Young people are growing up in a globalized world where individuals are forced to leave their homes due to war, persecution, economic challenges, or environmental disasters. "Roots and Borders" is an international youth exchange focused on the themes of identity, (forced) migration and people on the move, which promotes social cohesion. It provides young people with new perspectives on their own identity and fosters empathy and tolerance for those with refugee experiences and migration backgrounds.
Regular training sessions for multipliers are offered to equip professionals with innovative methods of non-formal education to address the topics of flight, migration, and identity.
Students aged 15-18 from various European countries create an exhibition using visual media, which is presented in the participants' schools after the exchange. The young people choose their methods and content themselves—ranging from self-portraits and video installations to films about emotions, causes of flight, or prejudices. The participants are trained as peer guides, enabling them to lead other young people from their local communities through the exhibition.
The learning process is supported by the "Dialogue Circles" method, which fosters a deeper engagement with one’s own identity and personal experiences with migration and family background. Through the method of "Participatory Photography," participants are given tools to creatively deconstruct the themes of (forced) migration, and identity, making abstract concepts more tangible. A personal connection to the historical and political aspects of the subject matter is established through the individual stories of the participants.
Furthermore, "Roots and Borders" empowers young people to express and reflect on their experiences, feelings, and thoughts both verbally and creatively. In this process, boundaries are defined not only physically but also mentally.
Project Goals
- Engagement with the topic of flight and migration, both historically and currently, personally through individual stories of people on the move or with migration background.
- Teaching film and audio techniques by creating of an exhibition that addresses the themes of identity and migration.
- Promotion of responsibility, empathy, and solidarity.
- Respect for human dignity and appreciation of societal diversity.
- Dealing with one's own identity as a foundation of mental health.
