YOUth in ACTivism

follow-up

Pro-Learning Evaluation or Follow-Up is valuable and plays an essential part in our project.

In this period, after the Exchange, participants have the chance to evaluate their learning and experiences by themselves as well together with their group leader and partner organisation.

The program hasn't finished - now its their turn to become true activists and with the support of their sending organisation create follow-up activities in their local communities, while still promoting the results created during the exchange.

Follow below to read our Activists articles and testimonials about their experience in the Exchange, and get inspired by what local actions they have created to spread the word of diversity and acceptance in their countries!

ARTICLES & TESTIMONIALS

In August 2018, five participants from Slovenia joined the youth project Youth in Activism in Ommen in the Netherlands. The project lasted 10 days and 8 different countries participated, the main topics of the project were creating tutorial videos for online activism and the organisation and implementation of street actions. The main method of work was non-formal education, the content and form were described by the author of the project as “something between” a youth exchange and a training.

In the first phase of the project the participants got to know each other and explored the topics of sexuality, LGBTQIA+ community and the challenges we face as activists, after this we focused on meeting and interviewing different NGOs in the Netherlands and learned about the realities of the community in the Netherlands (spoiler alert: it’s not as rosy and glittery as it may seem). We created six different tutorial videos about the community and activism and also prepared and implemented street actions for raising visibility and education in the nearby city of Zwolle. It’s incredible what we can do in only 10 days. It was an amazingly productive and inspiring experience - we can’t wait to continue it at home!

IVA:

This project offered me a lot of learnings and personal development in terms of taking initiative, suggesting and facilitating activities and also knowledge and skills about activism. I had the opportunity to meet and work with activists from different European countries, see what the LGBTQIA+ realities are there and what their associations do, I learned more about creating impact with videos and online activism and most of all I was empowered for the understanding and encouraging of different types of activism and I got many, many ideas for spreading the impact further in my own country.

I am very grateful for this opportunity of being in a safe space for 10 days where I was accepted and supported, my ideas and efforts were taken into account and very much appreciated and I had the full freedom to express myself. I went back home full of new inspirations and ideas and I can’t wait to continue with the follow-ups!

SLOVENIA

One of the steps in the Follow-up is to write an article about participant experiences and learnings during the exchange. Continue reading to find out more of what has motivated and inspired the new Activists!

KATJA:

A combination of a well created safe space and presented topics allowed me to learn a lot on this project. I feel more confident as an activist and from the experience I got in the exchange I feel empowered and ready to activate myself in my own country even more. By practicing how to work in groups, learning from other people, exploring some topics in a creative way and performing a street action I learned more about myself and what kind of an activist I want to be. It felt great to be creative, share knowledge and personal experience, create great products and just hang out with all the inspiring persons around me.

LAURA:

On this project, I learned a lot about working in teams and how to get the support from your co-workers. I experienced a beautiful journey through self-development, creating new friendships, working with people who have same and different opinions about same topics. In these 10 days, I had the opportunity to develop my communication skills and learn about different ways to show our activism to the world. I tried to give my best and a lot of creativity in this project. I came home with new methods and skills and I am looking forward to use and try them in my country.

LEA:

This was the first Erasmus+ project that I attended and it exceeded my expectations in every way. There was so much information and new experiences offered to us and it was all done in a fun, relaxed way. We learned about team work, different types of activism, the LGBTQ+ spectrum and so much more. After every activity, there was time for reflection, which really gave me the chance to recognise the value of everything that I learned and to think about how I want to use this in my life. Aside from knowledge, I left the project with so many new connections and friendships and an overall feeling of hope and inspiration from all the amazing people that shared this experience with me.

NIKA:
This remarkable experience is a perfect example of how education should look like. I had never learned that much while having so much fun. Knowledge of LGBTIQ+ spectrum, teamwork, activism, self-care and boundaries has never been obtained in such a natural and enjoyable way. I have a marvellous feeling that I gained inexhaustible experiences in the field of human relations and solidarity which not just made me a better person but also greatly contributed to my professional development. I have never felt more confident and competent to face the challenges that might occur.

Articles & Testimonials

GREECE

Each one of us came and left with different experiences in life which means different ways of dealing with emotions and different understandings of every action and workshops. But one thing is for sure. After this experience we all feel more complete. More powerful than ever to bring change in our country and to become accountable for our actions. Besides “ there is a wrong way to be an activist, but there is no right one”. This is an experience everyone should have at least once in their life.

LUKE:

I went to this project thinking I would learn how to be an activist, but I was wrong. I learned so much more than that. I learned how to be myself. I learned that all it takes to get the best out to people is some love and understanding. Okay yes, the workshop on active listening also helped! I also learned that even the smallest actions can have a big impact. There are so many ways to change the world and that it may be hard but nothing can stop us as long as we're all in this together! I loved every single moment of it!

MARIA:

A new understanding that stayed with me even after the project is to use the awareness I have of a situation to brainstorm achievable ways to improve it in the present moment. That, I think, becomes a skill.

This project not only offered a different view of the world, a meeting with so many different and wonderful people, the experience of living and cooperating with them, but also new insights and the implementation of them, meaning whole new skills. That is something, if we’re talking about non - formal education and activism.

This project helped me see that when I prioritise needs and ideas and actually work towards them with the feeling that I can make it while not aiming for perfection is something both empowering and powerful. That is because a process like that actually leads you to an outcome, most likely the outcome you were hoping for and even more. It reminded me that although we live in a very fast paced society, we can implement changes in small or bigger doses in short notice, yet without exhausting ourselves in the mid-time, having an inner pace. The pace is not always coming from a clockwork organised schedule, but mainly from a self-awareness of needs that is giving space to oneself be human, vulnerable, healing, evolving, empowered and empowering.

Drink water and stuff your bellies first!

ERIANNA:

19th to 28th of August. Year: actually unknown cause time is irrelevant, but let’s agree on 2018. Place: Ommen. Exact place in Ommen: Olde Vechte.

What brought me in this situation? Let’s say that this place is magical to me and keeps me calling back like a Siren. So no, it wasn’t my first Erasmus plus project in this place and probably it won’t be my last one. It wasn’t either the first time that I got to meet a bunch of strange people from countries that most of them I’ve never visited (yet), with different backgrounds and perspectives. It wasn’t neither the first time that I shared my points of view, that I shared laughter and tears, stories and fairytales -tough ones and easygoing. It wasn’t the first time that I got new tools to implement in my path of self development and being an active citizen who can dream on to improve my own life, but also society. It was though the first time that I got to feel like home and the

people around me like a family from day zero, the day of our arrival.

Now, after almost a whole month I can state with certainty that what I felt was the soul and mind of each other, a common passion to change our world and willingness to find ways to do.

These 10 days made me discover a lot more about myself and in the end the best - and probably the only - way to change the world is to change your inner self. So I can see after this experience that I communicate a lot better, I have not only the patience but an actual interest in listening to the others and getting to know them deeply. In this way it’s now more possible for me to take the things that work for me and leave the rest, while I have a better insightfulness of my reality through others’ perspective and their reality as it is and as I see it. It’s a take it or leave it. And this experience is for sure a “take it” for me as all the small or bigger successes that I realised I have done and I do every day of my life. Cause even the slightest to do list that we accomplish in our everyday life is a success that we should acknowledge. Walking down the street of activism I can be sure that even the smallest action can be important and have an impact to another human being. This is huge (success) for me as it is the influence I got for all these strange or better queer people!

Thank you all my sisters and brothers for all the giving and taking. And remember if we cannot react and reflect, how are we gonna change ourselves and therefore the society?

AFRODITI:

I stepped further into the depths of self-love and came closer to a better understanding of myself. Through the interaction with inspiring and multi-cultural individuals, I came to the realisation that one shines when they are themselves, fears aside, so I embraced and shared my inner star with the world and was welcomed with bright smiles, open hearts and some crazy dance moves.

Along the way, working in teams, I learnt that there is no specific handbook stating how things are to be done. A collective effort requires open communication and active participating in the whole process. The hardest part in my journey along these people, was actually letting myself be wrong and navigating through uncharted waters out of my comfort zone with their help. Keeping an open mind to different point of views, not just in theory, I realised it means that my way is not the only way of doing stuff and the outcome will be just as good or even better. And the next wild realisation I came across, was that the outcome did not even matter, because the actual goal was the process of getting there! I was mind-blown! And I would do it all over again.

ANDRIANA:

A message with a heart on, that is first delivered and then read. That was my sculpture of plasticine answering the question that all the team leaders were asked one day before the participants arrived , “ What is activism for you?”. Then for the next 10 days Olde Vechte became the most colourful place in the world, or at least this is how I perceived it. A school, a lab, a safe space, a home.

My first big “Aha moment” was when I realised that I was actually experiencing values as I was observing how people were experiencing their interaction! How could I experience a value? When we have a value, we embrace the whole point of it and what it means for us and then we put it into practise very consciously so there will be a clear and direct impact to the people around us. Simple but not obvious. But in Youth in Activism Team Work, Acceptance, Empathy, Nurturance, Productive Feedback and so many other words with “nice” meaning were actually, day by day becoming part of the way we were thinking and reacting with each other.

The meaning of “Challenge” is an other new understanding for me. We usually say to ourselves that in order to “grow” we have to step out of our comfort zone. Well, from what I perceived it should not and it is not working like this. Challenging ourselves is an act of Self Care aiming to Self Growth that works as a continuing process from the inside to the outside and not as a rapid violent attempt to change something on us. We have to work from the inside our circle to expand its rays acknowledging our boundaries and not crossing them on purpose. Personally, I took advantage of challenging myself in this way to surpass the doubts I had about my capabilities as a group leader, a facilitator and a human. It turned out that most of them were just imaginary fears than real struggles.

“Boundaries”, for example, was one of those real struggles during the project for me. Putting our personal boundaries and protecting our vital space turned out to be an act of Self Appreciation and Health Care, meaning that “right now my feeling is more important than someone else’s approval”. I found it so hard not only to say “No” to people when I wasn’t feeling like saying “Yes” but also balancing myself between things I wanted to do but it would be better for me if I wouldn’t at a given time. In this very personal process I had the luck to have by my side two groups of amazing people that were there like my very own lighthouses to remind me and to nurture me. I am so grateful to them and I want them to know. So thank YOU, Greek Team, and thank YOU, Youth in Activism team, for all your support and care.

Last thing I would like to mention as a gift from Youth in Activism: “The implementation of an idea”. Brainstorming worked for me as a productive “Yes! And we could also...” process. The result of all the team work with every different group of people I had the chance to collaborate was amazing, but most importantly it was collective and concrete. What I mostly took out of this process is that it is nice to be excited about our ideas and their results, but the best thing is when as a whole team we are getting excited by how smoothly and enjoyably our Collaboration is working because this kind of collaboration will be also reflected on the result. That turned to be for me more inspiring than the implementation of the ideas themselves It’s my personal motivation for the action we are taking in this period as a greek team with the Follow up and with the creation of a new Informal Solidarity Group.

Smaller messages with hearts flying away with their shiny wings in different directions.That was my second sculpture of plasticine the last day of the project answering the same question as the first day. It was not my first time in Olde Vechte, it was my first time as a leader and it won’t be the last.

ITALY

The youth exchange “Youth in Activism” took place in the beautiful Olde Vecthe Foundation in Ommen, the Netherlands, between the 19th and the 28th of August.

We gathered together, from 9 different European countries, in order to address the topic of activism within the LGBTQI+ community. Since we were over 40 participants, we had the chance to share very different ideas and experiences.

Some topics have been addressed through the activities that were prepared for us, such as for example sex and sexual education, street action activism, the value of active listening and positive communication. But many many other topics have been spontaneously brought up by us during the activities. So it was a good environment for people who consider themselves activists and have already some experience so share, but it was perfect also for who just started to be active in the LGBTQI+ community: in both cases, we had the possibility to grow, to learn and to be inspired on what we can do to make a change.

Apart from small workshops, talks and debates, we have been challenged to do also something more practical. In fact, we had the chance to experiment 2 different ways of doing activism: we created video tutorials as a form of online activism, and we organized different street actions that took place in the nearby Zwolle. And in order to do so, we also had the chance to get in touch and visit different Dutch organizations, doing one day trips in different cities of the Netherlands.

It was a very positive experience, even though it can be challenging to interact with many different people, and have the chance to share activities and work with everyone. For the same reason, it was obviously hard to go deep into every topic that was brought up, even though we had almost 10 days and we were working intensely from the morning to the evening.

On the other had its was very inspiring because we had the chance to get in touch with different situations and cultures, which gave us the possibility to reflect about the LGBTQI+ community all around Europe and what we can do to give our help. All the workshops we had gave us also a lot of in-puts, tools and ideas that we will surely use back home in our local LGBTQI+ community, which are: Cassero LGBTI Center in Bologna (“gruppo scuola" and “Peopall"); Arcigay Taranto; Associazione Vagamondo.

We tried new ways to do activism, which has often been quite different from italian ones; also, we learnt how to manage with stress and burn-out consequences. It was also very empowering to be in a safe place, where we felt always accepted for who we are and also to see so many different people getting to know each other, bonding, building friendships, falling in love, having fun, breaking stereotypes and national borders.

CZECH REPUBLIC

For the four of us who travelled to Netherlands from lovely Czechia, the exchange was an experience like no other. We learned a lot of things. About LGBTQIA+ community, about activism, about video making, about others and, I dare to say, about ourselves as well.

We experienced street action for the first time in our lives. We learnt more about communication with the others and also with ourselves. The exchange brought a lot of motivation and inspiration into our heads so now we know we can positively contribute to the changes our world is going through.

I won’t lie, those ten days were pretty exhausting. Not negatively, positively though. All the workshops, exercises, reflecting sessions and work took a lot of energy from us but gave us plenty in return. It connected us with wonderful, inspiring people, showed us useful learning techniques and taught us more about happiness, unhappiness, friendship, teamwork, fun and many other things.

I think I don’t exaggerate If I say the Youth in Activism exchange in cosy Olde Vechte in pictorial town of Ommen changed the way we see the world around us to some extent. And I know we will all happily reminisce the moments we experienced during the project.

LATVIA

JĒKABS

First of all, the project was a life changing experience for me. I found the daily life on it remarkable to tidy my inner world, especially when it comes to the knowledge of providing time for myself. I met so many participants from numerous European countries and got to know their backgrounds as well as the situation of LGBTQIA+ rights in their native countries.

For me the project the most inspiring in more psychologically associated exercises and also physical activities. Using bicycles all around the town Ommen, breathing fresh air, seeing wonderful landscapes of rural area of the Netherlands and living in a team with whom we saw multiple interesting places such as Ommen Sahara and beautiful corn fields.

The workshop activity of one of the group leaders made a lot of new emotional intelligence conclusions for me. The activity was with four people in the front from whom one person needed to imagine other people as their friends and father and afterwards she needed to tell various things asked by the organiser. I cured multiple inner conflicts during this project. Also the topics and exercises linked with sexual knowledge got me to know a lot of new things and I found it really significant that each country in their education system this topic should be taught because nowadays there are a lot of things to know, for example, about sexually transmitted diseases.

The street activities in another country was something really new for me and I found society more willing to listen on somebody here than in my native country.

ELĪNA

I am so thankful for having had the opportunity to be a part of this amazing project. In this group of people I felt as safe, appreciated, understood and free as never before in my life. This has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

I've had the chance to gain knowledge about LGBTQIA+ related topics, learn new things and understand the importance of pronouns. I've heard people's experiences from eight different countries and have shared mine as well. The activities of the project made me realize that I can trust people and not be disappointed, open up to people and be supported not judged.

I learned a lot about myself in this project too. I realized that with supportive and open people around, anyone can work through their fears, insecurities and bad experiences. For me, a big step was participating in a theatre activity with a positive attitude and enthusiasm, as I still have a fear of public performances. It was such an amazing feeling to have a person walk up to me and say that I have given them inspiration and strength by sharing my stories so bravely and unapologetically. It was also great to get to exercise our teamwork skills as we had to make tutorial videos in small groups. The challenge was to stay calm during difficulties, agree on the concept and execution techniques, acting, recording, editing and having fun while doing it all. I am so proud of everyone, myself included, that we successfully managed to make something that we are proud of.

And the most important thing I gained during this experience is support and confidence to continue sharing my knowledge with people around me and join a local organization in my home country to make my surrounding environment a safer and more understanding place for us all.

LINDA

I am happy to have been able to be a part of such an amazing experience and to be able to learn more. I am sure that I will be able to use some of the skills and experiences when working in the future. This project was able to shed some new light on topics I already was familiar with as well as introduce me to some new ones.

My 3 most memorable and useful experiences where the workshop based on psycho-drama, the video making and the lecture about sexuality. This was because these events where the closest to what I want my work life to be in the future as they incorporated mental health, informal learning and educating the society. Plus I had the possibility to work in an amazing team.

I had an amazing experience and now I only wish to share it with others.

DAVIS

I enjoyed the Olde Vechte project a lot, and quite a bit more than I expected to. It is difficult for me to remember a time where something so exceeded my expectations and satisfied me so fully. The amazing location, the professionalism and friendliness of our leaders, the excellent cooks, it all helped the rest of us flourish and get what we want out of this experience.

I think that these aspects are particularly important to emphasize, as they effectively solved my personal dilemmas and skepticism. If everyone around me puts so much effort and care into our exercises and well-being, then, darn, I do owe it to everyone to step out of my shell and be a pra-pra dancing penguin. It was a wonderful place, one that allowed me to be unafraid of judgment, and something I would recommend for all humans to learn and grow.

A special highlight for me was the psychodrama experience. I could relate to it on a lot of levels, and at some points I even wanted to leave the room due to how overwhelming it was. In the end, it was a truly powerful experience, covered in empathy – both with me empathising with the person at the center of the psychodrama, as well as me receiving empathy from the audience – silently, without their knowledge, as the issues they helped to care for were also those of my life. After this experience, I knew my time in OV would be special and rewarding. And, hey, psychodrama is something I hadn’t ever seen, despite me having some kind of a master’s degree in psychology. Point one for informal education, I guess.

I’m very glad that I signed up for this adventure. The workshops, the assignments, the learning, the challenges, my new friends and my buddy, all of it helped to bring out some of my better qualities. For that, I will always be grateful.

EVELĪNA

To be in a place, where there is no judgment, people are free & can express themselves in however they like, is a truly wonderful experience. The diversity, open-mindness made this project really colourful & each of us brought something to this project, which resulted in amazing, unforgettable 10 days filled with knowledge, creativity, fun & so much more.

To bring 40 people together & create such a bond is a great work of Cathy & team leaders, who led workshops & energizers. Thinking of what to point as the most memorable day, ended in going through all the great memories and realizing how much we did together & that all of it was so needed and important.

During the project we discussed many topics, talked with each other, shared opinions, views and experiences, not only through the daily programme, but also in our free time & about various things. I believe every single on of us left the project with more in their luggage than they had when arrived at the Olde Vechte. For me this luggage was filled with better understanding of sexuality, LGBT+, people stories, creative challenges & successes, a couple of “first times” meaning I did things I haven’t done before, even overcome my fear, also with big inspiration to continue my creative journey & share my observations & knowledge of LGBT+ to people around me and so, so much more. I could continue this list for hours, because Youth Activism project has been one of the greatest experiences in my life lately.

And I have to mention, that thanks to this project I’ve met a really great person, my buddy, who now I can call my friend. I went to this project without any expectations, with an open soul and heart to everything that will come & perhaps I earned more than I could have imagined. And the fact that I’ve been smiling all the time while writing this & even having a tear in my eye, shows how thankful & happy I am for having a chance to be a part of this project.

Pra Pra & love to everyone!

SPAIN

ALBA

The adventure began by finding the place where we were going to spend the next 10 days. An airplane, two trains and a road that you could not leave if you did not want to be hit by a bicycle.

Sara and me, we arrived from Malaga, Spain. After landing at the Amsterdam airport, I already noticed that I was going to like it. We explored the city for a few hours while we made time to catch the train that would take us to Zwolle. The rainbow flag decorated many of the dates of those houses with pointy roofs and film architecture. We ate some sandwiches and went for our train, but it escaped us. We did not know if would pass another train to Zwolle, but we decided to wait. Fortunately, another train arrived, and we were able to catch it; the communications are very good. We arrived at Zwolle and waited a little to catch the train that would take us to our destination: Ommen.

The arrival was a bit confusing, but once we chose a room and settled in, we met the rest of the participants who had already arrived. The activities started the next day, so we had time to share a bit of where we came from, who we were, etc.

After this introduction, it would be very long to talk about each day, so I will tell you what took me personally and in general.

On a personal level, this experience has given me new tools to improve communication with the use of inclusive language. For example, use personal pronouns appropriately according to the person you want to address and how you identify yourself. This, although it may seem only a detail, helps a lot to create a safe and comfortable space.

Another "thing" that I take away from #YOUthinACTivism is the amount of new knowledge related to the LGBTIQ+ spectrum. Just as I knew about many of the terms we use, I also did not know many others. Being surrounded by such diverse and unique people has helped me break any prejudice I might have, even about myself. Thank you so much for that.

Olde Vechte, our house for 10 days, became a bubble full of activists. Some of the activities we did involve an important creative effort; so much that we even learned to use video editor programs on a Mac! Making a video tutorial on a free theme was a very fun and enriching experience. My special congratulations and sincere thanks to our group "How to make a bisexual" and the group of "Boundaries".

The day of "Street actions" was also very inspiring. Seeing how unknown people labeled you according to your appearance and the impact it had on them to discover the truth about us made me discover the necessity of activism and education.

One of the days we dedicate to sexuality thanks to Carla, who came from Zwolle to give us a talk and to help us explore different concepts and terms through games. It was a good time to share personal events.

On the other hand, we had the opportunity to ride a bike and move like real Dutch people. We went in small groups and we decided to get to Germany. That was an adventure of mud, rain, sun, rain, rain, rain, sun, cold, sun, rain ... and above all, of overcoming. Thanks for that day.

And, finally, not to get any longer, 2 years ago I started participating in Youth exchanges and, since then, there is a phrase that I carry with me: "Thinking outside the box". Thanks to #YOUthinACTivism for reminding me again and giving it an even broader meaning.

Thanks to each and every one of the people that have been part of the personal and collective change during those 10 days (and that you already are in my heart).

This is my little reflection. It has been a pleasure to participate in such a beautiful project and full of necessary ACTIONS.

SARA

This has been my first Project and it has set the bar high. Seeing all the diversity that was there made me to break free from “my bubble”. I was able to learn the wide variety of people that build this world (non-binary, pansexual, asexual, polyamorous…) and I had not had the chance of meet before in my "ivory tower".

YOUth in ACTivism has helped me not to fall unconsciously into the stereotypes against which we struggle so much. We had the chance of making people think of it in our Street Action: What label would you give me? A lot of them realized that there a lot of labels connected with the stereotypes and are not always being kept. In addiction we realized that there are labels even for people that do not want to identify with none. From my point of view labels make life harder.

There are still a lot to do, and I have been provided with the impetus for starting doing something about it. Beginning with my family and my own circle. We have to unlearn to learn. Now, I know that I have support of a lot of people from all over the world, and It makes me easier to be an activist. Thank you all, truly, you have changed me.

SONIA

This has been my second time attending a youth project at Olde Vechte. It was my intention to come back at some point, as the experience was indeed worth, and I was not disappointed at all. For ten days, I got to live with forty different people. It can be a bit overwhelming at some point, but to be able to get out of my comfort zone is one of my priorities. For that, Cathy, our beloved guide in this encounter, with the help of the team leaders, organized multiple workshops about communication and LGTB+ knowledge. This activities also helped all of us to get along with each other, learn and to lose some fear. I can say that, in the end, it worked for me. At some point I realized I tend to avoid people whenever we had to get together with a person that wasn’t familiar to us. I wasn’t aware of this aspect of myself, and being conscious about it at least makes it easier to fight against it.

At the same time that the team encourages us to craft our own experience and to be accountable about it, a safe space is created around and within all of us. It is something that I highly appreciate. For ten days, I get to see people expressing themselves freely. It is tough listening to their stories, how different it is at home sometimes. I’m extremely grateful that all of us were granted this opportunity, and even more grateful that everyone contributed to make it a warm place.

At this project, I was given the chance to visit again IHLIA, located in Amsterdam. It is an archive of all kinds of LGTB+ documents, and they share a fraction of it to the public. I greatly admire this kind of work, as they gather all the LGTB heritage they can find, put it all together, and offer to us the representation we lack from our daily lives. Because we were a small group, it was possible to show us the core of IHLIA: we took the elevator all the way down to see where they preserved all their catalogue. We learnt how ti worked: the digitalisation, the fundings, how they catalogue their contents… The staff was very open and communicative, as well as nice. We were able to take all the pictures and videos we needed, and even to talk about some LGTB+ aspects of our countries. We were given magazines and pamphlets to take back to Olde Vechte, which was the final touch to this great experience.

We also made groups to film a short tutorial video. I had a wonderful team that made the process very easy and smooth. We focused on LGTB+ representation on the media, why is it tiring to see the same tropes again and again (minorities dying, same sad endings for same sex couples, etc) and how to fix that with some simple steps. Although we had a short time, we managed to fulfill the task at time and we were very proud of the result. Personally, I wish we could dedicate more time to our video making skills, as I consider it very fulfilling and useful to reach the people.

I was very surprised when we got to the day dedicated to street activism, as I did not have any experience with this kind of activism. Again, my group worked together perfectly -as it would have with any other participant, all of them were nice and excited about this day-. We went to Zwolle, which is a pretty safe city to share our activism. Even though we knew this, we were nervous about it: we had to paint with chalk the floor, and we were worried someone would think of ti as annoying. We were told that everything was under control, so that helped to calm us down. For me, after the first encounters, I can say that I thought it was something I could repeat and devote my energy to it. Most people didn’t want to get involved, but I appreciated the ones who did, with special gratitude to the few ones that were enthusiastic about participating and sharing what we were doing. As any other activity that involves talking to people and teaching them about a topic. It is tiring, but at the same time very rewarding.

To wrap this up, I want to mention again how wonderful the people of this project were to me and to each other. Everyone was taking care of everyone. We had systems to assist each other: the buddy system - two individuals that team up- and the reflection groups -teams of ~five that had meetings to talk about the day and our impressions about it-. My experience with both of these systems was amazing, all of the people participating in it were caring, and we had beautiful, hilarious and emotional moments all together. Again, my experience in Olde Vechte is a positive one, and I take with me new approaches, and a bunch of good memories.

ANDREW

First of all, it is important for me to highlight how wonderful the experience in the YOUth in ACTivism project was for me, and to thank the rest of the team for making it possible. I wouldn’t have been able to walk all that way without them, and I am definitely grateful for being granted the experience of working and discovering alongside all these marvellous people.

I must confess that I was terrified when I came to the realization that I was going to be a team leader in this project. Of course i knew before that moment, but even if the reality of something is there and it’s inescapable, emotions have a funny way of emerging a bit delayed, when they are least expected and the most inconvenient. I was afraid, because I thought I was perhaps too young, too inexperienced, or just incapable of being the person that from time to time is going to be in front. Therefore, there were a few days previous to the exchange in which my mind was constantly telling me to run as fast as I could in the opposite direction. But the fact is that I made it to Olde Vechte (I even managed to catch the last train to Ommen without having to run in distress from station to station), and as soon as I started actually working with the team I knew it was going to be fine. Maybe not perfectly, maybe not fine all the time, but I knew I was safe, I knew I was given a safe space where I could try and fail and try again and it was all okay as far as I was learning something (which I definitely did).

The team was amazing. Yes, perhaps it was all a bit awkward the first couple of times, perhaps from time to time I encountered the lonely, old feeling of not knowing exactly how to insert myself in situations, but I also discovered (it took me a few days but I did it) that there wasn’t really a moment in which you couldn’t turn to the people around you and find someone willing to listen to you, if not give you advise or comfort. Even when we had disagreements or debated around topics, it was always from a common ground of respect for each other’s well beings and opinions.

Being a team leader is a complete different experience from being a participant, that part is true, but it doesn’t mean in any case that you are less into the project. In fact you are very much overwhelmed by everything that is being done and you get to witness how other people create and laugh and cry, from the distance of a sort of parallel reality that evolves and grows and develops itself at the same time. From time to time I enjoyed hanging out with the participants and asking them a few things but mostly, I enjoyed listening to them or watching little things changing in the way they expressed themselves, the way their own language was adapting to the language of those around them. I loved how the group grew during the course of the ten days of the project.

I could go on and on about little moments that I treasure from the whole experience, but it would be too long and I am a bit afraid that the time that has passed since the project has strippen them from their context and I can no longer explain why they meant so much back at the time. I much rather prefer letting them be felt instead of expressed. I want to say, though, and with this I conclude my part of the article, that I have learnt an awful lot from this experience. I think I have now more hope than I had when the project started, and I feel as if a whole range of possibilities has been opened right in front of me, and I cannot wait to explore them and see what life has in store for me and for my community back in Spain. I think there’s so much we can do, together. And that’s an amazing feeling.

SPAIN

ALBA

The adventure began by finding the place where we were going to spend the next 10 days. An airplane, two trains and a road that you could not leave if you did not want to be hit by a bicycle.

After this introduction, it would be very long to talk about each day, so I will tell you what took me personally and in general.

Thanks to each and every one of the people that have been part of the personal and collective change during those 10 days (and that you already are in my heart).

This is my little reflection. It has been a pleasure to participate in such a beautiful project and full of necessary ACTIONS.

SARA

SONIA

MARINA

First of all, I wanna talk about how personally

inspiring the whole experience in Olde Vechte,

participating in YOUth IN ACTivisim was for me.

I even drew a whole, kinda messy, travel journal

about it, and i’m going to use it as a guide for sharing, maybe in a clear, organized way, all the

awesome experiences I had in only 10 days.

10 days that were mainly full of first experiences:

first time flying alone, first youth exchange, first

time getting attacked and bitten by a wasp.

So yes, at first I was very scared, even though

I seem like this kind of super social, approachable

kind of person, i was really scared.

After fighting all the “what if this plane crashes

and i never get to Ommen or back home, or i lose all the drawings i have on my ipad” fears, i got to Amsterdam and, after two surprisingly punctual trains, to Ommen. I had my first meal all in silence because i was tired, and shy, kinda getting ill (that part comes later, i don’t wanna make spoilers). But after the most powerful nap ever, i talked to a few people, noticed that i actually know how to talk in english and basically Olde Vechte started to feel like the temporal home and family it was at the end.

During the first day of the exchange, after welcoming my partner in crime Sonia at 1 a.m., we did a lot of bonding related activities, to get to know each other quickly, make connections and building our tiny (not that tiny actually) community. (The picture: First page of the journal + activist portrait)

I remember feeling inspired by the very first minute, after talking with a few people, i already noticed how informed, experienced and warm all the people around me were. Sonia and i even managed to make everyone enjoy a random spanish meme with no sense in english or any other language, and that talks a lot about the value of the people around us. Appart from learning more about LGTBQ+ spectrum and community, i realised how informed i already was and felt more confident to start creating content related to the community and doing activism.

A lot of the tools we learnt during the workshops that were part of the “Getting informed” process during the exchange, are helping me now in my personal and professional life. Randomly mentioning the “success chart” to my friends or thinking about it when i’m going through a rough day, reminds me of how much the experience in Olde Vechte affected my daily life.

I didn’t noticed how much I focus on my mistakes instead on the successes before hearing about this tool, and now I really glad i have it, on mind and noted on this journal. From the outside, a learning process directly focused on forming activist seems like something really specific, “only useful inside of a bubble”. But, working side by side with people from other countries, facing cultural differences, sometimes different mindsets and opinions, created a unique learning experience about teamwork, respect and cooperation that I hope will help the future me lots. The exchange wasn’t only about LGBTQ+ or activism, was also about building a community, singing together, inspiring and helping each other, and I think that’s probably a huge part of what i took back home.

The doodles on this image are from the day me and my team went to Breda to meet the organization “BO”. Having the opportunity to talk to real activists that are helping people and changing the life on their towns was amazing, after that day, i specially felt encouraged to change things, and to feel that what we do actually matter. So, after all, what i had during 10 days was kind of a super-activists /video editors training program, a family, and a lot of time to reflect on who i am, how some of my feelings work, what’s my potential and what do i want to do with it.

Also, i’m really proud of the content and activities me and the people i worked with created at the end. Maybe it was because of the general vibe of the program, but we managed to create original, surprisingly well edited, tutorial videos about topics that touch us personally; we also got brave enough to go outside and do activities with extrangers on the streets and maybe we helped someone to be more informed on LGTBQ+ community.

Flying back home was kinda weird, more than sad. The whole exchange felt like eternity and just one second at the same time. And now, I know I have a bag full of new knowledge to use, a place to come back and an experience I want to repeat any time soon.

ANDREW

NETHERLANDS

IULIA

After the project, I improved a lot my knowledge about LGBT community and I shared it with most of my friends, who were not aware about the concept and the numerous gender types. As a follow up activity, I asked some friends if they would like to join and I explained them about the association and how the things work. Also, one thing that I took with me after the project is the ability to have a proper eye contact, without feeling ashamed.

FIONA

During Youth in Activism, I learned a lot about creating an impact in just one day, achieving this by simple but powerful tools such as video making and street actions.

Besides this, I was surrounded by a group of young (LGBTQ+) activists from all over Europe. Being in this active, positive atmosphere with amazing individuals empowered and inspired me a lot to be more of an activist myself. I'm still figuring out how I want to be an activist, but with the Dutch team we are planning to organize a human library and I would love to organize something on Transgender Day of Remembrance.

lithuania

Between 19th-28th of August 2018 four Lithuanian LGBTQ+ volunteers – Rafaele, Eglė, Romas and Umiko participated in YOUth in ACTivism Exchange in Ommen, the Netherlands. These activists learned a lot during exchange and have so much stories to tell about it.

ROMAS

Youth in activism Erasmus+ exchange programme was great. It was my first time being in a non-formal education programme and these ten days left me an impression for life.

Besides having a great time after the daily activities' hours it was really refreshing to have even more fun during the activities. The community was very supportive, full of energy and enthusiasm, and the people leading the exercises were intelligent individuals and literally leading by example. By interacting with people inside the project, watching them work, and getting a glimpse of the thought process which influences the positivity around them, I got more inspired and more confident that I am able and will be able to spread the knowledge and make our communities a better place, and to grow as a person.

The banal idea, as some people might call it, that you are the creator of your own good time really struck me observing team leaders participating in the activities and interacting with participants in the after-work hours (if one could even call it work - it all went so smoothly). And, as I saw in the live examples, the positivity radiates to other people.

The activities were designed in a very thoroughly thought out way - from small scale daily activities, like the sequence of warming up, heavier topics during the midday and cooling-off by cleaning-meditation - to big scale of whole programme planning like getting in touch with your own-self, the community around you, learning the techniques of gathering and conveying information in a way that is the most suitable for everyone, and just then trying to transmit the message you need to transmit.

From what I took back with me, this whole experience is not only about growing new activists that want to make our world a better place, but also about personal development, which in turn improves the way we are trying to communicate the ideas to our communities - ouroboros of development.

EGLE

If I could sum up this experience in one sentence, I would say: This was the most uplifting adventure of self-discovery and preparation to become one of the bravest achievers who strive to make the world the place of love, solidarity, free of hate.

To become the fearless activist who can influence people and implement necessary changes in my country to better the lives of LGBTQIA+ community where I belong myself, to be the voice of people who are silenced, to fight injustice and bigotry is my main goal in life, and having been surrounded by other amazing, inspiring people who are true heroes gave me so much strength. This meaningful experience transformed me into a more confident, smarter, passionate version of myself. But what was truly precious that I received and for that I will be forever grateful - is the strongest friendships that I formed and that will last a lifetime.

During the project I had to fight my own insecurities and it wasn’t always easy, but with immense help of friends I was able to stand up firm on my feet again and realize how beautiful life is and how my purpose is to help people fight struggles as I faced myself, to uplift them.

UMIKO

I would describe YOUth in ACTivism project as first and unforgettable youth exchange experience. Coming to Olde Vechte at first was strange, new country, totally different place, never seen before. But soon it started to feel like home, because of volunteers and Cathy, project creator, who were really welcoming, friendly and always there for you.

In this project I got a chance to meet and make friends with wonderful and creative people, who were interested about activism in LGBTQ+ spectrum. I'm glad that that this project was also a safe space to play with gender expression, to dress how I want, to wear makeup and simply to be myself, a non-binary person. We worked in groups a lot, building team working skill, expressing thoughts and ideas, pushing yourself out of a comfort zone as much as you're able. Working in groups we made a videos about various topics. My team made video about boundaries, because everyone has some, they are valid and you can always refuse to do something you're not comfortable with.

Also, we visited NGO's based in the Netherlands. I was in The Hangout 070. Organization volunteers presented that they do LGBTQ+ related events, like poetry readings, movie watching and various other events. In groups we also did street activism, giving passengers in streets hugs and showing a video about boundaries about whilst I told before.

Together with the Lithuanian team, we decided to create active LGBTQ+ community in Lithuania and we are already working on that.

To sum up I can say that I'm glad that I had a chance to be part of this project. I learned a lot, I got to know myself better. I wouldn't miss next project of Active Rainbow, team that creates projects like YOUth in ACTivism.

Lithuanian team is really grateful to LGL (Lithuanian Gay League) for this opportunity to participate in YOUth in ACTivism Exchange and also thankful to Active Rainbow team for creating and organizing this project. It was a pleasure to work and be together.

Local Activities

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

During the Project, participants had the chance to explore what "activism" meant for them, what expressions it has and what impact it may create.

Within the 10 days of Exchange they created several new street actions and activities, performed and tried out in the Dutch neighbourhood.

Returning back home - now its their turn to create such activities within their local community. Eitherwise performing some of the actions they have created/experienced in the Exchange or creating something new.

We have collected the results, of what they have done till now! If you are curious of how these activities are built/done - check out the "Exchange" page with image library and instructions!

International Pronouns Day
Personal Stories

On October 17, 2018, we are celebrating "International Pronouns Day" for the first time ever Using the right pronouns is one of the most basic starting points of acknowledging someone's identity. Knowing that the use of inaccurate pronouns can have negative consequences for transgender and gender non conforming people, makes today even more meaningful. Let's strive to change society in the direction of celebrating various and intertwining identities, let's celebrate by hearing the stories of people around us. We present to you a photo album of various transgender and gender non conforming people, sharing their feelings and thoughts about their personal pronouns. Respect human dignity.

Respect personal pronouns. A big thank you to the wonderful individuals who have shared their stories and are the proud voice of this #photo #album and to Trans for their support & contribution!

The album is still being updated - you can send your picture with your text about what pronouns mean to you together with your name, pronouns and city to step.forward.slo@gmail.com.

In order to find the online album - go to
Active Rainbow Facebook page!

#BiVisibilityDay 2018

The video has been filmed by participants from the Slovenian Team during their Street Action in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where they interviewed people for the #BiVisibilityDay.

Labelling - Street Action in Zagreb,Croatia

The video has been filmed by participants from the Slovenian Team during their Street Action in Zagreb, Slovenia where they organised an activity about Labeling that was created during the Exchange.

slovenia

The game "Words we give in"(labels), inspired and implemented also during the Exchange.
A silent flashmob about Zak Kostopoulos, who was murdered in Athens on September 21st.
Viewing of the #tutorial #videos created by participants during the #project
A dancing #flashmob, a collaboration with the Greek team of the Colours YE, which took place in Romania.

The event was supported by our dear friends and partners at Solidarity Mission Academy and funded by Erasmusplus Jeugd.

Photography: Elizabeth M. Karakli Photography.

Find the online album on Active Rainbow Facebook page!

Que(er)stions we don't ask

We are excited to share with you the album with the vibrant beautiful moments of the #street #actions "Que(er)stions we do not ask" which took place earlier in October in the public streets of Athens, Greece!!

The Greek Team of #YOUthinACTivism project organised with the support and together with 14 more young activists an interactive day filled with games, fun, awareness and empowerment! Thank you to everyone involved and all passers-by who have contributed to the successful event!

The actions included:

An original game of "Queer Pursuit", created by the Greek #Team, based on the well-known trivia pursuit, but with lgbt+ spectrum content.

GREECE

italy

Cassero LGBTI center internal training

Greetings from Italy, Bologna, where in 16th of October, a combined follow-up event from Youth in Activism and Power Action projects took place, led by the amazing Italian Team, Anna & Camilla.

They organised an internal training event for the people of the school and education group of the dearest Cassero LGBTI center, presenting some of the tools learnt in the projects and integrating them with the methods used by the group!

In their words:
"We did the gender star, combining it with the cake of identities (one of the most used tools of the group) and the combination benefited and improved both tools! Then we did the meditation on intersectionality and then the feedback shema, that they decided to use to give feedback to each other, that is something they already do."

Enjoy the few sneak peeks & stay tuned for the rest of the initiatives of the young activists who are spreading their experience in their communities! There are more coming from Italy

cards against heteronormativity

As a part of Follow-up process Italian team has created their own alternative version of the game made during the project.

They have prepared two versions - an updated original game without the inside project jokes, and version with question cards translated to Italian.

These versions together with the original deck you can find in the Exchange page!

latvia

skapis.eu meeting

Together with our dear friend & fellow activist Tim, we joined our forces and organised an interactive workshop for the youth group of skapis.eu, which took place at the office of our partners at Association of LGBT and their friends Mozaika!

During the 2 hours, we had a marvellous time with the youngsters, getting to know each other, exploring, gender,diversity & individuality through the genderbread and genderstars tools and taking the first steps in the pathway to activism, a simple and original tool created by ActiveRainbow!

Further Information and inspiration was also shared when projecting results and videos from the recent projects YOUthinACTivism & Queer Lab Europe.

Paldies to the wonderful individuals who brought their experiences, fun and perspectives! We are curious to see what the #skapis team will organise & get activated with!

Activism for Dummies

Wonderful Greetings from Latvia!

On 6th of December the Latvian team organized a cosy & entertaining evening event at the Kaņepes Kultūras centrs!

Together in a cozy atmosphere we watched fun & informative videos made by Active Rainbow "Youth In Activism" project

participants, discuss & share thoughts about the topics raised in the short videos, have FUN playing "Cards Against Heteronormativity" & just enjoyed the good company of each other!

We also shared our impressions and experience gained during the "Youth In Activism" project in the Netherlands.

Photo by Evelīna Zvirbule.

cards against heteronormativity

As a part of Follow-up process the Czech team and fellow activists of the Queer Lab Europe project, has created their own alternative version of the game made during the project.

They have prepared a version - an updated original game fully translated in Czech language.

This version together with the original deck you can find in the Exchange page!

YOUth in ACTivism

follow-up

ARTICLES & TESTIMONIALS

SLOVENIA

GREECE

ITALY

CZECH REPUBLIC

LATVIA

SPAIN

SPAIN

NETHERLANDS

lithuania

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

slovenia

GREECE

italy

latvia

czech republic

Active Rainbow 2018 - 19