Reaching LGBT+ People in Rural Areas through Digital Storytelling

<< Background >>We were driven to apply for this project due to the need to address the critical challenges highlighted in the EU Parliament's resolution regarding discrimination and hate speech targeting LGBT+ individuals, particularly pronounced in rural areas, where young people are facing heightened vulnerability to violence and discrimination. This pressing issue was further validated by data from the EU LGBTonline survey, which consistently reported instances of discrimination against LGBT+ individuals. Furthermore, the rankings of EU Countries based on their level of protection for LGBT+ individuals served as a stark reminder of the urgency of this project. Italy's low ranking, coupled with incidents in Spain and Ireland, underscored the imperative for a comprehensive EU approach to strengthen the inclusion of the LGBT+ community. This need is particularly acute in rural areas of the 3 partner organizations, where support and resources are often scarce. One of the most significant gaps that we aimed to address was the absence of a functional network dedicated to supporting young LGBT+ individuals living in rural areas. This network was notably absent, leaving a significant portion of the youth population without access to crucial resources<< Objectives >>The project's primary objectives revolved around collaboration between three European organizations with diverse expertise to achieve three overarching goals:OU1: Establishing a sustainable network to support LGBT+ individuals in rural areas, encompassing a minimum of 9 European countries.OU2: Developing a digital platform as a valuable information resource for young LGBT+ individuals in rural areas.OU3: Empowering at least 15 LGBT+ individuals living in rural areas through a digital storytelling course, equipping them with valuable skills and self-expression abilities.The project aimed to address the needs of young LGBT+ individuals in rural areas, fostering connections, reducing isolation, and promoting a sense of belonging and support. Additionally, it intended to provide new professional and personal development opportunities through the REACH+ network. The project's core mission was to empower young people by enhancing the capabilities of youth organizations, developing digital storytelling skills, and sharing crucial support information through the REACH+ website.<< Implementation >>1. Establishment of the first European Network, aimed at providing support to LGBT+ individuals living in rural areas. Strategically designed to engage in youth projects, conduct comprehensive research, the REACH+ network involves various youth organizations from across the European Union. The primary objective was to bolster support mechanisms for this specific target group.2. Development of the REACH+ Platform. This online platform was created to serve as a centralized resource hub. It offers to LGBT+ young people living in rural areas comprehensive access to a wide spectrum of valuable information.3. Creation and pilot of a digital storytelling course. This course was designed with the purpose of enabling young LGBT+ individuals living in rural areas to express themselves creatively through the powerful medium of storytelling. By embracing this innovative form of self-expression, participants can not only harness their creative potential but also acquire invaluable digital skills to facilitate their personal and professional development.<< Results >>By the end of the project, the following concrete outputs and results were achieved:1. A robust and sustainable European-wide network was established to advocate for and implement projects aimed at supporting LGBT+ young people in rural areas.2. An online platform was created to facilitate connections among young LGBT+ individuals and to serve as an information-sharing hub for youth organizations seeking to reach and support this specific target group.3. A piloting group of young LGBT+ residing in rural areas successfully developed substantial digital and storytelling competencies, consequently feeling more connected on a European level.