Forum Theatre as Way of Building Socially Inclusive Communities

Project Reference

2022-1-DE04-KA152-YOU-000066296

Topics

Preventing Racism and Discrimination – Bridging Intercultural, Intergenerational, and Social Divides

Action Type

Mobility of Young People

Countries Covered

Germany, Serbia, North Macedonia, Poland, Türkiye, Italy

Summary

This project brings together young people from across Europe through the youth exchange “Forum Theatre as a Way of Building Socially Inclusive Communities.” Its goal is to provide young people—especially newcomers—an opportunity to address issues such as stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and social exclusion by using the interactive method of Forum Theatre. The exchange aims to motivate participants to become active contributors to building more inclusive societies.

Objectives

The project’s objectives are to:

• Strengthen participants’ competencies in addressing stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, and social exclusion.

• Increase understanding of the negative impact these phenomena have on youth development.

• Raise awareness of the challenges faced by marginalized young people, fostering empathy and active involvement in inclusion.

• Introduce and practice the method of Forum Theatre as a tool for tackling sensitive issues.

• Organize Forum Theatre events during the exchange and in participants’ home communities.

• Enhance intercultural competencies by bringing together youth from diverse cultural, social, and geographical backgrounds.

• Expand participants’ knowledge of non-formal education, Youthpass, and the Erasmus+ Programme, encouraging active engagement.

• Create networks and partnerships among participating organizations for future cooperation and exchange of good practices.

Activities

The youth exchange engaged 48 young people from six countries, with a strong emphasis on involving newcomers—youth with no previous Erasmus+ experience but strong motivation to learn and contribute.

The project also ensured the participation of young people with fewer opportunities, including those facing geographical or economic barriers. Participants were expected to:

• Meet Erasmus+ programme criteria (age, residency).

• Have interest or local experience in issues related to stereotypes, discrimination, and social exclusion.

• Be motivated to explore Forum Theatre as a tool for youth work.

• Be committed to full participation in all stages of the project: preparation, implementation, and follow-up.

• Contribute to visibility and dissemination through social media, storytelling, and community outreach.

Impact

The project generated impact on several levels:

• For participants: Developed competencies to challenge stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion, while experiencing Forum Theatre as a creative tool. Participants also gained knowledge about Erasmus+ opportunities and improved intercultural and teamwork skills.

• For organizations: Enhanced capacity to use Forum Theatre in their work, generated new project ideas, and strengthened their role in including newcomers and marginalized youth in meaningful activities.

• At the local level: Each partner organization organized local Forum Theatre events, raising awareness in communities about the realities of social exclusion and discrimination, while promoting Erasmus+ as a tool for empowerment.

Key result: The project produced an interactive guideline on using Forum Theatre to address social exclusion and discrimination, ensuring sustainability and transfer of knowledge to other youth groups and organizations.