Coexistence - Leadership NAMAL

In this special program students will elect groups of youth as agents of social cohesion in order to raise the sense of community in different environments in their lives. Instead of working with existing leadership programs, where the participants are chosen by teacher or based on their campaign, we ask the children, who is reducing suffering and making people feel together. The activities of these groups, which are consisting of one boy and one girl of each class increased the feeling of belonging to the school and the community, as well as it influenced their classmates. Furthermore, we establish a toolbox that can be used against exclusion, alienation and indifference. One of the important fundamentals of this project was to create a multi-sector infrastructure, established by the cohesion groups working in 6 schools and different informal education fields. Over 90% oft the participants described their experience as very meaningful. When comparing the program to other formal and informal frameworks they participate in, they emphasized the program´s uniqueness, genuineness, innovation and its influence on perceptions and awareness of social aspects, which are not discussed elsewhere. They also noted the guidance and how the material and meetings were organized, which was both creative and light, and yet profound. Approximately 50% oft he participants reported that they experienced a meaningful change following the program, and the other 50% claimed that the program rein-forced elements and characteristics they already had.