aims to:
Strengthen the skills of Youth Workers through training sessions and a Community of Practice to share experiences and knowledge;
Actively involve young people who attend Youth Centers to acquire knowledge and skills on diversity and prejudice, empowering them to become key players in local actions against discrimination.
In the long term, the project will contribute to fostering social cohesion and enhancing the potential of diversity, promoting a shift in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors among both new generations and the broader community. To build upon the expertise already gained by the 5 Milanese Youth Aggregation Centers involved in previous projects, they will be invited to act as trainers and experts, sharing their skills and the pathways developed together with the young participants.
The project aims to prevent and combat discriminatory phenomena by implementing artistic and cultural “anti-rumours” pathways involving 250 young people and 30 Youth Workers from the Youth Centers of the Municipality of Milan.
The rollout of anti-rumours activities will actively engage young people and the educational community, focusing on the prejudices and stereotypes that cause discrimination and marginalization. This will be done by working within the groups as well as presenting “anti-rumours” activations directly in their target neighborhoods.
Direct beneficiaries: Staff of the municipalities in the cities actively involved in the project; Young people and members of civil society from the 15 cities.
Indirect beneficiaries: European citizens, who will gain greater awareness of the benefits of diversity, helping to promote equality (including gender equality) and combat discrimination.
Project activities
The project consists of 4 intervention phases, designed to operate linearly and in synergy with one another.
- Capacity Building and Exchange for Youth Workers. Training and exchange sessions for youth workers on preventing and combating discrimination. Activities will begin with training workshops for Youth Workers, focusing on the anti-rumours methodology and the prevention of discrimination in educational settings. These sessions will use replicable exercises to manage conflicts and promote positive relational dynamics.
- Anti-Rumours Pathways using Artistic and Creative Methodologies. Implementation of training pathways within Youth Centers, engaging young people through the anti-rumours approach and artistic tools. Each pathway will unfold in three phases: participatory identification of “rumours,” selection of themes and artistic mediums, and the creation of creative outputs (theatre, video, street art, etc.) to promote positive counter-narratives.
- Artistic Events and Exhibitions “Inside and Outside” the Youth Centers. Public sharing of the creative works through events inside and outside the Youth Centers, involving peers, families, and the educational community. The artistic activities will be replicated in the local neighborhoods to broaden the reach of the message and foster community dialogue.
- Organization of a City-Wide Event. A final public event will present the products created by the young participants throughout the artistic-cultural pathways, offering an opportunity for open discussion with the general public. Organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan and the participating Youth Centers, this initiative will amplify the impact of actions against prejudice and discrimination.
In addition, the project actions will be accompanied by an online awareness campaign developed and disseminated by ICEI. This campaign will utilize the content created by young people during the anti-rumours pathways to spread positive, non-discriminatory messages. The youth will actively participate by conceiving slogans and materials to break the cycle of rumours.
The entire process will be tailored to match the specific needs and schedules of each center, utilizing participatory and informal methodologies best suited for young audiences.