With our Strategic Partnership Young Queer Europe (YQE) we aim to bring non-LGBT organizations and LGBT organizations from different parts of Europe together in order to share experiences on dealing with sexual identity issues in youth work and to learn from each other's expertise and working methods. We have brought a strong coalition of partners together with specific expertise in the field of LGBT related issues, in media&video and in awareness campaigns. We consider the collaboration between these organizations as innovative and very strong. The organizations will learn how to effectively use media and narrative structures as a method for fostering awareness and acceptance regarding LGBT issues. Also, the partner organizations will be trained in transferring this knowledge to their target groups (youth workers and youngsters). Finally, sharing expertise, sharing good practices and training is the core of this strategic partnership project that will lead to two main outputs: toolkit and website. This project has several objectives, it:- provides useful tools for youth workers to open the discussion on LGBT issues with their youngsters - raises awareness regarding social inclusion, gender equality and protection of young LGBT people;- learns youth workers how to effectively use media, film and performing arts in awareness campaigns regarding LGBT issues and human rights issues in general;- builds strong Gay-Straight Alliances between LGBT organizations and non-LGBT organizations. The organizations will be strengthened by these alliance in general and they have a exemplary role in specific towards other organizations; - enables partnering organizations tools to execute awareness campaigns;- provides organizations the tools to involve more young LGBT people in the work to increase the visibility and acceptance of LGBTs in Europe;- builds strong network of LGBT organizations all over Europe, sharing of knowledge; - attracts better attention for the position of LGBTs, specifically in countries were it is less accepted; - empowers young LGBTs in countries where homosexuality is not accepted in general; - capacity building, organizations will be trained in how to use media in raising awareness etc.;- creates material for an effective EU educational awareness campaign, such as website and toolkit.
The organizations will learn how to effectively communicate issues deriving from their sexual and cultural diversity. The website and toolkit which will be launched eventually are crucial vehicles in exposing our project. Also, recorded video testimonies of young LGBTs will be visible on the website. The toolkit consists of: 1. examples of narrative structures which can be used for opening up the conversation on sexual diversity;2. exercises that can be used to discuss sexual diversity and LGBT issues in a safe environment;3. methodology on how to support LGBT youngsters;4. videos with testimonies of the young LGBTs which can be used for educational purposes at youth centers and schools in the participating countries (and the rest of EU)5. road-map: strategy on how to facilitate young LGBT activists and frontrunners in their work;6. strategy how to effectively use (social) media in LGBT activism/raising awareness campaigns;7. strategy on how young LGBTs effectively could influence local/national stakeholders and policymakers. Moreover, the visibility of young LGBT people, by the website and toolkit, will empower other young LGBTs and lead to a more active and conscious EU citizenship. Also, it will lead to a broader understanding of the common European values regarding social inclusion, gender equality and protection of LGBT people.