Speak Dating Brno 2022

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Eurocentre Brno

Organisation:

Eurocentre Brno

Country:

Czech Republic

About organisation:

Eurocentre Brno is a regional information office of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic where citizens can address their questions about the European Union. The Eurocentre provides information about the EU for the general and professional public, offers information materials and publications and a range of other services for those interested in a deeper understanding of the European Union. With special focus on young people, we organise many activities (lectures in schools, debates, seminars, competitions) with the aim to inform citizens about the EU and especially about the possibilities that it offers to its citizens. Event that we are submitting was organised together with Europe Direct Brno, which is an office that is part of the European information network designated by the European Commission with a target group of all citizens and residents of the EU.

Title of the project

Speak Dating Brno 2022

Start date:

26/9/2022

End date:

26/9/2022

Objectives:

On the occasion of the European Day of Languages 2022 we decided to organise an event called Speak Dating. The aim of the project was to allow visitors to practise speaking foreign languages via short conversations with native speakers/tutors from European and also from some non-European countries. This event was organised with support of Eurodesk and Europe Direct Brno, which is an organisation that was inspired by this event to join the Eurodesk network as well.Various activities were prepared by the tutors which allowed the visitors to learn more about the languages and the tutor's cultures in a fun way. As a result, we managed to engage people in fun activities which helped them to explore new languages and break down some cultural barriers. The event is inspired by the Speed Dating concept however, instead of love life, participants had a chance to find the language they might like to learn or the country they would like to visit, ideally via Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps.

Why the project was: empowering young people, adapting to changing realities, or thinking out of the box:

The event used an unconventional way of engaging people by taking place in the city centre at one of the main squares, which allowed any passers-by to take part in the event and try or practise any language they found interesting. The tutors prepared various games and other activities to introduce their language, culture and other realities of their country. Via these games and activities we enabled the visitors not only to practise new languages but also connected them with other cultures and empower them to be more open to other foreign nationals and motivate them to travel and explore the countries of the tutors.It was a new and innovative way to reach the participants and show them new possibilities of learning languages. This new format was appreciated by the participants since there is no equivalent in the region.We also created new partnerships with university youth organisations, for example some of the students of the ESN MENDELU were helping with the promotion on site during the event. The event was attended by a volunteer from a receiving organisation within the European Solidarity Corps, who participated as a tutor. Thanks to being a foreign participant in the program European Solidarity Corps he was able to share his current experience of the given mobility.

How the project was inclusive:

The main purpose of the project was to introduce the participants to other languages and cultures and celebrate the European Day of Languages with the official EU motto: United in Diversity. It signifies how people from different backgrounds can come together and celebrate the European way of life.Most of the languages taught were official languages of EU member states.Eurodesk was labelled as one of the main partners of the event. Its logo was presented in all of the posters, promotion materials and other sources. We are aware that in the Czech Republic we are dealing with low self-esteem of young people regarding their language skills which is usually the main factor that reduces the number of Erasmus+ mobility participants. Therefore, this event fulfilled the aim of the Eurodesk mission – to motivate young people to believe in their skills that lead them to be active participants of Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps programs. Opportunities of both programs and Eurodesk brochures were available on site. Since the event was organised by the information centres we were able to answer questions about the opportunities abroad and other relevant information needed.

Green aspect:

We made sure that we were using only ecological materials, environment friendly ways of promotion - that is digital invitations and online campaigns with limited use of paper. Small refreshments were secured by a local café that supports “green” policies and chooses recycle-suitable materials and avoids plastics as much as possible. We also made sure that we didn’t produce any waste and cleaned the area after the event.Some of the languages were repeated from last year, so we had the chance to recycle some of the materials.The event was kept local and we made sure the location is accessible by public transport. The event was held during the day therefore no electric energy had to be used.

How the project has given a European dimension to your event and ensured the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk?

The main purpose of the project was to introduce the participants to other languages and cultures and celebrate the European Day of Languages with the official EU motto: United in Diversity. It signifies how people from different backgrounds can come together and celebrate the European way of life.Most of the languages taught were official languages of EU member states.Eurodesk was labelled as one of the main partners of the event. Its logo was presented in all of the posters, promotion materials and other sources. We are aware that in the Czech Republic we are dealing with low self-esteem of young people regarding their language skills which is usually the main factor that reduces the number of Erasmus+ mobility participants. Therefore, this event fulfilled the aim of the Eurodesk mission – to motivate young people to believe in their skills that lead them to be active participants of Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps programs. Opportunities of both programs and Eurodesk brochures were available on site. Since the event was organised by the information centres we were able to answer questions about the opportunities abroad and other relevant information needed.

Impact:

The project connected people of different cultures and enriched the Czech population with insights into the language, culture and realities of foreign countries. It was also an effort to motivate people to improve their language competences and inspire them to learn other languages as well as encourage them to experience the world.First step to being an active citizen is to show interest in the surroundings and try to understand it. With this in mind, the event promoted mutual respect and understanding among the different cultures in the local community which is one of the principles of human rights.The event was very positively rated by the visitors and by the tutors as well. It created new opportunities as well as friendships among participants. We believe that thanks to our Speak Dating we made young people think out of our region, moreover, think out of the box.