In the framework of the European Youth in Action Programme, the VIVA Association, member of the Anna Lindh Foundation Belgian network organized a youth exchange in Turnhout from 4 to 12 April 2009. The exchange brought together 40 youth from 8 countries (Belgium, Egypt, Jordan, France, Morocco, Spain, Palestine, and Sweden). The project’s title is Human Rights from Theory to Practice.
During the exchange, the participants will be actively engaged in the project by taking part in its programme. For example, each country group will present an ice-breaking game and a team-building activity. In addition, the participants will set together the code of conduct for the project and make sure it is respected by everyone. Third, each group will make a small play and improvise a song about the situation of Human Rights in their country. Last but not least, the participants will be involved in the final evaluation process and follow-up in case of any.
During the project, the young participants will share together and exchange their different cultural views about human rights and the minorities rights in their countries. They will also discuss the relevance between intercultural dialogue and human rights and what happens when dialogue disappears and how this results in outrageous human rights violation. The main outcome will be to combat prejudices and racism which are important factors behind human rights violations especially for minority groups. Hence the participants will develop a better sense of tolerance to the “Other” and understand the different cultural backgrounds of the other participants.
