PUSH PLAY FOR INCLUSION 2

PUSH PLAY FOR INCLUSION  - MEDIA EDUCATION AND HEALTHY USE OF DIGITAL TOOLS YOUTH EXCHANGE

The youth exchange "Push Play for Inclusion, media education and healthy use of digital tools" was dedicated to disabled and non-disabled young Europeans. The project aimed to meet the need for acquire new skills in photography and video-making as a means of expressing feelings, thoughts, and ideas. This allowed the participants to learn how to make creative and good quality audio/video products, which they could use in their everyday lives.

The exchange took place from 5th to 15th August 2023 at San Giorgio del Sannio, Italy, with participants from five different countries – Italy, Hungary, Romania, Spain and Latvia. During the 10-day program facilitators and team members mainly used non-formal education methods.

One of the program’s goals was to foster multilingualism and multiculturalism through moments of exchange and national evenings during which each group had the opportunity to showcase their language and culture. It also aimed to enhance participants' creativity and self-expression by increasing their key skills. The project consisted of a series of activities, games, and tasks that aimed to develop personal aspects such as self-esteem and flexibility, social skills including communication and teamwork, and cognitive abilities like problem-solving, planning, and time management.

Luca Paolisso, trainer and youth worker, led the program alongside a team of experienced assistants for support. Group leaders from each country formed the team of co-trainers, all of whom were also experienced in organizing youth programs, holding workshops, and leading groups.

Many thanks to the Erasmus + Program!

Dear Diary...

Wow, what an incredible journey I've just been through. Imagine, I was spending 10 days in Italy thanks to the Erasmus + Program. During this time, I had the opportunity to meet many fantastic people and gain numerous experiences and memories. Now, I would like to share all of this with you.

Let's start from the beginning...

What is Erasmus + Program?

Erasmus + is a program of the European Union that supports international mobility and cooperation in the fields of education, training, youth, and sports. It provides opportunities for young people, youth workers, and organizations to study, work, and train abroad, promoting cultural exchange and skill development. The program offers various mobility and collaboration possibilities, including higher education, vocational training, and youth activities. Erasmus + is especially great because it plays a crucial role in promoting a more interconnected and culturally diverse Europe.

In the program we participated in, there were participants from 4 other countries besides us. Some came from Latvia, Spain, Italy, or Romania.

But now, let's dive into what happened during this 10-day program!

The big adventure began on the 5^th of August, and even getting to the airport was a bit of a challenge due to the heavy rain in the morning causing transportation delays. After nearly an hour of delay, we reached Budapest, where fortunately our fellow travellers came to our rescue, allowing us to arrive at the airport on time. We checked in and waited for our flight to take off. It was my first time on an airplane, and I treasured every moment of it like a child. Some of my fellow passengers were also excited, while others were seasoned flyers who gave us useful advice. There was even one fellow traveller who seemed so nervous and stressed that they could have used a Xanax to ease a little.

One interesting aspect of the program was our accommodation, as we stayed in an old monastery building in a small town in Southern Italy. Each day began at 6 AM, as we could have breakfast starting at 7 AM. We mostly had a self-catering accommodation, so we had to take care of various tasks that served the community's comfort. We were assigned different roles, which also helped our team bond. There were funny and somewhat unusual situations, but the team always found a way to solve them.

No two days were the same; the organizers always had different exercises and games to keep us engaged. We bounced around like popcorn on some days, transformed into household objects on others, or even became princesses and castles. After warm-up exercises, there were presentations and tasks related to the project's theme, with a primary focus on learning the basics of photography and videography. One day, we had to create a story from photographs, while another day, we had to recreate a movie scene based on the methods we had learned. The most significant task during the program was creating a short film or video in small groups to convey a message of our choice to the others. Every day presented new challenges, aimed at developing different skills and showing us new things to learn.

In addition to the activities and exercises, there were team-building sessions. One of the most interesting and self-reflective exercises was painting in complete silence in a peaceful outdoor setting, providing a moment of relaxation. Among my favourite activities was when they organized a Living Library session, where we could listen to and ask questions to people with diverse life stories. I also have to mention the incredible creativity the organizers showed in always surprising us with new decorations or creative solutions to make our environment more welcoming.

Besides the tasks and exercises, we had the opportunity to bond as a team during the international evenings. It was amazing to see and experience the culture and cuisine of different countries. Almost every evening, we learned a new dance and music from each other, and we could even discover the many similarities among us.

During our adventure, we had a day off, and we decided to explore the city of Naples. Beautiful monuments and churches lined in the entire city, and walking along the coastline, the view of the blue sea was breath-taking. Of course, we tried the famous Neapolitan pizza, which we found to be delicious overall. We had a great time, laughed a lot, and returned to our accommodation with many new memories.

In a nutshell, I don’t regret a single moment of participating in this project! I came back home with a bunch of new friends, fresh experiences, many new knowledge and a ton of positive vibes.

WHO ARE YOU?

METAMORPHOSIS

LIFE OF ANDREAS

THE INVOLVED INCLUSION