Funded by The European Union as part of the European Social Fund

Funding received: 386,991.00 zł

Project dates: 1.09.2005 - 31.08.2007

Project description

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The project creates educational and artistic opportunities for 150 disadvantaged young people in Poland, aged 15-24, as well as for victims of alcohol addiction. It gives them a chance to attend drama and computer art workshops, and to participate actively in society. Each person attends a free one-year course (100 hours), and takes part in cultural events organised by the Association. The workshops have an educational as well as a therapeutic purpose - young people gain the skills necessary for them to overcome personal difficulties and complete their education.

It also includes training programmes in drama education for 120 instructors, teachers and therapists working with socially excluded groups.

At the end of the project a guide for young people will be published, entitled "The Ordinary Extraordinary", encouraging youths to take part in creative endeavours. It will consist of interviews with the workshop participants about the effect of art on their lives.

Beneficiaries

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The beneficiaries come from the socially excluded groups in the Bielsko-Biała area. They include young people from families at risk, teenagers from an orphanage deprived of parental care, young offenders, victims of drugs addiction and alcoholism. All aspects of the project are aimed at improving their educational and vocational prospects and supporting the process of social integration through artistic activity. Workshops are held in specialist educational and re-socialisation centres including local community/therapy centres.

Project activities

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The students work on their own performances or works of art. At the end of each course the participants present their performances and works of art to a wider public at a series of events in the Bielsko-Biała area.

Workshops are run once or twice a week for two to three hours. Drama exercises are inspired by selected topics, places, historical events and other aspects of the rich European culture. The performances staged throughout the course make the students feel important and valuable as individuals, and encourage them to complete their education and take up work.