‘Olympics Spirit for Peacebuilding’
Olympic Spirit for Peace building– OLYMPISM, International Youth Exchange
Athens/Greece
Celebrating our shared heritage: Olympic Spirit for Peacebuilding («OLYMPISM») The project «Olympic Spirit for Peacebuilding-O Ολυμπιςμόσ για την Eδραίωςη τησ Eιρήνησ (OLYMPISM)» was a transnational initiative organized and coordinated by ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL ECONOMY GROUP(E.K.O.) in the context of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Youth Exchange programs. It took place in Athens, Greece on 14th-22nd April 2018, and involved a group fifty seven (57) young people aged 18–30, from eight (8) different countries: Greece, Estonia, Malta, Israel, Italy, Czech Republic, Russia and Turkey. The project focused on our shared cultural heritage and has been awarded with the European Year of CulturalHeritage (EYCH) logo by the European Commission. The main goal of this initiative was to inform and sensitize young people on values linked to the Olympic spirit as a message of peace building. Sports ideals and sportsmanship were regarded as a tool “at the service of the harmonious human development for the promotion of a peaceful society, which ensures the preservation of human dignity”, as it is described in the Olympic Charter. According to Pierre de Coubertin Olympism is a philosophy of life which places sports at the service of humanity. This philosophy is based on the interaction of the qualities of the body, soul and mind. Olympism is expressed through actions which link sport to culture,education and international cooperation with an emphasis on the principle of non discrimination. The history and evolution of the Olympic Games, the Olympic spirit, the “fair play”, education of body and spirit in ancient Greece, constitute issues that can sensitize youngsters with regard to the principles and values of conducting and managing a dignified life in modern societies. The objectives of this project were met with great success, through the program of workshops and activities,on the basis of methodologies and principles of non-formal education, and a series of intercultural nights and cultural visits in Athens. In particular, young people elaborated on the philosophical values of Olympic ideals and their contribution to humanism, self respect and respect to the others, equity and honorable living. Through experiential learning, dialogue and direct interaction they enhanced personal, interpersonal and multicultural competences and discovered how the eternal humanitarian values of Olympism can become a powerful tool for civil society to combat phenomena such as hate, violence, racial racism, xenophobia in a world peace building setting.
Photo gallery
