U korak sa inkluzijom

"<< Background >>Persons with disabilities, often referred to as ""the world's largest minority,"" generally experience poorer health, lower levels of education, and lower economic status, along with higher rates of poverty compared to persons without disabilities. This places them among groups with fewer opportunities. The project ""Catch Up with Inclusion"" is based on the right to active participation in cultural and artistic creation. Progress in fostering an inclusive culture is often measured by physical ""access"" to facilities rather than active participation by persons with disabilities. Cultural and artistic services for children and youth with developmental challenges and disabilities are few, limited in duration and resources, and often characterized by passive support. In the countries of the participating organizations, various acts provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to showcase their talents and skills through engagement in cultural life with equality and non-discrimination. However, in practice, many cultural venues, services, and content remain inaccessible to them. Few cultural and artistic programs are designed for persons with disabilities, are state-funded, and are mostly available to those in larger cities.<< Objectives >>The general objective is to improve the quality of cultural/artistic life for young people with disabilities from Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia, and Bulgaria through creative non-formal learning, participation, and mobility. Specific objectives: 1. Ensure equal participation of young people with disabilities and make them visible in cultural/artistic programs; 2. Boost the self-confidence of young people with disabilities by developing their capacities; 3. Raise awareness and sensitize local community audiences about the artistic/creative potential of young people with disabilities; 4. Reduce social distance between young people with disabilities and those from the general population through joint participation in artistic workshops/programs. Participants are enabled to contribute their knowledge and skills through activities that involved intensive interaction, exchange of ideas, and practical artistic/creative work. The collaboration between young people with disabilities and local volunteers allowed for the discovery of shared values (empathy, solidarity) and the development of critical thinking (information, analysis) through joint experiences in dance, acting, and drawing.<< Implementation >>Educational activities for young people with disabilities and from the general population were organized on topics such as creating social media content and film shooting techniques. Through a series of online and in-person rehearsals, young people with disabilities and from the general population were prepared for performances at festivals in Zaječar (Serbia) and Rijeka (Croatia), participation in the program marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Skopje, North Macedonia), and presenting artistic work in Vidin (Bulgaria). By attending various workshops (drawing, puppet work, storytelling), activists and young people with disabilities were introduced to additional creative techniques. The engaged volunteers established deeper contact with the target group. Through participation in the omnibus film creation “Color the World,” young people with disabilities increased their visibility. Continuous work and collaboration with artistic mentors have enhanced the competencies and capacities of the target group and organizations. Visits to other cities and countries have improved the quality of life for young people with disabilities.<< Results >>The specific results are: the project logo, the creation of project profiles “Catch Up with Inclusion” on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), the realization of two drama-dance performances showcased at the “Art Zone for All” festival (“Boy from the Water” 2023 and “Drops of Life” 2024, Zaječar, Serbia) and at the ecological film night within the “Sila Fest” (“Boy from the Water” 2023, Zaječar, Serbia), one dance performance (“Six Translations Looking for an Author” at the Festival of Inclusive Scene “Turnaround” 2024, Rijeka, Croatia), one presentation of artistic work methods (2024, Vidin, Bulgaria), three films (omnibus “Color the World,” “Catch Up with Inclusion-Art Zone 2023,” and “Catch Up with Inclusion”). More young people with disabilities than planned were involved. Collaboration with the EU office in Serbia funded additional activities, expanded collaboration of artistic mentors on other projects, established contact between two schools for persons with disabilities and developmental challenges (Serbia and Croatia), and achieved greater project visibility on social media than planned."