Decameron

Decameron 31st August – 7th September 2021 Bergolo - Italy Youth Exchange

This project idea was initiated by the Italian organizations Frazione Mondo and Vagamondo APS; it relies on active and creative contributions from other 6 European youth organizations and on the cooperation with the local municipality of Bergolo. The project was co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus Plus programme in June 2020. The project fund was allocated by Agenzia Nazionale per i Giovani. 1

The Decameron, considered one of Europe’s literary masterpieces, is a collection of 100 novellas by the 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio (1313– 1375). The book is structured as a frame story containing 100 tales told by a group of seven young women and three young men; they shelter in a secluded villa just outside Florence in order to escape the Black Death, which was afflicting the city. The various tales of love in The Decameron range from the erotic to the tragic. Tales of wit, practical jokes, and life lessons contribute to the mosaic. MORE ABOUT THE DECAMERON 2

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Social distancing and the restrictions imposed by the governments to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have affected everyone's daily life and in particular that of young people. Their needs for meeting, discovery, socializing and learning have been overshadowed by their economic and productive ones. School was the sector that was closed most quickly, together with leisure activities and sport centres. Young people found themselves having to deal with a situation of forced isolation without having sufficient resources to face it; this condition has led in many cases to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, uncertainty, frustration, desire for rebellion, often unspoken. In this context, it becomes even more important than in the past to provide a space for meeting and discussion to re-elaborate what has happened, give it meaning, understand the personal impact that isolation has created and overcome it. ABOUT WRITING Writing can be a strong tool for reflection and growth, to build a memory, to consolidate positive aspects and also to let go and get rid of unwanted and negative ones. It is also a link to our inner and creative world, by writing we open the portal of our imagination and we let it flow into stories. This international youth exchange offers the opportunity to deepen the possibilities offered by writing and expand them, providing participants with new means and perspectives to approach it and use it. The artistic elaboration of experiences meets the human need, of young people, in particular, to find meaning in life's experiences, primarily those faced during the pandemic. 3

Writing can be an individual process and also a collective one: a process of understanding and representing a reality that is very personal but at the same time that connects us all. This reality won’t be limited to concrete experience but expanded and transformed in a creative process, where the typical elements of stories (characters, places, events) express a personal vision in a metaphorical way. Writing takes on the added value of being a bridge between people in the project; this bridge will also have a physical dimension: a collectively constructed book, a collection of 100 short stories (just like in Boccaccio's Decameron), which will be printed and used to raise funds for a charitable cause related to the pandemic and chosen by the participants of the exchange. These are the roots of Decameron Youth Exchange: a project that brings together 35 young people from 7 European countries for 8 days and uses the narration as a tool to build a community and reconstruct the visions, fears, ideas, desires, needs that emerged from the effect of the pandemic and analyse its impact on different levels to find out in what ways it is possible to reconstruct the social environment of one's communities and one's personal well-being. 4

MAIN GOALS Understand the impact of the pandemic on the young people involved in the project in terms of habits, attitudes and skills Understand the phenomena of the pandemic on the European society and on the local societies of the young people involved in the exchange, focusing on mainstream communication, social and economic impact Improve writing skills and give a chance to young writers to publish their original short novels Improve the soft skills and the groups work skills in international contexts of the young people involved in the project Write and print a book that contains 100 short novels Implement a fundraising campaign with the book and collect donations to one cause related to the pandemic 5

METHODS The working methods used are mainly in the field of non-formal education and experiential learning. Participants are going to work all together as a group, in small groups and individually; they are going to learn by doing and by their involvement in the activities, which allows each of them to take further steps starting from their current position, independently form the differences present in the group. Explore the Youthpass tool to identify possible areas of learning that you could develop during the exchange. The success of the exchange is based on a pro-active attitude of the participants, the method is also called learning by involvement. We plan to use educational games, debates, reflections, brainstorming and sharing techniques, simulations, teambuilding activities, icebreakers, workshops, presentations, outdoor activities, in a digital detox retreat context. Focusing on methodologies such as creative writing & reading, storytelling, theatre, analysis and practice of Hero's Journey theory, and digital detoxification. 6

PHASES OF THE PROJECT Decameron project is made in 3 phases. Participating partially cannot be an option: if you want to take part in the exchange make sure that you can take an active part in all the phases of the project! Preparation: 25th July – 26th August Participants and leaders organize their travel to the exchange. Each national group members meet for an online video call to get to know each other, share their expectations about getting involved in the project & learning goals led by the national leader. The leaders and the participants prepare their contributions to the exchange. Youth Exchange: 29th August 2021: Arrival Leaders 30th August 2021: Arrival Participants 31st August – 7th September 2021: Program days 8th September 2021: Departures It is the core activity of the whole experience, a space where participants and leaders meet, get inputs, exchange their knowledge about the main topics, experience and deliver non-formal education activities and the main points of the Exchange. Post-Exchange September – November 2021 It is the closing step of the project. Participants and leaders complete the writing of the short novels; they define the layout of the booklet and publish it. Further, they write a short testimonial of their experience, fill in an evaluation form and share the pictures, documentary and other outcomes of the project on their social media. Each participant fills in and receives a Youthpass certificate. 7

LOCATION Decameron will take place in Bergolo, a village of 50 inhabitants located on the hills of south Piedmont, in Italy. The village doesn’t have shops and it is the ideal place for disconnecting, dive in nature and stay together as a group without external distractions. Bergolo has a long tradition of music, art & cultural festivals. It is a peaceful destination for nature and outdoor activities lovers. If you prefer, you can choose to be accommodated alone in a tent in the camping which is 300 meters far from the hostel, we can provide you camping mattress, sleeping bag and pillow. The camping has 6 toilets and 6 showers. As a group, we will be responsible for the caring and cleaning of the spaces that we will be using, to keep a functional and harmonious environment. Participants will take part in simple house duties to make the whole accommodation system work (preparing coffee breaks, arranging and cleaning the dining area, cleaning the common spaces and their own rooms etc.) this will happen in small groups with a duties rotation system. It is an educational choice: we believe that it is relevant to learn to take care of our own needs as a group. In case you are searching for an experience where somebody else is cleaning for you or serving you, this Youth Exchange is not suitable for you. 8

REIMBURSEMENTS & EXPENSES It is available reimbursement for the travel costs for the participants and leaders who take part in all phases of the exchange and provide the required travel documents (flight itinerary and boarding passes, bus and train tickets). It is allowed to travel before or after the project maximum of 2 days - in case the price is cheaper than in the travel days - and it is not allowed to arrive after the arrival day or to leave earlier than the departure day. The reimbursement is done after the exchange, when follow-up activities are completed, up to the amounts stated below: Italy - 40 Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Romani, Spain, Portugal - 200 There will be a common bus transfer from 3 meeting points to Bergolo and back: the bus will stop at the airport Bergamo Orio al Serio, the airport of Milano Malpensa and the city of Milan on the day of arrival and of departure. The cost of this transport was already deducted from the original travel reimbursement budget. Consider it while planning your travel: it is the only way to reach the venue. DO NOT BUY YOUR TICKETS BEFORE YOU RECEIVE THE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION FROM ASSOCIAZIONE VAGAMONDO! Participation fee: Each participant contributes to the implementation of the project by investing 50€. It is a sign of real interest, commitment and very concrete support to the project. In case the contribution is an obstacle to your participation, write it in the application form. 9

COVID REGULATIONS Participants will have to keep a distance of at least 1 meter between each other, follow the walking direction within the buildings or rooms, with particular attention to the entrance and exit areas. There will be informative signs (e.g. stickers on the floor & route marking tapes). Physical direct touch must be avoided. Participants have to wear masks in closed common areas. When outdoors, the mask must be worn only when the distance of at least 1 metre cannot be kept. Participants must always keep a mask with themselve, in case of impossibility to keep the 1-meter physical distance. The body temperature will be measured by the organizers when participants meet in Torino Porta Susa train station, before taking the common bus to Bergolo. People with a temperature above 37.5°C or showing respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing, etc.) will not be admitted on the bus and will be supported by the organizers in checking their health condition before joining the exchange. The temperature will be measured by the organizers twice per day during the exchange. A disinfectant gel dispenser will be provided at the entrance to each toilet. Cleaning and disinfection need will be carried out at least twice a day. After breakfast and after lunch, each participant needs to clean his/her toilet. A group cleaning rotation system that involves the participants will be applied for the common areas. A disinfectant gel dispenser will be provided at the entrance of each room. Bed linen and pillowcase cover provided to participants will have a certification of hygiene issued by a competent local entity. Inside the bedrooms, participants will respect the 1-meter interpersonal distance and 1-meter distance between beds. It is forbidden to move around the sleeping areas with your shoes: guests must wear their own slippers. 10

COORDINATORS Frazione Mondo is an association focused on social and cultural promotion registered in 2015 in the Caselle district of Morimondo (Milan). Among its purposes, there is the promotion, practice, production, use and diffusion of theatre intended as an Art necessary for the person and the community. For this purpose, workshops and plays are offered in different contexts with particular attention to the educational, social and communicative aspects. Through its projects, the organization provides learning opportunities regarding inter-cultural awareness, active participation in society, volunteering, self-expression through art, theatre, body movement and storytelling, human rights, peacebuilding, environment protection and sustainable lifestyle. 11

COORDINATORS Vagamondo, based in Bergolo, in southern Piedmont, is an NGO with an important focus on European mobility and non-formal education. It offers learning and growth opportunities for young people and youth workers. It also focuses on local rural development. The name Vagamondo derives from the concept of travel as a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal development: it is through direct contact with cultural and personal differences that identity becomes more visible to each individual, it is by leaving one's comfort zone, getting involved in new activities and new realities, different from the usual ones, that people can identify space to grow and work on themselves. In this condition of new clarity, non-formal education becomes a tool with which people can experiment with new ways of thinking and acting, an effective tool for bringing a change that can create a long-term positive impact once people return home, thus improving the quality of one's personal and professional life. 12

Elena Aziani is the coordinator of the project, her main focus is on the coordination & implementation of the program. Elena is involved in non- formal education activities since 2010, she started volunteering in local youth centers and later on in National theatre festivals (ATGTP; La bottega teatrale Roma), taking part in different trainings with the focus on social inclusion and arts. She has a high school diploma in the educational field and graduated as Set Designer for theatre. She continued her studies in the field of non-formal education taking part in various training courses and youth exchanges in the Erasmus+ programme; starting from 2016 as a participant, then as a Group Leader and then as a trainer for Vagamondo association. At the moment she is working as a theatre operator and facilitator in schools and youth centers. Her main interests are: to connect creativity and consciousness, social inclusion and communication. 13

Fabiano Bruno is another referent for the project, he supports Elena and keeps the overview on the communications and on the practical aspects of the project. Fabiano is involved in the organization of non- formal education activities since 1994. His path developed through scouts, trainings for volunteers, volunteering and work in NGOs and youth centers. He has been involved in the implementation of more than 150 youth projects, in Italy and abroad, funded by the European programme Youth in Action, Council of Europe, Erasmus Plus and European Solidarity Corps, mainly youth exchanges, training courses and European volunteering. At a local level, he worked with youngsters and youngsters with difficult backgrounds in youth centers and after school programs. He also worked with youngsters in summer school programs, camps and schools. He has been a mentor of short term volunteering and Italian Civil Service. He got a bachelor degree in Cross-Cultural Communication and a Master in Youth Work. 14

The Youth Exchange brings together a total of 40 people: 28 participants, 7 leaders, 2 coordinators and 3 volunteers. You are eligible as a PARTICIPANT if: You are officially resident in Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain. Your age is in the range 20 - 28 and you can communicate in simple English* You want to improve your writing skills and share what you know about it You want to reflect on the impact of the pandemic in different levels (collective, individual, global, local, social, economic and more). You want to improve your soft skills in group contexts You are willing and ready to stay fully disconnected for 5 days. It means not to use any kind of electronic apparat (phone, laptop, watch, etc.)** You have adaptation skills, you are ready to live together with other people for 8 days and you want to stretch your comfort zone by taking part in activities that may be completely unusual for you! You want to publish your original short stories You want to actively implement a fundraising campaign with the book that contains your stories to collect donations for a charity initiative related to the pandemic. You can actively participate in the preparation of the exchange, exchange and follow-up phase *In this exchange we will use an international version of English simple to understand; if you are very fluent in English keep in mind that other participants could not be so, be prepared to simplify your communication in order to get understood. APPLY 15

You are eligible as a LEADER if: You already had experiences in youth exchanges and you want to take a more creative role in this project You want to improve your facilitation skills and work with young people in an international context You are officially resident in Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain. Your age is in the range 20 - 35 and you can communicate in simple English* You want to improve your writing skills and share what you know about it You want to reflect on the impact of the pandemic in different levels (collective, individual, global, local, social, economic and more). You want to improve your soft skills in group contexts You are willing and ready to stay fully disconnected for 5 days. It means not to use any kind of electronic apparat (phone, laptop, watch, etc.)** You have adaptation skills, you are ready to live together with other people for 8 days and you want to stretch your comfort zone by taking part in activities that may be completely unusual for you! You want to publish your original short stories You want to actively implement a fundraising campaign with the book that contains your stories to collect donations for a charity initiative related to the pandemic. You can actively participate in the preparation of the exchange, exchange and follow-up phase ** The contacts of the organizers will be available for the participants’ relatives and friends, in case they need to communicate something urgent. In case of need, we will send also personal messages/emails from participants or leaders to the indicated contacts. APPLY 16

PARTNERS Czech Republic \"Inspire\" Web page - Facebook page email: [email protected] Estonia \"Risti-Rästi\" Instagram - Facebook page email: [email protected] Greece \"Be Visible Be YOU\" Web page - Facebook page email: [email protected] Portugal \"Embaixada da Juventude\" Web page - Facebook page email: [email protected] Romania \"Point of Vyou\" Web page - Facebook page email: [email protected] Spain \"Asociacion Dinamica\" Website - Facebook page email: [email protected] 17

INDEX 1 2 Credits 3-4 Intro 5 Project Description 6 Goals 7 Methods 8 Phases of the Project 9 Location 10 Reimbursements & Expenses 11 - 14 Covid Regulations 15 - 16 Coordinators 17 Participate 18 Partners Index 18