British Council - Examples of EU-funded projects

EAST ASIA

Stages of Change: Solomon Islands community visual theatre project (312,000 EUR, EU funded, 01/03/2013 - 01/03/2015)

Overall Objective: empower women to participate more effectively in civil society and to change attitudes and responses within the Solomon society regarding violence against women. 

Specific Objectives (SO)

• SO1: to enhance the network of local and cross-provincial cooperation capacities of gender-based CSOs to create a strategic response to violence against women and the promotion of women’s rights;
• SO2: to develop the use of theatre and media to raise awareness about gender issues and to engage communities in discussing the causes of violence against women and disregard for women’s rights; and
• SO3: to empower women through theatre and media techniques to increase their self-confidence and participation in public life and debates.

Outputs: creation of a book (bilingual Pidgin and English), community theatre tool kit, and documentary to amplify reach, engagement and visibility. 400 copies of the book have been distributed regionally and globally, and the full-length documentary has screened on national television in five Pacific countries.

Results: SoC empowered the women involved in the theatre group, giving them greater confidence and strength to pass on their newly-found skills to their own NGOs and communities. It also began changing attitudes and responses to violence against women in the Solomon Islands by opening up spaces for public dialogue in a culturally appropriate and non-judgmental manner. Its impact was such that a senior male Ministerial official from the SI wrote a letter thanking the Project for its contributions toward reducing violence against women in the SI. The methodology was embedded in local culture/kustom and changes beliefs, behaviours and practices within that context, rather than running counter to it. It engaged with marginalised groups and with leaders, bringing both groups together in order to effect change. 

LATIN AMERICA

Busca Tu Espacio - The use of public spaces to encourage cultural, educational and social participation of young people at risk in Venezuela (491.359,80 EUR, EU funded, 12/05/2013 to 31/12/2016)

The overall objective of this action is to contribute to the mitigation of poverty and to incentivize the active civic engagement in Venezuela by increasing the participation of young people at risk (popular urban sectors) in local cultural, educational and social/civic activities (multidisciplinary activities).

Specific objectives:

• Carry out a pilot project in Gran Caracas in order to strengthen crime prevention and social cohesion in the communities.
• Use artistic skills development as a means of increasing civic participation of young people and providing alternatives to crime
• Strengthen dialogue and communication among local authorities and civil society/young people in relation to the urban local development.

Estimated results:

• Young people at risk will have strengthened their skills, confidence and public awareness
• Physical space available to help young people at risk to develop artistic, educational and social activities
• Better use of a higher number of public or/and private physical spaces abandoned or underutilized  
• Communities more socially cohesive and more actively involved in public interaction
• An enhanced dialogue among local authorities and young people groups/ groups and civil society

NORTH AFRICA

Libya Street Theatre (300,000 EUR, EU funded, 2013-2015)

Overall objective: to activate public spaces for discussion and cultural expression by bringing theatre into public space.

Specific objectives: to raise the profile of street theatre as a new participatory art form in Libya, to increase public access to the arts, and to re-invigorate public space and artistic practice post-conflict.

Results: The Libyan Street Theatre project allowed a new form of artistic expression to enter the Libyan art scene while creating a safe public space for public participation and artistic expression.  Through workshops and final public performances in 2013-14, reaching Libyans unable to access mainstream theatre, the project increased access to the arts, enhanced capacity of National Theatre Libya and supported creativity and expression through cross cultural exchange and mentoring; capacity building; and creating safe public space.

SUB SAHARAN AFRICA

Horn of Africa Leadership and Learning for Action (HOLLA) (EU funded)

Overall objective: contribute to the promotion of peace and development in the Horn of Africa (HoA) and enhance resilience to conflict in Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Specific objectives: To support the establishment of a capacitated, empowered, genuinely youth-led coalition which will deliver a national programme of youth-led initiatives, including sports, arts, cultural and peace building activities. This will be achieved through the capacity building of civil society organisations and the promotion of a Youth Coalition supporting young people and communities.

Results: The project included a series of capacity-building workshops with young people in the Horn of Africa led by Akala and The Hip Hop Shakespeare Company, The workshops are designed to use Shakespeare as a platform to address socioeconomic and youth related issues through dance and hip hop. This project aims to inspire youth specifically and communities at large on diversity, coexistence and creativity through Shakespeare by:

• Developing youth skills in communication and creative thinking using Shakespeare methodologies 
• Connecting youth to Shakespeare using  modern art forms such as hip hop and Jazz 
• Connecting Shakespeare to modern day challenges and proposing Shakespeare inspired solutions through the arts