Citizens Xelerator aims at fostering democratic and civic participation as a means to create a more open and inclusive society. Active participation in public life empowers individuals and promotes inclusion for those living in or at risk of exclusion. By promoting innovative learning opportunities, the project supports employability and improvement of personal, social, and professional competences in communities facing economic and social challenges.
The project organised five local actions with the aim of identifying specific needs within specific communities and designing targeted actions to address or mitigate these gaps. In collaboration with the Euromadonie Institute in Palermo and the AUSER Association in Ciminna we created joint actions to enhance democratic engagement and skills development among adults and intervene in their communities.
The interventions regarded activities linked to deepen and improve the participants knowledge about democratic and civic participation, sustainable development, the interconnection between mental and physical health, as follows:
- One Local Action “Support the Choir of Ciminna”: In collaboration with AUSER, this choir brought seniors together, enhancing civic pride and cultural connection. Singing together strengthened community spirit and a strong sense of belonging, especially beneficial for seniors with limited recreative opportunities.
- The two Local Actions “Green Fashion and Sustainable Recycling”: Led by sustainable fashion expert Sarah Ibrahim, this session taught participants to creatively recycle clothing, raising environmental awareness around fast fashion’s impact. Participants gained practical skills in upcycling old clothes, supporting sustainability and innovation.
- Other two Local Actions “Mental and Physical Health – Dance Therapy”: Dance expert Soad Ibrahim led sessions connecting physical movement to mental well-being, encouraging self-expression, stress relief, and empowerment. Dance therapy offered an inclusive space for personal growth and bonding between the members of the classes involved, which was precious for this area with limited recreational resources.
The local actions have demonstrated a positive impact within the small communities of Palermo’s Roccella neighborhood and the village of Ciminna. Thanks to the strong cooperation with Euromadonie and AUSER Ciminna, these actions succeeded in connecting people, fostering cultural awareness, and promoting sustainable and healthy lifestyles; also empowering participants to take an active role in their communities, enhancing their confidence, skills, and civic awareness.
For further information contact Cinzia Broccolo: cinzia.broccolo@cesie.org.
About Citizens Xelerator
Citizens Xelerator – For democratic and civic participation is a project funded by the EACEA – ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-FORWARD program.
Partner
- MENTORTEC (Portugal, Coordinator)
- DANTE (Croatia)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- VHS CHAM (Germany)
- ACEFIR ASSOCIACIÓ CATALANA PER L’EDUCACIÓ, LA FORMACIÓ I LA RECERCA (Spain)
- ACTIONAID HELLAS (Greece)
- APCEP Associação Portuguesa para a Cultura e Educação Permanente (Portugal)
- ASOCIATIA EURO ADULT EDUCATION (Romania)
- AONTAS (Ireland)
For further information
Read about Citizen Xelerator, visit the website https://citizensxelerator.eu/ and follow us on Facebook.
Contact Cinzia Broccolo: cinzia.broccolo@cesie.org.
