Build it Together
The aim of the project is to promote awareness and build knowledge of EU citizenship rights, European common values and democratic standards through sharing best practices on the benefits of diversity and effective measures to tackle discrimination and racism at the local level.
Two main concepts will be developed as activities which will focus on targeting the older generation and youths through focusing on sharing good practices which assist in citizens better understanding each other and promoting integration and understanding the differences in cities through 2 common mediums which are through storytelling: the collection of stories as said and witnessed by citizens through their life and the 2nd medium would be through the use of home cooking which although diverse according to customs and traditions have common factors, ingredients which implicate that although different we share commonalities among us.
Through the project we would also address the barriers between older people and youth addressing the perceptions and misconceptions of youth as wasters, hanging out causing problems, where older people fear interaction with youth based on media portrayals. This is supported by research from Macionis and Plummer 2009 and Devlin 2020. From our perspective, Covid-19 increased the fear and further separated these groups. The lack of interaction is detrimental to society as a whole. The project will seek to overcome issues that impede communication through the planned activities.
Project Partners: Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Malta, Poland, Slovenia
Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) Project No: 101136806
Meeting in Tallinn, Estonia 2 – 5 April 2025
Theme: “Exploring Heritage and Culture: Food, City, and Community”
This transnational conference with participants from Municipality of Birgu, Municipality of Sannat Malta, Bulgaria, Estonia, Serbia, Poland, France, Ireland, Genista Research Foundation Malta were hosted by Ruta Pels, Eesti People to People. Participants provided examples from each of their region of how our heritage and culture was interconnected with food, city and community.
The meeting included visits to the City Hall, Ukranian Church, European Parliament information office, NGOs in Telliskivi creative area, Latvian centre, a KGB Museum as well as understanding the history of Tallinn through its historical monuments and buildings.
Meeting in Garb, Gozo 31 Jan – 3 Feb 2025
Theme: Build It Together – EUROPEAN STORYTELLING: exploring culture, memory, and identity through food, people, and art.
Participants were welcomed by the Mayor of Birgu Mr John Boxall at il-Kunvent community hall, Gharb. Each participant country gave a presentation of their culture to capture the history, stories, flavours, identify of their regions. The meeting included best practice visits of Għarb, meaning “west” in Arabic, the westernmost village in Gozo, steeped in history and tradition as well as sites around Gozo that capture its history, heritage and natural beauty.
First Project Meeting Malta October 2024
The Birgu Local Council Malta as coordinators of the European CERV-funded project ‘Build it Together’ hosted the transnational conference ‘Concept of Storytelling’ between the 10th to 14th of October 2024. Hosting 60 participants from 8 countries.
