B.R.I.D.G.E.S.      Building Real Integration by Dismantling Groundless Enduring Stereotypes

 

Our project is entitled BRIDGES, the things that join us in Europe. As the number of all kinds of mobilities (tourism, studying, working) is growing in Europe among young people, finding out the similarities as well as the links among countries is fundamental to beat prejudices and stereotypes and foster peaceful coexistence.

After introducing themselves, the members of the Italian team presented the most typical aspects of our country and traditions.
Then they showed their artistic skills by designing logos and posters which represented the theme of our project.
When we all met in the Netherlands in December 2013 for our first mobility, we realized our own idea of a “bridge”. Italian team chose to make the Mont Blanc maquette as an example of bridge between France and Italy.
Once at home we continued with our projects activities. By surfing the net they found out historical connections among the partner countries and later on they interviewed present-day “human bridges”, that is those people from the partner countries who moved and now live in Italy.
Traditionally food joins people, this is the reason why we decided to film ourselves while preparing a Romanian recipe with the help of a Romanian student who is part of the Italian team; then we presented a menu encompassing dishes from all over Italy as well as those foreign products which are part of our life.
Last but not least we dealt with those multinational organisations which cooperate to spread national culture beyond the borders of its country.
At the end of the project our students prepared an exhibition in which to display the variety of products they had been creating since September 2013.
In April 2015 the farewell mobility in Romania was the chance to share the outcomes of the project in the final exhibition.

After dismantling groundless stereotypes we are sure strong enduring bridges have been built among us within the common European community.*

Danila Ferro.
Italian coordinator

* This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.