REFLECT: Rediscovering the Self Through the Other

The project aimed to develop inclusive educational tools, widen the pedagogical offer of the partner organisations, and empower adult migrants through creative, embodied learning. Our objectives i...

The project aimed to develop inclusive educational tools, widen the pedagogical offer of the partner organisations, and empower adult migrants through creative, embodied learning. Our objectives included: (1) Exchanging and developing facilitation methods rooted in improvisation and process-oriented psychology; (2) Building an accessible, open-source digital toolkit for adult educators; (3) Engaging migrant communities in socially inclusive arts workshops and performances; (4) Strengthening a long-term partnership between Icelandic and Polish organisations; and (5) Promoting inclusion, diversity, and cross-cultural dialogue through embodied artistic processes. Ultimately, we sought to demonstrate how non-formal arts education can foster empowerment, connection, and visibility for communities at risk of marginalisation.

We implemented a rich sequence of collaborative, artistic, and community-based activities. The project began with online preparatory meetings and a site visit in Warsaw to align methods and create a recruitment strategy. This was followed by a trainer exchange in Poland, where educators observed local workshops and co-facilitated a laboratory. Each partner led community-based workshops with migrant adults—Dansverkstæðið in Iceland and FSW in Poland—using somatic, theatrical, and process-oriented tools. These workshops culminated in public performances co-created by participants. We also held a mid-term planning meeting in Iceland, engaged in regular project coordination and reflective evaluation, and initiated the development of a digital open-access educational toolkit. Each activity reinforced collaboration, method exchange, and inclusive practice.

REFLECT delivered impactful results across four levels: pedagogical, community, organisational, and digital. We co-developed and tested inclusive methods through over 100 hours of workshops and community performances, directly engaging over 40 participants from migrant backgrounds. Two immersive, public performances were created—one in Reykjavik, one in Warsaw—empowering participants as co-authors. We significantly broadened the educational offers of both partner organisations and strengthened their capacity to work across cultures. The digital toolkit, currently in development, will ensure long-term dissemination of our methods. We also produced video documentation, built sustainable cross-sector networks, and laid the foundation for future collaboration. All planned objectives were met or exceeded, and the project created lasting impact for participants, educators, and communities.