BRIDGES - Presentation in Catalunya
Read the following UCEC press release from January 2020
A bridge is a structure built over a river, valley, road, or railway to allow people and vehicles to cross from one side to the other, according to the dictionary. It is also a way to reduce differences and distances, to strengthen relationships and to communicate between different communities and cultures. This is the origin of BRIDGES, a European programme that aims to promote inclusive communities in Europe by working with intercultural groups and improving dialogue and solidarity among citizens. The project has been launched by groups from Austria, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Catalonia working on inclusive communities through interculturality, the mixing of cultures, and the creation of ties among families and people.
Tortosa city council and the Unió de Consell Esportius de Catalunya (UCEC) represent this European project in Catalonia. The BRIDGES team in Tortosa started work one year ago by carrying out a diagnosis of the current situation and objectives. Their next step involved meetings and conversations with local groups working with intercultural communities to decide the most suitable actions to put into practice. Now the project has entered its final period, carrying out activities during the next twelve months that will fulfill the aims marked out by BRIDGES: to create relationships and ties among children, youngsters and teenagers, from local families and families of immigrants (17% of the population of Tortosa is made up of immigrants). Furthermore, the project will draw up guidelines which could serve as a guide of good practices to apply in other European regions.
From now to September, the city of Tortosa will be home to twelve activities regarding volunteer work, sport and culture. These activities have been made possible thanks to the participation and involvement of various local citizen groups and schools.
The development of this programme and its activities in Tortosa will cost more than €100,000, 90% of which is covered by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) - a programme of the European Commission for promoting the efficient management of migration flows and the implementation, strengthening and development of a common European Union approach to the questions of asylum and immigration.
VOLUNTEERING ACTIONS
1 Environmental action with native plants which will be carried out together with local schools. There will be workshops for families and children to learn about native plants from the Ebro area and about plants from the countries of participants in the project. The participants will analyze the similarities and differences between the plants. The activity will also include the planting of native plants in the green area in front of the Cristòfol Despuig Secondary School and will involve families and children from schools in Tortosa.
2 Workshop to find out about the invertebrates living in the River Ebro and to look at actions for environmental protection related to the river. This activity aims to assess the state of the River Ebro —a key geographical element in the area — through citizen science and contribute to the scientific research of its ecosystems. Every month, BRIDGES will organize volunteering activities for the environmental protection of the River Ebro so as to learn about its natural values. Moreover, the project also includes activities for cleaning the river banks and riverside areas.
3 Volunteering in the Tortosa Renaissance Festival. Volunteer work is one of the key components of the Tortosa Renaissance Festival, an event based on the 16th century history of Tortosa. A historical recreation of the period and activities related to it attract many visitors to Tortosa. Theatre, music and street performances take over the old part of town for four days. The objective is to involve volunteers in the organizing of the event, bringing together youngsters (around 16 years old) from different origins and backgrounds. The activity will be carried out during the 25th annual Tortosa Renaissance Festival, from 23 to 26 July 2020.
4 Collecting school material and equipment. BRIDGES aims to promote the collection of school material from supermarkets and stationers in Tortosa to donate to children and youngsters whose families have economic difficulties. This activity has been carried out in Tortosa for many years but BRIDGES aims to increase participation in it through the involvement of young volunteers who can connect with each other through this kind of activity.
SPORT ACTIVITIES
1 Football in schools
Sport has always been one of the best ways to achieve social inclusion. In our case, we are going to promote indoor football competitions between schools. The matches will form part of after-school activities and different schools will participate.
2 Course for sport instructors
This activity involves a free introductory course in becoming a sports instructor (CIATE). It consists of 100 hours of classroom theory and 150 hours of practice work, which will be carried out in different summer sport camps organized in and around Tortosa (the region known as Terres de l’Ebre, the Lower Ebro). Youngsters completing this course will obtain an essential qualification for carrying out different aspects related to sport, which may allow them to work in this field in the future.
3 Climbing workshop (Tamun't)
This workshop is an ideal introduction to the world of climbing. Although there will be some walks and climbs in local hills and mountains, the activity will mainly take place in the Tortosa town rockodrome (indoor climbing wall).
4 Games around the world
There are many ways to play and many games which are unique from different corners of the world, but there are also games which are commonly played, in one way or another, in different countries. We aim to find these similarities and share games for participants to enjoy. The aim is to find out about different games around the world, from different cultures, and look at their similarities or differences.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
1 Drumming workshop
Music is a universal language which establishes relations and connections in a simple way and helps the inclusion and recognition of other people. The drumming workshop is one of the most popular ones we have included in the BRIDGES programme. It will consist of a weekly drumming workshop, including different kinds of percussion instruments such as the cajón, combined with other music master classes. There will also be musical performances during special events in the Tortosa calendar, such as the closing party of the Ujaripén (meaning ‘hope’ in the Caló or Romani language) project for the local gypsy community, and during the celebration of the ArtXiBarri festival.
2 Castells workshop
Castells are human towers, a common Catalan activity where groups of friends known as castellers come together to build an amazing tower of people standing and climbing on each other. There is an important social side to these gatherings. Tortosa’s casteller group is an excellent opportunity to bring together people who enjoy striving to build these towers. This introductory workshop into the world of castells involves children’s workshops and three rehearsals every week. It also includes outings to other towns where different groups of castellers will meet. The Tortosa casteller group will organize this activity, which will last from February to June 2020.
3 Rap music workshop
Rhythm, rhyme, and the language of the street. The three key points of rap, a musical style but also a way to express themselves shared by a lot of youngsters. This workshop will involve the creation of a piece of musical work through rap and the making of a short video of the piece with all the participants taking part. Interculturality, feminism, and other issues can be focused on with the lyrics of this kind of musical expression.
4 Wall painting
This activity consists of a workshop to design and paint a mural related with the BRIDGES programme and other aspects worked on during the time of the project: connections, relationships, interculturality, solidarity, and others. Aimed at youngsters aged from 14 years upwards, it will take place in March and April 2020 at the Lo Carrilet Espai Jove (youth centre).