About Me

THE CONCEPT
Through this network, that has been informally established in 2019 during and within the DHIAfest 2019 festival (check at https://esai.gr/dhias.html relevant articles and festival documentation of 2019) and continued with a recent yoth mobility entitled as PUSH UP SPORTS AND ARTS BALKAN (e+ KA152)...

....we aim to strengthen social community, to support cultural heritage & utilize arts & creativity as a median for social activism between countries of the Balkan Peninsula (Greece, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania). The Balkans, also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographic area in Southeast Europe with various definitions & meanings, geopolitical & historical. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the whole of Bulgaria from the Serbian–Bulgarian border to the Black Sea coast. The Balkan Peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic Sea in the northwest, the Ionian Sea in the southwest, the Aegean Sea in the south, the Turkish Straits in the east, & the Black Sea in the northeast. The northern border of the peninsula is variously defined. The Balkans was best known for minority problems. Today, the most bitter conflicts are between parties that appeal to majority ethnic communities. New generation playa a crucial role to the stability of Europe and to an optimistic future. Cultural heritage empowerment is essential for setting cities and human settlements in inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable frames & facilitates cultural and natural heritage" safeguard. Thus, the current project focuses in cultural identity & its importance for sociopolitical stability & moreover, personal development. By developing a strong core of our own cultural history & traditions we build a positive cultural identity for ourselves, gain a sense of belonging & facilitate our overall well-being. Thus, cultural identification facilitates the individual's social connections & a sense of belonging to the community; current communities are usually multi-diverse in European countries, BALKAN regions included. Having a positive sense of belonging helps youth to move between cultures with greater ease and confidence, increasing their engagement. In turn, belonging builds youngster’s self-esteem and resilience, & reduces the likelihood to experience depression or anxiety disorders. Fewer opportunity profiles are more evident to cultural minorities, pretty many in Balkan region. The identification of ourselves with our historical & geopolitical heritage is extremely significant to strengthen individualism and self-awareness. A defined cultural identity is important for our mental health & well-being. Cultural heritage plays a marginal role in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. THE PURPOSE Common values, customs and traditions, familiarities in sociocultural profiles and lifestyles co-define the Balkan core, resembling to mosaic. The approach of Balkan Cultural identification as it is conceptualized by our youth will be the main purpose of the project. The main aim of the project is the special identity & common values, customs and traditions, sociocultural profiles and lifestyles across Balkan countries by POPing UP BALKAN ARTS (that is how comes up the title of our project: (PUAB). The project facilitates “building on past experience & looking towards the future”. Through discussions about culture & society, customs & traditions, we promote the development and external policy objectives & principles, as national ownership, social cohesion, equity, proper geographical balance & diversity. Within partners, there are least developed countries as well as youth with fewer opportunities from poor socio-economic backgrounds & cultural minorities. Moreover, the project directly promotes non-formal learning & cooperation in the field of youth with Partner Countries