Education/learning - international

Project summary

Established in 2004 by founder Mark Evans and HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Connecting Cultures is a unique educational initiative that promotes face-to-face dialogue with young people from the Western and Arab worlds via short wilderness journeys, problem solving and teamwork. The aim of this dialogue is to celebrate cultural diversity, break down stereotypes, identify shared values and in so doing promote understanding, combat extremism and so help reduce the polarisation of cultures.  

Based in the Sultanate of Oman, Connecting Cultures works in partnership with governmental, corporate and charitable sectors. It is endorsed by Unesco and works to support the key aims of the United Nations alliance of civilisations. DHL and HSBC are the main corporate partners of the connecting cultures programme.     

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The project offers 100 school and college leavers, youth community representatives and apprentices the chance to visit some of the major countries of the new global economy: Brazil, India and China. The six-week programme consists of: an introduction to the language, culture and contrasts inherent in these rapidly developing countries; time in an education institution exploring the aspirations of their peers and the chance to stay with a host family; and two weeks as the guest of a multinational company gaining an insight into global enterprise and corporate social responsibility. An important element of this scheme is communication and sharing. On their return, all Fellows are expected to turn personal learning experiences into relevant information for other young people and the wider community. Each year the returning Fellows become part of a growing cohort of young leaders in the UK with first-hand experience of some of the challenges and opportunities posed by globalisation.    

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Connecting Stories was a three-year (2005 - 2008) intercultural project to develop links between Newham's diverse communities. Using stories as a starting point the programme explored both the differences and similarities between communities and their cultures. It provided an opportunity for children and adults to develop a deeper understanding of their own and other's cultural heritage. The project created connections between communities living in Newham, both across generations and cultures.

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The Refugee Awareness Project (RAP) aimed to bring the reality of life as a refugee to local people and increase understanding between newcomers and established residents. RAP trained 118 refugee, asylum seeker and British volunteers to listen to the genuine concerns of local community groups and talk honestly to them about asylum. They were supported by accessible materials including handy mythbusting booklets. The project delivered workshops and talks to more than 10,500 people in and around Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol. RAP reached a further 12,000 through arts-based awareness events and outreach stands. The project also encouraged local groups to play a dynamic role in improving long-term community cohesion and creating a better welcome. RAP has supported many people to take practical actions, including raising awareness in their neighbourhood, encouraging donations of toys, and action planning to help local youth groups and museums become more refugee-friendly.

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Rewind anti-racism project is anti- racism work with a difference. It delivers training around issues of 'race', identity and racisms, by challenging the myths racism is based on, with the biggest myth of all being that of separate 'races' of humans. It finds support for this approach through the findings of the human genome programme and human origins research.

Programmes of work or day sessions are delivered in both formal and informal educational settings (i.e. primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and various forms of youth work).

Training for adults is also provided to such as police, youth workers, teachers, health staff, social workers etc.

Peer education courses for young people and train the trainer courses for professionals are delivered nationally. Issues of extremism(s) are also explored and challenged within the Rewind programme.

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St Philip's Centre, a registered charity since 2006, is situated in a parish with the 8th fewest Christians in the country (2001 Census); the church and mosque stand opposite each other. Besides developing Christian confidence in contributing to the common good, it provides training to public sector organisations in understanding the place of faith in contributing to community cohesion. It has set up a number of dialogue and engagement groups: Muslim-Christian, Hindu-Christian, Family of Abraham (Jews, Christians and Muslims), and Sikh-Christian. There are two Muslim-Christian dialogue groups, one mixed, and the other for women only. Outreach activities include: fundraising dinners, for development work projects overseas where Christians and Muslims live together; high-profile sporting events including annual football and cricket matches between imams and clergy; reflection visits - travelling together, and staying in Bradford, Burnley and Manchester with local sponsorship.

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The key element of  "learning to advise" is a four-week access course for a group of ten asylum seekers/refugees in preparation for the three-month volunteer adviser's training course at Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB). The access course includes a range of introductory sessions on issues that volunteers from the host community are usually already familiar with. Particular attention is paid to the changes Stoke-on-Trent has undergone in the last 30 years to provide newcomers with the necessary background information to understand the local economic and social climate and the growing tensions towards foreigners among some groups in the local community. Other sessions concentrate on CAB structure and policies as well as wider questions related to British culture, history and politics.

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In 2004, fifteen volunteers made a big commitment which has changed their lives as well as those of the communities within which they worked. The volunteers, aged 18-25, gave 9 months of their time to work abroad in centres for refugees and migrants and with human rights organisations.

As the third and final phase of its 'Youth and European Solidarity' programme, the international cultural youth exchange coordinated volunteer activities under the European Union's European Voluntary Service scheme. This action aims to motivate young people to contribute to human rights and reconciliation in each other's countries, facilitating inclusion and the integration of marginalised groups. Fifteen volunteers were selected from different national and cultural backgrounds: eight from EU member states in Western and Northern Europe went to centres for migrants and refugees and human rights organisations in countries of South East Europe; seven volunteers from Balkan countries went to the EU member states.

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Maslaha, which translates from the arabic as 'for the common good', is a new web-based organisation being established by The Young Foundation. Maslaha has two key aims:

1. to provide practical information about Islam to help Muslims (especially young people) deal with the everyday dilemmas of practising their faith whilst living in a Western secular society, including working with public service providers to improve their services in areas such as education and healthcare.
2. to help support greater understanding and more positive interaction between Muslims and non-Muslims by providing easily accesssible, clear information about Islam and its contribution to civilization and modern society.

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The programme included a series of activities (and products) owned by the region around an agreed theme, which enabled both the region and country to achieve the outcomes identified in their agreed impact statement. Activities specifically addressed the issues of sharing experiences and mutuality of learning both within the region and with the UK.

Impact Statement - making attitudinal change in the reform process through:

• Addressing cross-sectoral groups.
• Building networks promoting discussions/debate.
• Support and stimulate existing and potential reforms in governance by supporting change agents who share values and responding to their needs with models, skills and choices in the arena of social, political and economic life.
• Media impact enhanced concerning HR and governance issues and public attitudes changed through models.
• More open and democratic societies through interchange with comparative models e.g. Citizenship education, parliamentary engagement.

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Mosaic's vision is to work towards an integrated and thriving society where all individuals, regardless of background, are supported in realizing their potential.

The vision will be realised through three over-arching objectives:

• To stimulate significantly greater levels of volunteering, through a network of partner organisations and, where appropriate, direct delivery.
• To nurture and promote talent in Muslim communities, providing positive role models to young Muslims and to society more generally.
• To promote leadership and civic engagement, based on addressing key social issues of importance in the UK and beyond.

In seeking to meet these objectives, the network:

• Has a  primary focus on Muslim communities in the most disadvantaged areas.
• Has a particular focus on the 5 to 25 year-old age bracket.
• Supports the development of international Mosaic interests, where they complement Mosaic's values and purpose.

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One way of preventing conflict between religious communities is to promote inter-religious understanding. Knowledge of the beliefs and practices of other religions helps to counteract prejudice, ignorance and religious stereotyping.

Peace Interfaith Inititative Myanmar grew out of a course in 'interfaith dialogue' at the British Council in Burma. It is both a forum for continuing dialogue between religions and a launch pad for community-based initiatives.

Members have been active in the area of local informal education, funding reconstruction and development of Buddhist monastic schools and Christian orphanages and, thanks to a small grant from DfID, have recently completed a research project into this sector. 

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The project provides peer-led education for young people aged 5-25 in conflict resolution, anti-racism and community cohesion and organises events to promote and encourage community cohesion. Aik Saath is a young, dynamic and dedicated team that have helped to make Slough a safer and more harmonious town.

Aik Saath aims to bring groups and communities together through the effective teaching of conflict resolution and anti-racism skills, promoting an equal and peaceful society. Therefore implementing and working towards 'interculturality' is an integral part of their work and they take every measure to make sure they are open and inclusive.

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The programme will, over 5 years, develop 15,000 individuals into skilled, motivated, informed, responsible and effective active citizens through a unique and flexible experiential learning package for the individual and the community which promotes self-discovery and professional confidence, broadens cultural experience, develops fundamental life skills and facilitates engagement in community improvement.

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British Council Connecting Classrooms creates sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships between schools and school systems in the UK and all regions of the world. These partnerships build trust and understanding between people in different societies and develop in young learners the cultural awareness and skills they need to mature into global citizens - positive contributors, in life and work, to the global society.

The programme focuses on young people, enabling learners to collaborate with their peers around the world, and working with school leaders, teachers and policy makers to embed the global dimension and global citizenship in educational practice and policy. It will scale up our work with schools from a reach of 900 schools and 300,000 young people directly in the UK, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East (where the programme has already been running) between 2006 and 2008, to a reach of over 30,000 schools and two million young people directly, worldwide.

Project summary

This project brings together young activists from all over the world in events like forums and high profile meetings with world leaders. It also supports its members in doing community projects of their own. The programme enhances the capacity of future leaders to meet global challenges. It links young community activists and future influencers from diverse backgrounds around the world in a sustainable global network. The participants are emerging talents, aged 16-25, who are committed to positive social change in their communities. 

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Global xChange is a partnership managed by the British Council, Voluntary Service Overseas and a range of overseas partners. Active global citizenship is at the heart of the programme and its vision is to build a world where active global citizens create positive change and build mutual understanding and respect. The programme blends the unique contribution of all of the organisations involved to achieve this aim - the British Council through cultural relations, working with young people and leadership development; and VSO through international development, programme theme expertise and international volunteering. Local partners bring an understanding of community development and volunteering at the grass-roots level. By working with local partners in this way, the partnership ensures that the programme reflects the needs of local people and communities.

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Intercultural Navigators is a scalable, flexible and easily customised training programme for young diverse leaders delivered through a cascading model. It aims to connect the UK to the European/international cadre of 10,000 young influencers who can operate effectively in challenging circumstances in a diverse, interdependent world, and build long-term relationships with UK communities. The Navigators learn to engage in constructive dialogue about difficult issues, negotiate common ground with people from different backgrounds, build European-wide networks for shared learning, influence change agendas through joint activity, and champion cultural relations as social capital.

The product is built around 4 integrated components:

• access to target groups through local partnerships in the UK and Europe;
• research to scope UK and European youth political and ideological mobilisation;
• capacity building through blended learning methods and exposure to UK practice;
• development of a UK / international Navigators' network.

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Living Together is a programme designed to make a major contribution to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. It is being delivered by the British Council in over 20 countries in Europe, with the support of a wide range of partners, including the Council of Europe. Living Together encourages collaboration and action on issues arising from the complexities of living and working in the continually changing societies of today. The project focuses in particular on the impact of migration on home and host societies, and the way in which minority communities interact with and participate in public life. Living Together promotes the belief that dialogue between people is an essential component in learning to embrace diversity, which is crucial to the development of societies in the long-term. The Living Together programme incorporates a range of approaches and activities across Europe and the UK in order to engage with influencers from different communities.

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