Watch out, Reach out!

Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT)

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Organisation:

Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT)

Country:

Romania

About organisation:

Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT) is a youth umbrella organization in western Romania, with 32 member NGOs and over 33 years of experience. It conducts diverse programs, from educational and social initiatives to cultural events and policy development. FITT administrates the Timisoara Youth House, a sprawling 11,000 m² facility with various amenities, which has the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centers. FITT also coordinated the Europe Direct center in Timisoara, facilitating citizen-European Commission interaction. Actively participating in multiple networks, FITT contributes to national and European youth development. The organization is a key player in the National Working Group on Structured Dialogue. Focused on youth participation, FITT serves as a dynamic hub for young people and youth organisations.

Contact person:

Alexandru-Raul Petreus

Title of the project

Watch out, Reach out!

Start date:

February 2, 2024

End date:

February 12, 2024

Source of funding:

The "Watch out, Reach out!" project was primarily funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Project Center, which allocated funds from the local budget, fostering cultural, educational, and inclusive initiatives. Additional support came through the European Solidarity Corps, engaging young volunteers from 21 countries. The project also collaborated with key partners and enjoyed media support from local media and other NGOs, collectively contributing to its success and impact.

Objectives:

"Watch out, Reach out!" aimed to create accessible contexts and provide educational, artistic, and cultural events tailored to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the local community and young people. Around the 3rd of August, Timișoara Day, we organized two movie projections and two concerts within the Timișoara Penitentiary. While the city residents enjoyed events in the central area, inmates also could appreciate artistic and cultural activities in the courtyard. Additionally, on the 11th and 12th of August, we celebrated International Youth Day through a series of workshops dedicated to raising awareness of the challenges faced by individuals at risk and with disabilities (including those with hearing, visual, motor impairments, or belonging to minorities). The workshops focused on promoting tolerance, solidarity, and intergenerational dialogue, utilizing non-formal education methods and artistic tools such as theatre, music, and dance. Moreover, each day featured a concert, accommodating individuals with motor disabilities, with one concert also being translated into sign language. Our objective was to create an inclusive environment where every person could feel included and have barrier-free access to education, art, and culture. Through the project, we aimed to promote social integration and build connections between communities, involving international ESC volunteers from 16 countries, as well as local volunteers.

Why does it correspond to the thematic category:

"Watch out, Reach out!" addressed the challenges of exclusion and marginalization experienced by disadvantaged groups, including minorities, people with disabilities, and those in detention. It actively responded to the pressing need for social integration by organizing cultural activities, creating an inclusive space where individuals felt valued and connected to the community. Thus, the project facilitated intercultural dialogue within Timișoara's diverse community, striving to foster a deeper sense of solidarity among participants. The main focus on ensuring equitable access to arts and culture was particularly relevant, given Timișoara's designation as the European Capital of Culture in 2023. The project effectively targeted systemic inequalities that impacted the well-being of individuals and the broader cultural fabric of the community. It not only recognized but also empowered the often overlooked cultural contributions of various groups, thereby cultivating a more inclusive and dynamic cultural environment. By implementing prompt measures to rectify historical injustices and promote inclusivity, "Watch out, Reach out!" played an important role in developing a more equitable, vibrant, and resilient cultural ecosystem. Moreover, the festival was organised with and by young people, engaging volunteers in a unique experience of learning how to support people with different needs.

The impact the initiative had on young people and the local community:

The events held in Timișoara Central Park saw an approximate attendance of 1000 visitors per day. Concerts were designed to be friendly for people with motor disabilities, and special efforts were made, including live sign language interpretation, to make them accessible for individuals with hearing impairments. The activities aimed at breaking down barriers and creating an environment where individuals from different backgrounds could come together, and enjoy cultural expressions in a welcoming setting. Moreover, the project's outreach extended to the Timișoara Penitenciary, where approximately 300 participants per day, mostly inmates, actively engaged with film screenings and concerts, fostering a sense of connection and enrichment even within the prison community. Also, in the preparation phase, FITT invited and engaged with stakeholders working with people with fewer opportunities, but also individuals with disabilities, in order to make sure that the event is covering all their needs – giving them the chance to be involved in preparing such an event. Of course, the volunteers received a training on how to guide the people visually impaired, the participants in the workshops were able to learn sign language, and all of them gained the sense of community, of supporting and understanding each other. At the same time, the festival was also an example for other stakeholders in the community, being the most open-accessibile event organised in the city.

How it ensured the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk:

Being part of Eurodesk played an important role, providing educational and informational resources, and opportunities for increasing visibility within the European network alike. We displayed the Eurodesk InfoPoint at the Youth House to encourage people to reach out to us for more information about the initiative and to explore its tools and platforms. Additionally, our Eurodesk multiplier's events helped in reaching a broader audience and extending the project's impact. The project and its results were also presented to more than 40 Eurodesk National Coordinators, during the Eurodesk Network Meeting in Bucharest, last September. We showcased our collaboration with Eurodesk through regular articles on our websites, ensuring that our online platforms served as informative hubs about the project and its updates. This approach not only increased visibility but also provided detailed insights into the projec and increased the visibility of our organization in the Eurodesk network. To directly engage with the community, we organized a living library in the Central Park, in Timisoara. This activity represented a gathering where local youth interacted with our ESC volunteers. In this way, we facilitated a genuine and open exchange of ideas, perspectives and experiences in the context of European mobility opportunities for young people. As barriers dissolved, local youth and ESC volunteers found common ground, fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and curiosity for Eurodesk's tools.

How it respected the green principles:

We collaborated closely with the ADID association, focusing on sustainable practices throughout our initiative. ADID, known for its commitment to environmental advocacy in our region, played a major role in our efforts. One significant aspect of our collaboration was centered around waste management and sanitation services. ADID's expertise in organizing, regulating, and monitoring communal sanitation services complemented our commitment to green principles. Together, we aimed to establish, organize, and enhance sanitation services within our community, raising awareness for a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Moreover, we conducted thematic workshops on sustainability, in partnership with ADID. These workshops focused on essential topics such as waste recycling and the sustainable use of personal items like T-shirts and reusable bags. By promoting responsible practices, we aimed to promote a sense of environmental consciousness within our community. Digital resources also played a role in our promotional activities, connecting to the eco-friendly principles advocated by Eurodesk. Using online platforms and using less paper, we maximized our outreach while minimizing our environmental footprint. Being organized in open air, we alligned with the green principle of utilizing existing natural spaces and reducing the need for additional infrastructure. This has not only not only contributed to a more eco-conscious event but also provided a refreshing and natural backdrop

“Watch out, Reach out!” aimed to create accessible contexts and provide educational, artistic, and cultural events tailored to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the local community and young people. Around the 3rd of August, Timișoara Day, we organized two movie projections and two concerts within the Timișoara Penitentiary. While the city residents enjoyed events in the central area, inmates also could appreciate artistic and cultural activities in the courtyard. Additionally, on the 11th and 12th of August, we celebrated International Youth Day through a series of workshops dedicated to raising awareness of the challenges faced by individuals at risk and with disabilities (including those with hearing, visual, motor impairments, or belonging to minorities). The workshops focused on promoting tolerance, solidarity, and intergenerational dialogue, utilizing non-formal education methods and artistic tools such as theatre, music, and dance. Moreover, each day featured a concert, accommodating individuals with motor disabilities, with one concert also being translated into sign language. Our objective was to create an inclusive environment where every person could feel included and have barrier-free access to education, art, and culture. Through the project, we aimed to promote social integration and build connections between communities, involving international ESC volunteers from 16 countries, as well as local volunteers.