Value the Difference – Starting the second part

PRESS RELEASE
Cluj-Napoca, 15.01.2016

Babilon Travel NGO has launched the second part of the project

Value the Difference

project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

Babilon Travel NGO has launched the second part of the project Value the Difference, a multi-activity project designed to promote integration (both locally and internationally) of visually impaired young people through sport and outdoor activities tailored to their needs.

The `Value the Difference` project is composed of two main activities: a training course addressed to youth workers, educators and volunteers working with visual impaired youths, and a youth exchange for practicing the skills acquired during the course. The project was preceded by two other related local projects: Terra Mirabilis – Tourist Tracks for Visually Impaired Young People (2014) and Terra Cognita – The Historical Center of Cluj-Napoca Accessible for Blind Young People (2015), projects funded by the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca.

The first activity (the training course) was mainly taking place in Cluj-Napoca, supporting the programme Cluj-Napoca: European Youth Capital 2015, between the 3^rd and the 11^th of November, 2015; this activity brought together 24 participants, over 21 years old, from five European countries: Belgium, Greece, Italy, Poland and Romania. The training took place at the Special High School for Visually Impaired and concluded with three days of out-door activities, at Băișoara.

Five of the course participants were blind, and three other were visually impaired.

The second activity (the youth exchange) will take place in Poland, in the Tatra Mountains, in the vicinity of Zakopane, between the 16^th and the 24^th of January, 2016; the 40 participants are between 18 and 30 years of age, coming from the same 5 European countries previously mentioned. 12 of the participants will be blind or visually impaired.

Ten of the participants in the Cluj training will also part-take in the Poland youth exchange, thus being able to apply the experience and skills obtained during the course.

During the youth exchange, the participants will explore a series of positive aspects regarding the involvement of the previously mentioned disabled youths in the outdoor physical activities, by applying methods of non-formal education. Some of the expected results regard a better integration of visually impaired youths in the local community; turning those youths into active citizens of the European Union; gaining a healthy lifestyle.

Partners: Youth of Europe Poland, VIEWS International Belgium, Social Care Network Greece, Mine Vaganti NGO Italy, Special High School for Visually Impaired Cluj-Napoca, Municipality of Cluj-Napoca.

More information on our website babilontravel.ro or please contact us at 0722634027, e-mail office@babilontravel.net.

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