, writes Levi Tafari in his poem CELEBR8, “… His strong message sings along with the British Council’s: “…let’s celebrate diversity”. But how do we progress beyond just celebration?
The words ‘inclusion’ and ‘diversity’ are everywhere nowadays as Europe is becoming increasingly diverse. And where better to start building on our understanding of these terms than in schools? According to new research conducted by the British Council in February 2008 across 47 schools in Europe, children find that differences in physical appearance, disability and skin colour are barriers to fitting in at school. In the same survey, one fifth of the children across Europe suggest that more wide-ranging recognition of religious holidays in the school calendar may contribute positively to pupils’ sense of inclusion. They also suggested better induction for migrant children and parents when they start school, and more time to discuss differences in backgrounds and cultures in the classroom.
Accompanied by their teachers, the Young Leaders arrived to Brussels on Tuesday afternoon, checked into Youth Hostel and learned more about what was waiting for them the following three days…
The workshops, working in cluster groups - and most importantly - the making of the European Youth Charter on Inclusion and Diversity. Now was the time to put into practice all the new skills they developed during the training sessions. It started with forgetting about one’s own country Charter and moving forward to three cluster ones:
 Netherlands-Wales-Germany
Belgium-Italy-England-Malta
Spain-Portugal-Greece-Scotland.
By the end of Wednesday evening, the three cluster Charters became one common Charter to be presented to their Head Teachers and Partners on Thursday morning. After two days of hard work, the young people deserved – and desperately needed - a few hours off, so went sightseeing in Brussels while the adults spent the whole afternoon in their cluster groups proposing action points for the future.
After some shopping (who can resist Belgian chocolate?), all the pupils gathered one last time at the Youth Hostel for an afternoon of preparation in advance of the presentations at the European Parliament on Friday morning. With the help of the trainers, Wim and Ronald, and poet Levi Tafari (see also the interview with Levi) they worked on finalising the presentation of the European Youth Charter.
On Friday morning, representatives from the European institutions, regional representations in Brussels, policy makers from participating regions, the media, all the head teachers and the project partners gathered at the European Parliament. They had arrived to hear what the INDIE youngsters had to say.
After an introduction by Stephan Roman, Regional Director, British Council and key note speeches by Frank Vandenbroucke, Vice-Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Work, Education and Training and Odile Quintin, Director General DG Education and Culture, European Commission, INDIE’s core message was restated: diversity is to be celebrated and where better to start than in schools!
Understandably nervous, but far too enthusiastic and excited to be daunted by the imposing structure of the venue and the senior audience, the pupils took to the stage. In three separate groups, they presented the European Youth Charter, explained how they came up with its various components, and performed their diversity poem in several different languages. Creativity, enthusiasm, emotion and hope swept through the European Parliament that morning. If there is one thing to be remembered from this conference, it is the powerful will of the young people to speak their mind, but moreover, to be heard. Everyone has listened; now it is time for action!
Canan Marasligil in Brussels, 26 to 29 February 2008
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