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Introducing Margherita Paoletti

Margherita Paoletti is an artist and illustrator living in Italy. During the lockdown, she cooperated with the local Change Makers, participating in their meetings and illustrating their ideas.

Read the interview to Margherita about this experience, and enjoy the result of her works!

How did you join Start the Change?

My friend Carmen is part of Start the Change project and she invited me to a meeting with the Change Makers. The lockdown had already started, so it was a virtual meeting, and I had to illustrate and draw what the Change Makers were talking about. We had a special feeling from the beginning, so after the first experience, then I participated also to the following meetings.

How did the Change Makers welcome you?

They are amazing! At the beginning they were shy, but after a while they started brainstorming and coming up with proposal for the final event. The ideas were a lot, so I had to rush to take note of every detail but, luckily, everything came together nicely. I draw the sketch in black and white and, at the end of every session, I showed them the result: they were happy to see their ideas through the eyes of another person.

 What did this experience teach to you and to the Change Makers?

That experience had a special meaning, in particular for the strange period we were living. We helped the Change Makers to think about the live events they will organize in autumn. I hope the illustrations and the creativity helped to liven up their days!

Visit the website: https://www.margheritapaoletti.it/

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MAY DAYS 2020 - THE FULL PROGRAM

On 15 and 16 May, Change Makers from all over Europe will organize online events to reflect about SDGs, migration, Human Rights and sustainable developement. 

Even during quarantine, the Change goes on!

Check the program.

15 MAY 2020

9.30-10.30 YOUTH IN RURAL AREA, IN EUROPE AND IN THE WORLD Language: French  Description: Welcome to the May Days MFR France on May 15 and 16, 2020, the virtual festival that respects physical but not social distancing. A day of exchanges and sharing on rural youth, the SDGs and migration to launch 3 challenges for the world of tomorrow. Organized by MFR (France) Join: https://maydaysmfr.frama.site/ 

15.00-16.00 APPROACH THE CHANGE  Language: Italian Description: Our group would like to propose some interviews to people that are approaching the change in Education field due to Covid Emergency. We started from a question: are we ready for such big changes? A change like the one we are living affects the education from the formal point of view but also in the relations and in the behavior. We decided to get in contact with people who are experiencing it: teachers, scholars, social workers and ...ourselves will be interviewed for sharing their experience and how they are approaching these changes. We will present some short videos in which we are going to explain our ideas about how society and education is changing. Organized by CISV (Italy) Join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpgve-pbAWw&t= https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7DqYwpp-oTq6C0AfIBlUObxGkjSJVwva

15.30-17.00 LANGUAGE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS Language: Italian Description: The words and their consequences: communication and hate speech. Organized by Amici dei Popoli (Italy), in cooperation with Assemblea Legislativa dell’Emilia Romagna and ConCittadini  (https://www.assemblea.emr.it/cittadinanza/concittadini) Join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rlSr008WPA

16.00-17.00 WE ARE CHANGE Language: Polish Description: Interviews with the Change Makers Organized by CZ-ART (Poland)

16.00-17.30 MIGRATION WORLDWIDE. EVERYONE HAS A STORY Language: English Organized by KATE (Germany) Join it on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY3pGkixrTM&feature=youtu.be Join it on Zoom: https://hochschule-n-bw.de/en/veranstaltungen/migration-begreifbar-machen-2/?fbclid=IwAR2CwOt4NKKl42BSwvU0v19ahklR_X3UdcAM7DHnp0RDI8YZnTz6NDny2LY

16.30-18.00 WOMEN WANT A CHANGE! Language: Czech Organized by Amnesty International Czech Republic Join: https://www.facebook.com/events/232368754526426/ See the full campaign:  www.amnesty.cz/pohlednice

17.00-19.00 SERVICES FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC Language: Italian Description: Interview with Andrea and Marianna, social operators of the Social Cooperative Maria Cecilia and of Caritas Diocesana di Biella,  who, in addition to telling us about their work and the experience of the people they assist, will help us reflect on what we can learn from this situation to continue to defeat poverty, reduce inequalities and promote health , well-being and peace in society. Organized by CISV (Italy) Join https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNqTiIZt0cs&feature=youtu.be

17.00-18.00 THE #GIFTCARDCHALLENGE. UNWRAP THE PROFILE Description:  An interactive webinar on the realities of reception and participation of migrants and refugees from a label-shattering approach. Will you join the challenge? Language: English (at 17.00) Spanish (at 19.00) Organized by Madre Coraje (Spain) Join:  ENGLISH https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71956531258?pwd=Rmw2T2RsOEVFSHVHTWNWVDdhOVJ1dz09 (English) SPANISH https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75904088255?pwd=bTRtOUxQOWsvSStLQjJxQkVPb1VnUT09

17.00-18.00 MUSIC FOR CHANGE. YOUTH MEET MARGHERITA VICARIO 

Language: Italian Description: The youth groups meet Margherita Vicario in a question and answer on migration, sustainability and the role of art in the promotion of human rights. Organized by Amnesty International Italia Join: www.facebook.com/AmnestyInternationalItalia/

18.00-19.00 IT IS RAINING WITH THE SUN. IS THE QUARANTINE HELPING YOU GAUGE THINGS? Language: Italian Description: Interview with Eugenio in Via di Gioia (music band).  Organized by CISV (Italy) Join: https://youtu.be/a4sL6TzJn9E 

18.30-20.30 YOUTH FOR CLIMATE Language: German Description: How to manage climate action in Austria and how can the activists throughout Austria combine their actions and develop a common strategy Organized by Sudwind (Austria) Join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81109933322

19.00-20.00 AT THE TRESHOLD OF EUROPE Language: Polish Description: Open seminar with young activists who participated in Summer Academy in Lampedusa that took place in autumn 2019. Change makers will talk about lessons they learnt during their visit on the Island. We will discuss what the situation of migrants looks like, what are the attitudes of inhabitants towards them and  what we can do to support migrants and refugees. Organized by Amnesty International Poland Join: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0rd-2rpj8qGNZ8xqLa-KfXfQK5L0H4QMhr

16 MAY 2020

11.30-12.30 EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT. RIGHT? Language: Italian Description: We all have to take care of the world: reflecting about the growth of the planet.     Organized by Progettomondo.mlal Contact [email protected]

13.00-14.00 WHY DON’T YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WORLD THAN A CHIMPANZEE AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT Language: Polish Organized by CZ-ART (Poland) Join: https://www.facebook.com/events/602943843763101/

16.00-17.00 SDGS KAHOOT QUIZ Language: German Organized by: Sudwind (Austria) Join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83589684790

17.00-18.00 SHORES OF LAMPEDUSA Language: English Description: Exploring the perception of migration, the Feis Rois Changemakers connect the history of movement by Scottish people, undertaking dangerous crossings over the Atlantic to Canada with present-day migrants, risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean. Organized by: HOW (Scotland) Join: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNWkQg47x5IDRPCsbhDKeLw

16.00-17.30 NOT SO PROMISED LAND Language: Slovak Description: Migration, challenges  and hardships refugees are facing on their way to Europe and in Europe Organized by Amnesty International Slovakia Join: https://m.facebook.com/events/531300837560688/

18.00-19.00 WHAT’S UP IN THE AIR? Language: Italian Description: Air pollution, levels recorded during the Lockdown period and causes. Practical implications at European and local level, possible consequences in policy management. Organized by Amici dei Popoli (Italy) Join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sfLobAIPlc&feature=youtu.be

19.00-20.00 CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT Language: English Organized by Madre Coraje (Spain) Join: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79095873958

MORE EVENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME

SDG13. CLIMATE ACTION (Madre Coraje) Watch it on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asociacion_pides/ Watch it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PIDES-Asociación-721189444681769/

BULLYING AND THE SDGS (Madre Coraje) Watch it on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulserasfuerajerez/

BEYOND THE BORDERS. A CONVERSATION (Madre Coraje) Watch it on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/madre0coraje

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SAVE THE VILLAGE? (CZ-ART) An interactive role-playing game: http://www.smileurbo.com/en/

SDG’S ESCAPE GAME (MFR) Join: https://view.genial.ly/5e934f0282c07e0d8578fbcd/game-breakout-start-the-change

QUIZZ ABOUT THE STC GUIDE Join: https://w-alter.mfr.asso.fr/resources/show/3c914478-49c0-4fdb-a4dd-6b5fcc1e9bb5#/

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MAY DAYS 2020

#ChangeMakers worked hard to organise live events all over Europe on 15 and 16 May. The pandemic changed our plans, but it will not stop us.

This Friday and Saturday, “May Days 2020. Online festival to… Start the Change!” will take place.  Check out the programme, in constant evolution. More details and the links to join the events will be available soon. Stay tuned!

[startthechangeproject]

What We Are Learning from Pandemic

The world is facing one of the most important crisis of recent times. The pandemic has changed our current routine, and probably also the way we will live in the future. We will no longer live, work, and relate one another the way we considered normal before.

There are some lessons we can learn from what we are living:

We are in the same storm... We were focused on our own lives, pursuing our personal success and wealth. Now we know that we are all part of the same community: I’ll be safe, if everyone will be safe. We can’t deal with a global emergency by local actions only. The world in interconnected, we need to act together.

…But we travel with different boats. The quarantine shows us, one more time, that inequalities are everywhere. Some people simply can’t stay home. Some of us have the opportunity and the tools to stay connected, to keep studying and working. Someone does not. In tough times, inequalities get even worse.

We all are migrants. We were afraid of them. We tried to keep them away, we wanted them to stay home. But the virus doesn’t know borders. So, suddenly, we became the rejected. Now the entire world looks at us with fear and suspect. It takes just one minute to switch to the wrong side.

The value of human connections. We were passionate about virtual meetings and digital emotions. Now we are forced to keep in contact with people we love only by phone and computer. We are not allowed to hold the hand of our partner or of our parents. We can’t hug friends. We miss them.

It takes a village to educate a child. Education was something school did. Now schools are closed, and we have to learn how to study together with our parents, or with our children. It reminds us that everyone has a role in young people’s education.

The planet is suffering. Before we knew it, but only few of us were acting to help the planet. Now the virus is forcing us to stop business. Economy is suffering but pollution is decreasing. Dolphins are back to our coasts, the planet starts breathing again. Only if we respect the balance of the hearth, the hearth will respect us.

The value of our rights. Before, we took for granted some of our rights. Now we are rediscovering the value of key words: welfare, inclusion, solidarity.

We need to stop, sometimes. We were used to rush day and night to produce and consume no matter what. Now we are forced to stay at home, spending time with our relatives, giving up on shopping malls, exotic holidays, business travels. We have to manage our time and, sometimes, our boredom too. Are we still able to do this?

World is speaking to us: we are all part of the same global community, and we are all called to take care of it. Every action we do has an impact, not only on people close to us, but also on people who live far away. And their actions have an impact on us as well. 

We can save the world only if we act together.

They say that there is an opportunity that lies in every crisis. This is the time for all of us to look forward and to take action.

This is the time to start the change. The world is calling for that.

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How the epidemic changed our plans

Due to the impact of the epidemic, Start the Change activities slowed down all over Europe. The crisis forced us to change our daily routine and it makes difficult to plan new events until things will be better. But change doesn’t stop!

Giovanni Cappellotto, Start the Change project manager, says: “The coronavirus showed us, one more time, how deeply interconnected we are. We can’t respond to global problems with local actions only, we need to act together. At Start the Change we are looking for a common solution to restart activities as soon as it will be possible”.

Italy was one of the first and most affected countries, and the Change Makers in the country had soon to cope with isolation. How are they managing this challenging situation?

Valeria Melegari, Progettomondo.mlal, says: “Meetings continue on line, of course with some difficulties but also with a lot of energy, resources, and the desire to move forward.

Change Makers miss friends and school colleagues but they are filling their time with online courses, playing and doing school homework. We spend the time during on line meeting discussing about what we are experimenting, isolation and freedom, human rights and commonweal. We also invite guests to participate in our discussion, or we simply stay together”.

“In Rome the mood is good” says Claudio Nicosia, Amnesty international. “We are working on the production of web contents about SDGs. Due to isolation, people are going to spend even more time than usual on social networks, so we want to stimulate them to think and reflect about some important topics”.

Margherita Licastro, Amici dei Popoli, continues: “Change Makers are glad to keep in contact on line and to continue activities. They are particularly involved in environmental issues: they are planning specific actions in one of the most difficult neighbourhoods in Padua, but they are also pushing for a common and global discussion about environmental and social consequences of the pandemic. They still are in contact with the institutions and local associations and they look forward to restarting activities as soon as possible”.

 Change Makers know that there is an opportunity that lies in every crisis, so we are trying to focus on lessons we can learn from what we are living and we all hope situation will get better soon.

Yesterday a heartfelt message was address from Sara, Change Maker from Croatia, to all Italian’s mates: “Hey, all the Italians, I hope you are doing ok and using this time the best you can, this is a little support our city, Osijek, made for you. Wish you all the best and a lot of health”.

It shows that, despite difficulties, Europe can be so close.  

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REFUGEES ISLAND

«She ran away with the whole family. She tried to get to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. She lost her husband and children on the journey. She said she couldn't see the point of living. Then I saw her praying curled up over the sea» said Jagoda Cieślik, student of 1st High school in Radomsko city and Amnesty International activist  speaking about her journey to  Lampedusa, Italy, and about the netting with refugees.

Jagoda Cieślik is 18 years old and this year she will be taking the graduation exam. She goes to high school and since almost two years is working in local Amnesty International group. This is an international organization dedicated to the prevention of human rights violation founded 60 years ago and supported by 7 million people.

The leader of the AI group from Radomsko is Agnieszka Skura-Garbaciak, the teacher in 2 high school in Radomsko and currently head of the education department of the district. 

«In our group most activist are young people but it's not the norm. There are countries where most involved members are elder people» Jagoda says.

She answers the question why she works in this organization this way.

«Being involved in such an organization IA part of growing up when you see what is going in the world and try to fix it. Political views do not matter for example I personally dislike and avoid politics. In AI you should only be convicted that human rights are something that belongs to everyone. The trip to Lampedusa was the final of the Start the Change project, which lasted from September 29 to October 5th” ».

 THE ISLAND

The island has an area of only 20 square kilometres. It is located in the south of Sicily between Malta and Tunisia. Just 6,000 people live there, the others are refugees.

The island lies on the route from Africa to Europe.

Six years ago, on 3 October 2013, the biggest refugee’s tragedy took place here. Just half a mile from the edge near the bay called Isola dei Conigli, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the ship sank 540 people, mainly coming from Eritrea. 360 people drowned, 155 survived, 20 disappeared. In remembrance of this tragedy on the 3rd of October, a hospitality remembrance day is celebrated.

«This project was about finding out what the refugee problem really looks like on the spot» says Jagoda. «There were many students from Italy but also from other European countries. We were there to gain the experience. I completed the survey where I had to write what I do and in what project I am involved in. On this basis, I have been chosen».

She went with two other girls, one from Kraków and one from Lódź. And, of course, international friends from others Countries. Formally, the project focused on workshops, discussing issues related to migration, sustainable development, the climate crisis and human rights. But the most touching moments were the small talks with people.

Jagoda says: «I remember conversations with survivors of that disaster and other refugees. One of them told us why he was escaping from his Country. Not because had no money but because of war. He could stay there without hope or decide to leave. He chose the second option. He had to pay smugglers to cross the border illegally, and risk his live.

Or the story of a man who came to Europe by feet from the Far East. He went two years in states. He paid smugglers for the episode, when he beat him he worked to earn money for the next one, month after month. He made it however he did not get refugee status because of regulation. Those who survived the disaster of October 3rd sailed to Europe with whole families.

I was shocked by the story of a woman who ran away with the whole family. They tried to get to Europe across the sea. She lost her husband and children during the journey. She said that she could not see the point of living. Then I saw her bent over praying over the water. Then I realised that hatred for refugees is really killing.

One of the things that surprised me the most was the attitude OD the inhabitants of Lampedusa. It was a positive surprise. They really felt the negative effects of the crisis.

It was once a touristic island but to be honest it is not anymore. People are afraid of refugees. The Italians are also afraid; therefore, they don't want to come to Lampedusa anymore. It's not even about crowds of people, because for example I have not seen the situation where  someone has just reached the island, the refugees are also living in their attire, it is difficult to meet people on the street who have not established legal sit.

And those residents who fell the negative effects of the refugee crisis themselves, went with us to commemorate the victims of that tragedy.

They gave us school, they met with us, they were really involved. The major was at the meeting, and many different organizations, mostly Italian and all with positive attitude. I think that this tragedy influenced them. Then that day when they saw the bodies coming to shore, many cutters from Lampedusa went to help.

This is probably the reason why the Italian weekly I'Espresso has applied for a Nobel Prize for the inhabitants of the island for the help they give refugees.

We look at man through the prism of his skin color, religion, nationality, and yet man is the result of many things not only race, religion and nationality. Many people do not want to confront with it. The media are also doing a bad job, because they do not portray refugees as individuals, only a wave a collective. And yet in this group there are different people, good and bad, with different goals and different opinions. The perception of Polish can also be changed. It's important to show them specific people. That they would know them, see that they have dreams, plans, views, beliefs that they are not a crowd».

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Teach the Change

In November 2018, more than 50 teachers and educators from across Europe met in Malta. Brought together as part of the Start the Change! project, they shared their experiences and brainstormed on how to raise students’ awareness about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and migration.

These guidelines are the result of their work.

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Last night, only a few hours after the end of the #StartTheChangeProject Camp in #Lampedusa, another shipwreck occurred off the coasts of the island.

The #ChangeMakers had just come back home, after travelling on planes, trains, and cars. At the same time, a boat carrying more than 50 migrants was sinking. Thirteen women died and twenty people are still missing.

It hurts, today more than ever. It is urgent to act, eradicating inequalities and discriminations. We all have to stay strong, and do our best to be a Change.

#sdgs2030 #migration #globaleducation #europe

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«One week of staying in Lampedusa has passed & I think I never felt more like a european than now.

During this week I learnt that it really doesn't matter where we come from, because we are all equal in being human beings.

I am very lucky and thankful that I was born in Europe, and I therefore see it as my duty to stand for the people who weren't as lucky as I am.

I will always keep the unimaginable strength of the survivors I met in my heart and try to spread this power.

We all smile in the same language, so share your smile with the world and start the change!»

Anika, 23 yo, Change Maker from Europe

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«5th of october, the last day in Lampedusa.

After a lot of work we finalized the Carta di Lampedusa. We all choose different ways to express ourselfs. Poems, posters, illustrations, podcasts and a song are visualizing our Carta di Lampedusa.

Living, learning and growing with these beautiful people was a pleasure. Thank you for all the good talks and unforgettable memories».

Romy, 16 yo, Change Maker from Austria

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In these hours the #ChangeMakers are drafting "La Carta di #Lampedusa", to promote values such as human rights, equality and dignity.

The experiences of these months, the reflections, the stories they heard and the challenges they faced up will be part of this precious document.

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On 3 October 2013, 368 women, men and children died in a shipwrech off the coast of Lampedusa. Today, 6 years later, the #ChangeMakers walked the roads of the city together with Comitato Tre Ottobre, other civil society organisations, students, institutions, survivors and families of the victims. Together, they honoured the tragic day, and sent a powerful message about the need to help human beings risking their lives.

Says Sofia, 16 yo, Change Maker from Italy: «Today we took part in the memorial march. It was mind-blowing to see people of all ages getting together in the street with the same intention: remember. While walking next to survivors and people who had lost a family member, I couldn’t but ask myself how come we Europeans feel “civilised”, when we continue to watch people die in our sea and do nothing».

#StartTheChangeProject #ChangeMakers #sdgs2030 #lampedusa #3ottobre #migration #refugees #europe #siamosullastessabarca #todayistheday

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«Meet the people behind the numbers. Today was an extremely inspiring day for Change Makers, filled with encounters and life stories. Yosef and Teame are two survivors of the sinking of 3 October 2013 near Lampedusa. They told their story, and exchanged with students from all over Europe. Real life stories do start the change!»

Marina, Change Maker from Italy

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«Day 2 in Lampedusa. Today the #ChangeMakers have been part of a number of inspiring workshops. My group discussed the role of mass media in crafting narratives on migration.

It was a stimulating and at times shocking exchange, in the meaningful frame of Lampedusa, with peopel coming from all sorts of country and life trajectory»

Alessia, 24 yo, Change Maker from Italy

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«The first day in a new project is always special in many ways. You get to know the people you will be living and learning with for some days, start creating bonds and, most of all, the spirit of the group become alive.

We come from different countries, have different ages and backgrounds. But it's surprising to discover how many things we have in common and that we are all here for a shared goal.

The introduction and activities we did today were fun, inspiring and the first step of an intense project. I am looking forward to keep learning from each one of them!»

Ana Garcia, 24 yo, Change Maker from Spain.

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[Here we come, Lampedusa!]

They have been travelling since yesterday from all across Europe (enjoying the beauties and tastes of Italy).

Most of them have already arrived in Lampedusa, some are still on their way. Everybody is more than excited about the time they will spend together.

Let's start the camp, Change Makers!

[startthechangeproject]

CALL FOR ORGANIZATIONS. The awarded projects!