More.Than.Words

More than Words aims to improve the intercultural communication and training skills of educators, social and cultural workers, and others professionally involved with minority and migrant communities. We will develop a pan-European curriculum of intercultural training methods that can be applied to work with people whose knowledge of the host country’s language is limited or non—existent. This curriculum will synthesise the experience of the project partners in different areas of training and creativity, such as theatre, dance, humour therapy and storytelling. The project is crucial in terms of Europe’s relationships with migrant communities and other minorities, especially given the current political and social tensions across the Continent. Educational work with new European citizens is not simply a question of the desire to learn. A lack of communication skills often hinders mutual understanding between migrants and other social groups. Communication barriers may also include difficulties related to cultural differences, even when there is a common language. This is a challenge that transcends borders, and requires a pan-European, multi-agency strategy as a response. The main outcome of the project is therefore a European training module, offering new approaches for both governmental and non-governmental agencies in responding to these highly significant challenges. Other intellectual outputs will include a synthesis of good practices, an online platform of intercultural training, and a documentary film presenting the different stages of project implementation. All these outputs will be disseminated through local multiplier events, allowing user organisations to benefit from project findings and methodologies. More than Words will follow a three year project plan based around work packages, intellectual outputs, staff training and transnational meetings. The lead in these work packages will be divided among the partners, ensuring that all partners take an active role in and responsibility for the implementation of the project. Work packages will take place in parallel and in deep interaction with one another. Within them the main project activities will be as follows: • organisation of five staff trainings that, based on pre-prepared guideline and needs assessment, will present four methods of non-verbal intercultural training and their synthesis; • creation of a pan-European training module in strong interaction with the trainings, tested at local multiplier events; • creation of an interactive platform of intercultural training; • creation of the documentary film reflecting the project narrative; • dissemination of the project’s results to other appropriate parties and organisations at local multiplier events.

Thematic trainings & good practices

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Our project is based on a strategic partnership of like-minded organisations across Europe, working with migrants and minority communities, to develop and share practice for the creation of a collective working methodology in intercultural training. The lead partner, Border Crossings, is a UK-based organisation working in intercultural dialogue through vocational education and performing arts. It has developed strong creative methodologies to encourage understanding between cultures through theatre and creative learning practices. The partners’ approach, experiences and areas of work are diverse and complementary. 

The partnership is composed of two key groups of partners.  The needs assessment group is composed of 3 organisations with direct experience dealing with the needs of migrants and marginalised groups: Narud, AEL and Dla Ziemi.  The training providers group will contribute with their innovative methods of non-verbal intercultural training: Border Crossings for theatre, CRN for digital storytelling, Euro-Net for humour and clowning strategies and IKTE for dance and body movement therapy. They will provide the staff trainings, and create the synthesised training and reports, based on the needs and accompanied by the monitoring activities of the first group.