Italy
participants
- To promote inclusion and respect for everyone, with a special focus on supporting the LGBTQIA+ community
- To raise awareness about gender equality, also within the local and international community
- To break down gender, sexual stereotypes
- To create a safe space for international students part of/that support the LGBTQIA+ community in Padova and surroundings, during their mobility experience (and not only)
- To empower LGBTQIA+ individuals be able to fully and freely participate and express themselves in their local communities, also abroad
ESN volunteers invite international students and locals to meet in a local vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free restaurant and make them participate in LGBTQIA+ themed quizzes, games and discussions with the help of professional trainers, creating a safe space to share experiences and learn from each other.
Activities and methods:
- Teambuilding activities, including the creation of a narrative for the official mascot of the LGBTQIA+ Erasmus/international community in Padova (an unicorn, that will be used as a symbol in further events)
- Speed friending with questions related to the LGBTQIA+ collective and personal experiences, to foster mutual understanding and get-to-know each other
- LGBTQIA+ -related quiz, with prizes (ESN Italy themed pins)
- Workshops and discussions, facilitated by professionals, Italian Pool of Trainers and Eduk8 (ESN Italy, and ESN International, respectively, members), using non-formal education methods
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Informal chats on the collective experiences, related to how they live and think they will experiment their LGBTQIIA+ appartenance in their mobility abroad (vs. their local experience)
Promotion and outreach:
As ESN Padova, we promoted this event internally in our communication channels (WhatsApp channel, groups, Facebook, Instagram), reaching more than 1K international students associated with our local sections and their colleagues. Moreover, we did a targeted informal communication in our LGTBQIA+ community WhatsApp group, engaging directly with participants before the event. Additionally, being this the second time we organise a similar event in the same location, locals participating in the last meeting joined for part of the sessions as they built connections with each other and the international community in the past.
Impact and multiplying effect:
As ESN Padova, through our AperiQueer, we have created an engaging, welcoming, participative and safe space and community for LGBTQIIA+ individuals in Padova who are now participating in an international mobility experience. Furthermore, we have made them involved in our local community, making them engage also with local students supporting the cause. We aspire AperiQueer to become a fixed meeting space to engage in discussions and promoting inclusion and awareness on the matter for the whole year, in collaboration with both the local and international community of Padova.
This activity is part of the project:
Inclusivity for All, Now!