Last week, we attended the Erasmus professional program of DKolektiv in Osijek. Not only did we find potential partners for future projects, but we also developed specific project ideas. The theme was social diversity and inclusion.
Diversity does not only mean the presence of different cultural, ethnic, social, and identity groups in society. It is also a process in which we learn from each other, create value together, and show solidarity with each other. Youth workers play a crucial role in this, as they encourage communities to recognize diversity as a collective strength and a basis for inclusive development.
Together with international participants, we examined how social structures and power dynamics shape the experience of diversity. During the four-day course, we not only critically examined dominant narratives, institutional frameworks, and everyday practices that influence inclusion, but also jointly developed new approaches and concrete project ideas that can promote the active participation of young people in public life.