Empower for Change of Stigmatising Attitudes

Europe is facing with increasing number of migrants and refugees while the risk of radicalization, which mostly affects youth, is growing. Number of young, socially excluded, people are being drawn into extremist movements in their search for identity and a place in society. Therefore, the proposed action seeks to address issues of stigmatization of immigrants, especially youth, through promotion of democratic values, intercultural understanding and tolerance and activities aimed at prevention and combating of discriminatory practices. Carefully designed action activities will assess problems from different perspectives and will endorse the prevention measures targeting youth including them at the same in their creation. Cooperation and work toward mutual democratic values will pave the way for a long-term change. This will be achieved through advocacy, capacity building, knowledge and skills development program, and research activities. Advocacy activities will include information and raising awareness campaign on social and traditional media, organization of youth events and public debates. Knowledge and skills development program will enable and guide those working directly with young people to establish local programs for reducing risks of segregation and promoting social inclusion of vulnerable youth groups. The research will explore the complexities of radicalisation issue in eight participating countries. Direct beneficiaries of this project are:• 50 organizations and youth groups formal and non-formal, and 48 youth workers from different corners of Europe that will increase professional capacities to deal with and address issues of segregation and stigmatization of immigrants;• At least 2000 young people with different backgrounds who will participate in the follow-up activities (online cross national survey, public events, awareness campaign, documentary videos etc.);• Eight young journalists from participating countries who will receive mentoring and support for producing and publishing investigative journalistic stories on the action topics;• More than 50 diverse stakeholders and NGO community on national, regional and European level who will be gathered at the final conference and directly involved in an open debate with aim to propose further activities, actions and measures.