Take pART!

<< Background >>We applied for this project because of the need to address the decline in youth participation in institutional politics. According to the Youth Participation Toolkit, youth involvement is crucial for both action and voice in democratic processes. The partners need analysis shows that 44,74 % of youth don’t take part in democratic life and 18,42 % not so much. This reluctance seems to be accentuated by more difficult socio-economic conditions and by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The EU Parliament Youth Survey 2021 shows how youth have a greater propensity to take part in non- institutional forms of political participation to raise their voice, especially through media and online. However, vulnerable youth remain excluded from this type of non-institutional participation. Protection of human rights and gender equality emerges as a priority value, confirmed by partners’ need analysis (73,69 % of interviewees interested).Take pART! combines the concepts of art, psychotherapy, and activism to give vulnerable women and youth a voice with a gender sensitive approach. Art Therapy and Artivism have been chosen as the means towards active citizenship and inclusion for their therapeutic and communicative benefits, fostering freedom of expression.<< Objectives >>1.To promote youth sense of initiative on gender equality integrating ART/PSYCHOLOGY/ACTIVISM practices.2.To design and test paths where Art Therapy is explored for vulnerable women empowerment.3.To facilitate youth workers/EU organizations competences to work on Art Therapy/Artivism from a gender perspective.4.To design and test paths where Artivism are explored for youth active participation on gender equality.5.To promote youth engagement for gender sensitive communication and positive messages.<< Implementation >> WP2 - A.2.1: Peer training on art therapy and gender in Orvieto, Italy, from October 24 to October 26, 2023, organized by the NoGap association. WP2 - A.2.2: Definition of modules on gender and art therapyWP2 - A.2.3: Test phase - Art therapy workshops with women in vulnerable situations WP-_A.2.4: Final validation of modules and translationsWP3 - A.3.1: Peer-to-peer training on Artivism, Communication, and Gender in Amsterdam (Netherlands), March 19-21, 2024, organized by Stitching Art.1 WP3 - A.3.2: Definition of modules on artivism, communication, and genderWP3 - 3.3: Test phase - Artistic residencies in all partner countries WP3 - A.3.4: Final validation of modules and translationsWP4- A.4.1: The “Take pART! Digital Map”WP4- A4.2: Online and offline campaignWP4 – A4.3: Multiplier eventsIn addition, three coordination meetings were held, two of which were held simultaneously with peer-to-peer training sessions (Orvieto and Amsterdam) and one in Valladolid, Spain, in September 2024.<< Results >> - The booklet on gender and art therapy has been finalized in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Estonian, and Greek.- The “Essentials of Artivism” toolkit (online and offline) has been finalized in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Estonian, Greek, and Russian; it includes an additional translation (into Russian) and exceeds the initially planned length.- 17 youth workers acquired methodologies/tools to work on artivism and gender equality with a view to youth participation.- 14 socio-educational workers acquired methodologies/tools to work on art therapy for the inclusion of vulnerable women in partner associations. 66 vulnerable women and 8 men participated in art therapy workshops.- More than 140 young people participated in the 3.3 test phase of artivism residencies in all partner countries, acquiring new skills and knowledge in artivism, artistic techniques, and gender equality.- The TakepART digital map (https://takepart-map.eu/), a community mapping platform that connects physical space and artivistic art.