What Role Can Youth Work Play Tackling Racial Discrimination?

Prejudices towards difference, such as race, ethnicity or culture have been visible all across the continent. Everyone is confronted with discriminative talks, writings and actions in their life. Some experience discrimination personally, other witness racist behaviour or harsh prejudices of their pupils, young people at the youth houses or groups of young people on the street. At least we can read about prejudices against ethnicity and race on the internet, in the newspapers, on our Facebook walls and in political speeches. Racism is a taboo word. People do not understand what it means. People are afraid to talk about it and their understanding of the word varies. People recognise discrimination when they see it, but do not know how to react to it. Is it my problem? What will I say? How will I deal with it with my young people? Can I do something? The Partnership Building Activity aims to bring together people who are interested in fighting against discrimination and working on the theme with their young people. The activity aims to build sustainable partnerships between groups and organisations from different countries. The partnerships will build projects where the young people can learn about tolerance and equality. The Partnership Building Activity tries to show what benefit there is to form mixed partnerships and bring young people from different backgrounds together - cooperation can knock down prejudices and barriers. We explore the opportunities together. The objectives are: • To increase understanding and awareness of racism and discrimination • To explore what youth work can do to combat racism • Share real life examples and experiences on discrimination • Encouraging the creation for new partnerships • Exploring Youth in Action as a tool for new projects dealing with racism and discrimination • Provide a space for planning and building new projects between the partners in the frame of Youth in Action The activity will take place in the Stockholm area in Sweden. Arrival day is Tuesday December 11. Departures on Saturday December 15, after breakfast or at the latest after lunch. The activity is not open for countries outside Europe. Participants from Youth in Action Programme countries can apply.