Project
The use of cinema as a tool for youth work, especially in relation with political participation and the development of democratic competencies is very efficient.
A study found that films can help young people to develop a critical understanding of social and political issues, and to become more engaged in civic and political activities. However, cinema is not used widely as a tool in youth work and it is used even less in the countries of North Africa and Middle East that the project is targeting.
On the other hand, young people love watching films and series in VOD platforms. Films and series offer great pedagogical benefits when we choose them wisely. Films can provide you with information but the great thing about them is that they make you also connect emotionally with the issues addressed. You empathize with the characters, you feel their pain, you are inspired by their strengths, you are hurt by their weaknesses. Emotional competence, or the ability to recognize and regulate one’s own emotions, can also play a role in facilitating civic engagement among young people.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The general objective of the project is to build the capacity of youth organizations, especially in Middle East and North Africa, to use cinema as a tool in order to promote political and democratic participation of young people.
The project aims to promote the use of cinema as a tool for youth work both from the point of view of the spectator and from the point of view of the creator.
For the purposes of the CINEMATOMEDIA project, democracy is intended in a wider sense. The concept of democracy includes valuing peace, understanding conflict resolution, promoting gender equality and a culture of freedom, promoting the social inclusion of different people, promoting the communication and common action amongst the members of a society and promoting environmental awareness and an active stance towards the environmental problems.
TARGET GROUPS
The project has two main target groups:
1. Youth organizations and youth workers that are working with the promotion of the political participation and democratic competencies;
2. Young people, especially people with fewer opportunities, that have (or potentially could have) an interest in cinema.
MEMBERS
1. The Centre of Higher Education in Theatre Studies – Greece (Coordinator)
2. Action Synergy – Greece
3. EUth Wonders e.V – Germany
4.Youth (CHABIBEH) Sporting Club – Lebanon
5. IDare for Sustainable Development – Jordan
6. Have A Dream – Egypt
7. P.A.D.I.L, Promotion & Support to the Development of Local Initiatives – Tunisia
8. Rencontres Audiovisuelles – France
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The young people that are going to be involved in the project activities are expected to develop:
1. Competencies for democratic culture (as defined in the framework of the Council of Europe).
2. Teamworking and communication: These skills are developed in the process of the creation of a short film since it requires teamwork.
3. Time management: Time management is a really important element of the cinema creation procedure.
4. Creativity: If there was one skill though that is developed more through the process is creativity.
5. Digital skills: A lot of hard skills are being gained and can vary based on the element you work on, especially digital skills.