Project name: "BRIDGING BORDERS"

"Development of solidarity links within the EU"

Reference number:101147847

project overview
The Bridging Borders (BB) project is a 24-month effort that engages young EU citizens and residents aged 16-30, particularly voters and third-country nationals, in a multi-stage awareness-raising campaign. The project aims to promote solidarity within the EU, counter polarisation and fragmentation, and support social inclusion and integration. The project has a particular focus on the social inclusion of young people with a migrant background in 10 participating EU countries: Italy, Malta, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Greece.

Through a series of events, the project aims to raise citizens' awareness of solidarity mechanisms, strengthen cooperation between civil society organisations (CSOs) and public institutions and encourage active youth participation. The BB project plans to reach at least 1,800 direct and 5,500 indirect participants, mainly young people, targeted through social media and local initiatives. In addition, 200 key actors (CSOs, public authorities and youth organisations) will be involved in the discussions and activities around solidarity mechanisms in the EU.

The following countries and organizations are involved:

• Per Esempio (Italy) – lead applicant, an Italian non-profit youth organisation focused on social cohesion and community development through active participation.
• ARSU Academy (Germany) – Committed to education, science and cultural development, with a special focus on young people.
• Mediterranea Saving Humans (Italy) – Conducts search and rescue operations and humanitarian missions to assist people in need of protection.
• Elan Interculturel (France) – Promotes intercultural communication and cooperation between different cultures in Europe.
• TAMA (Malta) – Supports migrants and vulnerable people, particularly survivors of gender-based violence.
• Redial (Ireland) – Promotes social inclusion and civic engagement, particularly for disadvantaged groups in Ireland.
• KMOP (Greece) – Promotes social issues and mutual understanding through research and initiatives.
• Artemisszió Foundation (Hungary) – Promotes inclusion through education, creative arts and inclusive cultural projects.
• Aproximar (Portugal) – Promotes social innovation and capacity building to support communities and disadvantaged people.
• GRIGRI (Spain) – Conducts cultural and social research and develops practical solutions to promote solidarity.
• Cinemaximiliaan (Belgium) – Promotes community building and integration through visual arts and cultural exchange.

Goals and priorities of the project

The BB project recognises the challenges created by the arrival of refugees and irregular migrants in the EU. It focuses on strengthening solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility between Member States and citizens to address these challenges. The main objectives of the project include:

• Promoting solidarity in the context of migration: The project highlights the importance of solidarity in addressing societal challenges such as migration and social exclusion.
• Exploring existing solidarity mechanisms in the EU: An analysis of existing solidarity mechanisms will be carried out to understand how they can be expanded and improved.
• Strengthening capacities and cooperation: The BB project strengthens cooperation between CSOs and public institutions to raise awareness of solidarity and promote the involvement of EU citizens.

Tasks and Responsibilities of the ARSU Academy

ARSU Academy from Germany leads Work Package 1 (WP1), which runs from Month 1 to Month 3. This Work Package aims to create a deeper understanding of solidarity mechanisms in the EU, in particular regarding the role of young EU citizens and residents in promoting inclusion and integration.

The central tasks and responsibilities of the ARSU Academy include:

1. Project coordination:

• The ARSU Academy is responsible for the comprehensive coordination of Work Package 1. This includes planning and managing all activities, monitoring project progress and communicating with partners to ensure that the project objectives are achieved. ARSU ensures the smooth implementation of all planned measures and ensures compliance with budgets and schedules.

  2. Event organization:

  • ARSU Academy organizes a central event in Berlin, bringing together between 76 and 100 participants from 10 to 12 EU countries. This event offers workshops, discussions and practical activities aimed at raising awareness of solidarity mechanisms and the importance of inclusion in the EU, with a focus on the role of young people in shaping an inclusive society.

    3. Promoting solidarity and inclusion:

    • Through its activities, ARSU highlights the need for solidarity to address challenges related to migration and social exclusion. The event offers participants the opportunity to reflect on their role in promoting solidarity, discuss good practices and exchange ideas to create an inclusive society.

      4. Dissemination and evaluation:

      • The ARSU Academy is responsible for the creation and dissemination of information materials documenting the results of the event and ensuring their dissemination through social media and local networks. After the event, a comprehensive evaluation will be carried out to measure the success of the event and identify possible improvements for future activities.

        5. Linkage with EU policies:

        • The ARSU Academy is guided by Recommendation 10 of the European Citizens' Panel, which aims to extend the EU Conditionality Regulation to strengthen solidarity and the rule of law in the EU. This connection ensures that the event and the project's results have direct relevance to EU policy and contribute to the further promotion of solidarity mechanisms.
          

ARSU Academy Child Protection Policy

The Child Protection Directive ARSU Academy is based on clear guidelines, policies and procedures to protect the rights of minors. Our aim is to create a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people who participate in our programs. This policy has been developed to ensure that the rights of minors are protected and that all staff, partners and volunteers adhere to the highest standards of child protection.

basic principles

Our child protection policy follows the following basic principles:

1. Respect for the rights of the child: All children have the right to protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The rights and well-being of minors are at the heart of our work.
2. zero-tolerance policy towards abuse
3. : ARSU Academy has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of abuse or inappropriate behavior towards minors.
4. Promoting a safe environment
5. : We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where children feel comfortable and secure.
6. accountability and transparency
7. : All ARSU Academy employees, partners and volunteers are required to know and adhere to the child protection guidelines.

policies and procedures

To ensure the safety of minors, we have implemented specific procedures and measures:

• preventive training: All staff and volunteers undergo child protection training to identify potential risks and respond appropriately.
• code of conduct
• : A clear code of conduct has been developed that regulates the interaction with children and ensures that everyone involved acts respectfully and responsibly.
• reporting system
• : We have established a transparent and secure system for reporting concerns or incidents. All reports are taken seriously and promptly investigated.
• confidants
• : Specially trained confidants are available to whom children, parents and employees can turn if they have questions or concerns.

commitment of the ARSU Academy

ARSU Academy is aware of its responsibility to ensure the protection of minors. We are committed to regularly reviewing and improving the effectiveness of our child protection policy to ensure the highest standard of child protection.

Our commitment

: Children are our future and their protection is of utmost importance to us. We are actively committed to creating a safe, respectful and supportive environment that promotes the personal development and wellbeing of every child.




Click on the link below to download the ARSU Academy Child Protection Policy.