Social Inclusion Social Inclusion in Actionin Action

A Grundtvig 2 Learning A Grundtvig 2 Learning Partnersips Project (2005 – Partnersips Project (2005 –

2006)2006)

Project SupportProject Support

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

Project partnersProject partners ANNWIN - Center for Support and ANNWIN - Center for Support and

Development of Human Potential (Slovakia)Development of Human Potential (Slovakia) Arendal Centre for Adult Education, Arendal Arendal Centre for Adult Education, Arendal

Municipality (Norway)Municipality (Norway) Caritas of Katowice Archdiocese, Center for Caritas of Katowice Archdiocese, Center for

Disabled "Divine Mercy" (Poland)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 Lithuanian Ethnic Minorities Association

(Lithuania)(Lithuania)

AimAim

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

Target GroupsTarget Groups

1.1. Minorities:Minorities: ethnic minorities, ethnic minorities, disabled and socially marginalized disabled and socially marginalized groups, including women in rural groups, including women in rural areasareas

2.2. Majorities:Majorities: members of our members of our organisations, local community organisations, local community members and staffmembers and staff

Project ActivitiesProject Activities

sstaff and learners meetings twice a year taff and learners meetings twice a year in different European countries,in different European countries,

taking part in study visits,taking part in study visits, learning from each others experiences learning from each others experiences

andand learning the Process Work method as learning the Process Work method as

practised by the partners in UK and practised by the partners in UK and SlovakiaSlovakia thought by Arlene and Jean-thought by Arlene and Jean-Claude Audergon, process work teachers Claude Audergon, process work teachers from CFOR, UKfrom CFOR, UK

Process Work MethodProcess Work Method

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

Meeting in NorwayMeeting in Norway First group meeting First group meeting

was held since was held since October 23 to 27, October 23 to 27, 2005 in Sundvolden, 2005 in Sundvolden, NorwayNorway

Our host and project Our host and project coordinator coordinator Trine Trine ThommessenThommessen from from The Folk Culture The Folk Culture Association has led us Association has led us generously in this generously in this projectproject

Process Work in Project Process Work in Project GroupGroup

The partners have started learning about The partners have started learning about the Process Work method in practice. We the Process Work method in practice. We have covered these issues:have covered these issues:

1.1. Translation and awareness of languageTranslation and awareness of language, , as an important issue of social inclusion.as an important issue of social inclusion.

2.2. Issues facing people who are disabled:Issues facing people who are disabled: We looked at attitudes that have oppressed We looked at attitudes that have oppressed disabled people in the past, and still disabled people in the past, and still currently. Individuals with disabilities currently. Individuals with disabilities spoke personally. spoke personally.

3.3. Issues facing refugees, asylum seekers Issues facing refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants:and immigrants: Starting as an Starting as an exploration about an issue within a exploration about an issue within a participant’s organization, and how you participant’s organization, and how you talk to people who are closed to including talk to people who are closed to including immigrant groups - we looked at dynamics immigrant groups - we looked at dynamics around how people are included or around how people are included or excluded from organizations and society. excluded from organizations and society.

4.4. Attitudes influencing the relationship Attitudes influencing the relationship between ‘East’ and ‘West’ in Europe:between ‘East’ and ‘West’ in Europe: The group brought up the issue of East-The group brought up the issue of East-West relationships in Europe. We raised West relationships in Europe. We raised questions about the meaning of identity of questions about the meaning of identity of East and West. It was uncomfortable for East and West. It was uncomfortable for many to consider how one identifies as East many to consider how one identifies as East or West, and several people spoke about or West, and several people spoke about not wanting to choose to identify with one not wanting to choose to identify with one or the other.or the other.

Meeting in PolandMeeting in Poland Second group meeting Second group meeting

was held since May 22 was held since May 22 to 25, 2006 in Ustroń, to 25, 2006 in Ustroń, PolandPoland

Our host Edward Our host Edward „Eddie“ Dawidowski „Eddie“ Dawidowski from Caritas of from Caritas of Katowice Archdiocese, Katowice Archdiocese, Center for Disabled Center for Disabled "Divine Mercy„ has "Divine Mercy„ has made extraordinary made extraordinary hospitalityhospitality

Process Work in Project Process Work in Project GroupGroup

Deep DemocracyDeep Democracy – wisdom – wisdom comes out of the interaction, comes out of the interaction, when all viewpoints are when all viewpoints are includedincluded

World CaféWorld Café – emphasizes a – emphasizes a group mind, arising through group mind, arising through conversationconversation

Group ProcessesGroup Processes: Inclusion-: Inclusion-ExclusionExclusion

East-West issuesEast-West issues – how the – how the attitudes of dominance or attitudes of dominance or superiority in the West are superiority in the West are impacting working impacting working relationships in Europerelationships in Europe

RacismRacism – prejudice – prejudice combined with the power of combined with the power of a majority group to enforce a majority group to enforce their prejudice – manifesting their prejudice – manifesting as oppression and violenceas oppression and violence

OutcomesOutcomes The importance of recognizing there is a problem - and how this The importance of recognizing there is a problem - and how this

recognition can occur through personal interaction, like we had recognition can occur through personal interaction, like we had together in this meetingtogether in this meeting

When people say ‘there is no problem here’ it is often based on the 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 privilege of being in a majority group, and being unaware of what is actually going on for the minority. Or, the minority group may 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 be so cut off or hidden from society, that there appears to be ‘no problem’. problem’.

There is also a need to be exposed to the issues – none of us know 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 about everything going on, and we often focus on areas where we have been downed, more than on areas where we have privileges. have been downed, more than on areas where we have privileges.

Legislation is essential, but not enough. Legislation needs to be Legislation is essential, but not enough. Legislation needs to be followed up by forums that deal with interaction and attitudes. followed up by forums that deal with interaction and attitudes. Attitudes change through encounter. Also, people can too easily Attitudes change through encounter. Also, people can too easily learn the language of the law, and then discrimination becomes learn the language of the law, and then discrimination becomes more subtle. While it was celebrated that the UK has done very 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 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 country, there is still a great deal of work needed.

The importance of recognizing the different levels of a problem, The importance of recognizing the different levels of a problem, from the personal level to institutional.from the personal level to institutional.

Group of ParticipantsGroup of Participants

Do we continue?Do we continue?

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

Thank youThank you