Launched in February 2024, a ground-breaking self-advocacy project titled “TwidSA: Together With and Without Disability in Self-advocacy” is about to see youth workers with and without intellectual disabilities team up across four richly diverse cultures (Croatia, France, Palestine and Egypt). This well-timed youth-to-youth initiative ticks several boxes, advancing desirable goals such as intercultural dialogue, in-depth social inclusion and sustainable development. 

Recognising both the proven track record of the partners, as well as the potentially far-reaching impact of this imaginative scheme, the EU had no hesitation in offering finance of 300k€ over 3 years, when Korablja, L’Arche International, Ma’an Lil Hayat and Caritas Egypt unveiled their joint bid.

Korablja spokesperson Miron Perić underlined the novelty and ambition of the project: ‘We are thrilled that the EU has seen the value of this progressive project. In a strong competition of over a hundred projects, TwidSA was among the 14 best-rated projects that received funding from the EU. What sets this exciting scheme apart is the combination of four key ingredients for lasting success: a proven outstanding track record of making change happen, a powerful intercultural collaboration between trusted partners, and the unfettered imaginations of young people with and without intellectual disabilities. 

The project will challenge discrimination and passivity through a cascade of widening participation by young people: each of the 24 youth workers – with and without a disability- will get high-quality transnational training in capacity building. Once they have completed the 4 modules (including one in-person session taking place in Croatia) they will have the skills and confidence to set up events reaching 1600 young people via 16 online and face-to-face webinars across the four participating countries.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of Korablja and partners only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.