Memories Across Europe

The background elements on which the project idea was based are two: - The need to develop participation in democratic life in Europe, and to enhance the sense of belonging to a United Europe, as a feeling that is certainly widespread, but at the same time put at risk by the recent emergence of anti-European movements. - The importance of individual and collective memory as a driver of participation. The idea behind Memories Across Europe is that there is a very close link between storytelling practices and active European citizenship. Through the narration and sharing of their experiences related to Europe, participants can explore the roots and meaning of this belonging. Thanks to life stories, we can also delve into European social and historical phenomena, through the direct voice of the protagonists of these events. Finally, stories can connect people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures, putting into practice that being “United in diversity”, which is the motto of the Union.

The Memories Across Europe project aimed to develop educational activities and tools for adult learners based on autobiographical and digital storytelling methodologies, aimed at contributing to a common and positive construction of the European identity, stimulating participation in democratic life in Europe, promoting the fundamental values ​​of the Union.

The project has seen the implementation of the following activities: • 4 transnational coordination meetings; • local and transnational activities for the creation of intellectual outputs; • creation of a joint training event for trainers and staff of partner organizations, dedicated to sharing methodologies and developing intellectual outputs; • creation of a training event for adult learners, held in Pieve Santo Stefano, as part of the annual archive award; • creation of local piloting activities, aimed at testing the methodologies created by the project; • creation of multiplier events in each of the partner countries; • creation of the European competition “European Stories”, for the narration of personal experiences of belonging to Europe.

R1 – MAE Tool Kit 1 – Workshops in presence – a toolkit for teachers, professionals and volunteers in adult education, containing 20 narrative paths based on autobiographical and storytelling methodologies, focused on narrating and sharing personal experiences related to the theme of Europe. R2 – MAE Toolkit 2– Remote Workshops - Remote cooperative narrative paths - a toolkit for teachers, professionals and volunteers in adult education, containing 9 activities and workshops that can be implemented remotely, focused on narrating and sharing personal experiences related to the theme of Europe. R3 - Storytelling Volunteers Training Module - A training module dedicated to all people who want to volunteer to collect memories of adults and elderly people in Europe. R4 – Memories Across Europe App (MAE App) – A tool that accompanies anyone who wants to tell a story related to the theme of Europe. R5 – MAE Platform - The MAE platform is a digital archive that hosts stories related to European memory. A final publication featuring the winners of the European Stories competition.