From October 20 to 27, 2023, three volunteers from the Lar de Artemis association had the opportunity to participate in the JOIN seminar, an Erasmus+ project organized by the Synchro Foundation. The seminar took place in Ommen, a small town on the banks of the Vecht River in the Netherlands. The purpose of this project was to bring together an international group of people dedicated to working with young individuals from various backgrounds, allowing them to share ideas and working methods within the framework of inclusion.
The volunteers enjoyed an intense week of work and community at Olde Vechte, a self-managed historical space in a privileged environment. The choice of the venue was based on the excellent characteristics of Olde Vechte, which can accommodate a large number of people and encourages collaboration to keep the spaces clean and organized.
Throughout the week, the collaborating associations presented their initiatives, complemented by various activities organized by Synchro. Despite the diversity, the common theme of these projects was the inclusion of diverse groups (young people at risk of social exclusion, refugees, members of the LGTBIQ+ community), developed through artistic and mental health workshops, awareness activities, talks on stereotypes, and training on gender diversity and the LGTBIQ+ community. Our volunteers presented a workshop for young people based on the techniques of Augusto Boal’s Theater of the Oppressed. Additionally, they performed a representation on school bullying, encouraging other participants to actively engage.
Beyond the extensive training activities, seminar participants had the opportunity to get to know each other, share experiences, and build connections. Fátima, one of the volunteers, shares her experience:
This project has contributed a lot to my professional development, as participating in it has renewed my enthusiasm for learning and sharing my knowledge. Above all, it has strengthened my interest in social work and working with young people at risk of social exclusion.
On her part, Simina Tureac (founding member of Lar de Artemis) shares her experience after participating in the preparation sessions for the Join Seminar:
I was thrilled to return to the Olde Vechte Foundation after so many years. I remember as if it were yesterday the training sessions I attended there: Event Wise and Choice. The memories still give me goosebumps. But this time was different. I met Cristina from the Synchro Foundation and some members of her team.
The two days of the Advance Planning Visit (APV) were a pleasant surprise, both for the warm welcome and the activities in which I had the privilege to participate. The sessions were a mix of preparation work for the Join Seminar and activities on inclusion specifically prepared for us by the participants of the ‘Sharing Stories’ project. I returned home with a diverse package of useful and creative methods for working with young people.
No matter what the goal is, you never leave empty-handed from Synchro and Olde Vechte!