Break the chains of stigmatization

21 May 2022

Program: Erasmus+, KA1 – Youth Exchange
Project leader: Change Your Life Now (Greece)
Place of action: Chania, Crete, Greece
Timeframe of the project: 17-24 May 2022
Partners: 

• Poland ??- Reflections on Europe 
• Italy ?? – Comune di Cinisello Balsamo
• Lithuania ?? – Vsl „uMunthu”
• Portugal ?? – Embaixada da Juventude
• Romania ?? – Asociatia Bistrita Business Academy

“Break the Chains of Stigmatization” project was a youth exchange that aims to bring together young people who are sensitive to the issues of stigma through addiction, abuse and diversity in their communities, who want to be Equality Ambassadors in their society.

The initiative aims to:

• investigating cases of stigmatization and stigmatized groups among young people in their small and medium-sized communities,
• work on their role and support their peers in overcoming stigma,
• sharing and discovering examples of good practice in combating exclusion and discrimination against young people who have experienced abuse (alcohol, drugs, etc.) or identify themselves in groups such as the LGBTQI community.

The aim of the project was to bring together young people and support them in working on ideas that can help local communities mitigate discriminatory behavior and help other young people to be open and tolerant of diversity.

“It was an amazing lesson in citizenship and mutual understanding. I never thought that I would be able to understand such important things and commonly used stereotypes about a given country by talking to someone from that country about it. I will remember this experience for the rest of my life” says Borys, participant of the exchange.

“I am glad that I could take part in such a project. This experience has opened my eyes and made me understand many things. I checked my foreign language in practice, made many amazing friendships and experienced moments that I will never forget. I definitely recommend everyone to take part in such a project and experience these amazing experiences for yourself” says Klaudia, participant of the exchange.

For 7 days, the young people from Poland worked in an international environment with another young people from Italy, Portugal, Lithuania, Romania, Greece on the beautiful Crete.

Poland was represented by Klaudia, Weronika, Dominika, Janek, Mikołaj, Antek and Borys.