Social Inclusion in Action A Grundtvig 2 Learning Partnersips Project (2005 – 2006)

Project Support Project was realised with support of European Community through the Socrates Programme - Grundtvig 2: Learning Partnerships action.

Project partners ANNWIN - Center for Support and Development of Human Potential (Slovakia) ANNWIN - Center for Support and Development of Human Potential (Slovakia) Arendal Centre for Adult Education, Arendal Municipality (Norway) Arendal Centre for Adult Education, Arendal Municipality (Norway) Caritas of Katowice Archdiocese, Center for Disabled "Divine Mercy" (Poland) Caritas of Katowice Archdiocese, Center for Disabled "Divine Mercy" (Poland) The European Initiatives Office Ltd. (Poland) The European Initiatives Office Ltd. (Poland) European Multicultural Foundation (UK) European Multicultural Foundation (UK) The Folk Culture Association (Norway) The Folk Culture Association (Norway) Folk High School of Ajdovščina (Slovenia) Folk High School of Ajdovščina (Slovenia) Lithuanian Ethnic Minorities Association (Lithuania) Lithuanian Ethnic Minorities Association (Lithuania)

Aim The project Social Inclusion in Action aims to change attitudes and achieve social inclusion and community cohesion through learning and developing methods for motivating both majority-dominated institutions and/or organisations and minorities.

Target Groups 1. Minorities: ethnic minorities, disabled and socially marginalized groups, including women in rural areas 2. Majorities: members of our organisations, local community members and staff

Project Activities staff and learners meetings twice a year in different European countries, taking part in study visits, learning from each others experiences and learning the Process Work method as practised by the partners in UK and Slovakia thought by Arlene and Jean-Claude Audergon, process work teachers from CFOR, UK

Process Work Method Process work is an innovative and cross-disciplinary approach to facilitate individual and collective change. It provides a practical framework through which each individual and group can interact, bringing out all points of view in order to achieve "deep democracy", the stage where all part of the group or society is valued and accepted as they are. Thorough facilitation of the gathering of groups and individuals who are often in conflict or isolation, leads to greater awareness on each side and allows interacting with more understanding. The tools of process-work are particularly useful for coping with prejudices, barriers and for empowering the individuals and groups from within, by seeking for the inner resources of power, often hidden under conflicts or painful experiences of marginalization.

Meeting in Norway First group meeting was held since October 23 to 27, 2005 in Sundvolden, Norway First group meeting was held since October 23 to 27, 2005 in Sundvolden, Norway Our host and project coordinator Trine Thommessen from The Folk Culture Association has led us generously in this project Our host and project coordinator Trine Thommessen from The Folk Culture Association has led us generously in this project

Process Work in Project Group The partners have started learning about the Process Work method in practice. We have covered these issues: 1. Translation and awareness of language, as an important issue of social inclusion. 2. Issues facing people who are disabled: We looked at attitudes that have oppressed disabled people in the past, and still currently. Individuals with disabilities spoke personally. 3. Issues facing refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants: Starting as an exploration about an issue within a participant’s organization, and how you talk to people who are closed to including immigrant groups - we looked at dynamics around how people are included or excluded from organizations and society. 4. Attitudes influencing the relationship between ‘East’ and ‘West’ in Europe: The group brought up the issue of East-West relationships in Europe. We raised questions about the meaning of identity of East and West. It was uncomfortable for many to consider how one identifies as East or West, and several people spoke about not wanting to choose to identify with one or the other.

Meeting in Poland Second group meeting was held since May 22 to 25, 2006 in Ustroń, Poland Second group meeting was held since May 22 to 25, 2006 in Ustroń, Poland Our host Edward „Eddie“ Dawidowski from Caritas of Katowice Archdiocese, Center for Disabled "Divine Mercy„ has made extraordinary hospitality Our host Edward „Eddie“ Dawidowski from Caritas of Katowice Archdiocese, Center for Disabled "Divine Mercy„ has made extraordinary hospitality

Process Work in Project Group Deep Democracy – wisdom comes out of the interaction, when all viewpoints are included Deep Democracy – wisdom comes out of the interaction, when all viewpoints are included World Café – emphasizes a group mind, arising through conversation World Café – emphasizes a group mind, arising through conversation Group Processes: Inclusion- Exclusion Group Processes: Inclusion- Exclusion East-West issues – how the attitudes of dominance or superiority in the West are impacting working relationships in Europe East-West issues – how the attitudes of dominance or superiority in the West are impacting working relationships in Europe Racism – prejudice combined with the power of a majority group to enforce their prejudice – manifesting as oppression and violence Racism – prejudice combined with the power of a majority group to enforce their prejudice – manifesting as oppression and violence

Outcomes The importance of recognizing there is a problem - and how this recognition can occur through personal interaction, like we had together in this meeting The importance of recognizing there is a problem - and how this recognition can occur through personal interaction, like we had together in this meeting When people say ‘there is no problem here’ it is often based on the privilege of being in a majority group, and being unaware of what is actually going on for the minority. Or, the minority group may be so cut off or hidden from society, that there appears to be ‘no problem’. When people say ‘there is no problem here’ it is often based on the privilege of being in a majority group, and being unaware of what is actually going on for the minority. Or, the minority group may be so cut off or hidden from society, that there appears to be ‘no problem’. There is also a need to be exposed to the issues – none of us know about everything going on, and we often focus on areas where we have been downed, more than on areas where we have privileges. There is also a need to be exposed to the issues – none of us know about everything going on, and we often focus on areas where we have been downed, more than on areas where we have privileges. Legislation is essential, but not enough. Legislation needs to be followed up by forums that deal with interaction and attitudes. Attitudes change through encounter. Also, people can too easily learn the language of the law, and then discrimination becomes more subtle. While it was celebrated that the UK has done very well, in terms of having almost no official practice of racism left in the country, there is still a great deal of work needed. Legislation is essential, but not enough. Legislation needs to be followed up by forums that deal with interaction and attitudes. Attitudes change through encounter. Also, people can too easily learn the language of the law, and then discrimination becomes more subtle. While it was celebrated that the UK has done very well, in terms of having almost no official practice of racism left in the country, there is still a great deal of work needed. The importance of recognizing the different levels of a problem, from the personal level to institutional. The importance of recognizing the different levels of a problem, from the personal level to institutional.

Group of Participants

Do we continue? Yes! The Social Inclusion in Action project has been supported again by National Agencies of Socrates Programme in all partner countries for the year 2006/2007. Yes! The Social Inclusion in Action project has been supported again by National Agencies of Socrates Programme in all partner countries for the year 2006/2007.

Thank you