HERS project aims to highlight and use ICH as a vehicle for empowerment, gender mainstreaming and social inclusion by proposing an innovative skills development model addressing women of migrant backgrounds. HERS is a cooperation project that brings together three countries (Greece, Cyprus and Italy) which are part of the so-called “Mediterranean situation”. According to UNHCR, in 2023, it is estimated that 259,391 refugees and migrants arrived by sea to Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta. Our Consortium consists of three organizations from Italy, Cyprus and Greece, three countries that due to their geographical position receive constant migrant flows, hence migrants are an integral part of their populations. These flows influence constantly the identity of their societies, making it an imperative to adapt and prioritise policies for inclusion and integration. Our partnership aims to test innovative practices to support migrant m women to preserve their intangible cultural heritage by creating a space for them to showcase and celebrate their traditions, providing resources for skills development, offering language assistance, and fostering intercultural exchange within their new communities. HERS story will focus specifically on migrant women as they are facing a double challenge in their social integration in their host communities. They need to overcome the obstacle of double discrimination, being a migrant and being a woman. At the same time, migrant women often carry with them a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, crafts, culinary skills, music, dance, storytelling, and other cultural elements from their places of origin. These cultural practices are not only personally meaningful but also contribute to the diversity and richness of their new communities. However, migrant women might face challenges in preserving and transmitting their cultural heritage. Factors such as language barriers, acculturation, geographical distance from their home countries, gender norms of their cultural context that lead to stereotyping, and the pressures of adapting to a new environment can impact their ability to maintain and share their cultural traditions.
O1: Social Inclusion through culture: to enhance social inclusion through intangible cultural heritage for women belonging to minorities and socially marginalized groups
O2: Social inclusion and gender balance in culture: to enhance social inclusion and gender balance in the cultural and creative sectors by promoting female role models from diverse backgrounds
O3: Promotion of intercultural dialogue among migrant women and their host communities fostering cross- cultural understanding and breaking down stereotypes
O4: Creative and Communication skills development for migrant women to support their social and economic integration
O5: Empowerment of migrant women through the acknowledgement of their cultural heritage, fostering a sense of belonging and pride while enriching the multicultural fabric of society
O6: Celebration of the traditions of migrant women through storytelling festivals to promote cultural diversity and social participation
O7: Documentation of the stories in a digital platform to safeguard intangible cultural heritage practices brought by migrant women and record stories, practices, and knowledge, making it accessible for future generations and the general audience.
Consortium of partners:
- Odyssea, Greece
- CEIPES, Italy
- InnoEUsphere, Cyprus
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