Associazione METODO

Although we started our activity just two year ago (METODO association was actually founded in March 2011), we do have clear ideas concerning our mission.

We are constantly trying to give our contribution to build a better world, a world made of fulfilled people who are able to live significant relationships based on respect and on mutual welcome, regardless of religious or ethnic background.

METODO association addresses to anyone but it is mainly turned to young people, inside and outside our national borders, and to all those who are in charge for their education, such as teachers, parents, educators and so on and so forth. We are convinced that young people, as well as those who work with them, are the “present” of humanity (not the “future”, as most people may perceive them), and that the main goal should be to bet on them. It is a fact that there are lots of young people rich of skills and potentialities, and we would like to provide them with all the necessary instruments to become positive leaders of the peer group. By the same token, there are also some young people who are lost and unhopeful and, quite often, they run through self-destroying ways. These ones represent the poor side of affluent society which oppresses people instead of offering them opportunities to realize what they really are; it is our intention to address also to this group of people, by trying to propose them alternative valid ways which can offer personal redemption.

Since its foundation the association has realized or started the following projects:

FLIGHT ZONE (May 2011- July 2011)
Project regarding the prevention of social distress in an area of Montevarchi called San Andrea. Around 60 young people were involved in the project, they were between 16 and 19 years and coming from different countries. They realized a short movie under the supervision of several professional trainers, photographers and directors.
The aim of the project was to make those young people aware of their potentialities and, as a consequence, to become main characters of their own social background. In order to make it possible, 10 young people of same age as the involved ones were trained as peer educators.

YOUTH PHOTO PERSPECTIVE (since April 2011)
A project of research-action which was born after the encounter of two realities: Photography and Training. The idea is very simple: promoting cultural exchanges across the world by sharing images, which are definitely a means of universal communication.
YPP is to discover what is the perspective angle of a young boy or girl in his or her own reality, whatever it is, in different parts of the world; at the same time, it is an educational action since young people are trained and invited to be reporters for a day trying to catch, using the camera, the more significant aspects of the environment they live in. The aim is to spur them to become active protagonists of their own social contest and to exchange information using photography.
The project has already started in Burkina Faso and Malawi.

IGROW (since October 2011)
The project is addressed to all teenagers who desire to make their dreams come true. Either it might be a personal or a group achievement, IGROW will provide anyone with the support necessary to reach this goal.
Nothing is impossible for those who have right mental attitude and good strategic action. It is a Coaching project at zero costs. At the moment the association is looking after three boys with their own aims and a group of young people from Montevarchi who are willing to make a summer animation project in the area of the Colonie (a sort of holiday camp).

ME LIKE YOU (March 2012-December 2013)
This is a prevention project against bullying in all middle schools of Montevarchi.
The activity plans the involvement of students, parents and teachers and will be held in pairs with other nearby associations. The project foresees also the management of the Youth Municipal Council, whose aim is to make these young people live an interesting experience of attended democracy.