The Med Youth Network and the Réseau Euromed France (REF) in partnership with Mana Chuma Teatro launch MOB IN MED!
In June 2024, Reggio Calabria welcomed around 70 young people involved in civil society, coming from 17 Mediterranean countries for the 7th edition of the Med Youth Meeting. The event was organised by the Med Youth Network with the support of the REF (Réseau Euromed France) in close collaboration with Mana Chuma Teatro. This Meeting has paved the way for a new project, conducted by the same partners: Mob in Med!
Mob in Med! brings together 22 Euro-Mediterranean young people involved in civil society to build an awareness and advocacy campaign on the obstacles to youth mobility in the Mediterranean. This project stems from the recognition of the numerous obstacles to mobility that young people encounter during the regional activities organised by the REF. Every year, organising the Med Youth meetings turns out to be a real journey full of obstacles, various difficulties and challenges. During the last Med Youth meeting, a young Turkish woman, two Syrians, three Lebanese, and three Tunisians have not managed to reach Reggio Calabria because they were unable to obtain their visas. Moreover, two participants from Gaza could not attend due to the conflict situation in the Middle East.
It is precisely this observation that has urged the REF, the Med Youth Network and Mana Chuma to illustrate, through this campaign, what it means to travel as a young person in the Mediterranean. The aim is to shed light on the state of youth mobility in the Mediterranean, highlight the obstacles young people face, but also emphasize the positive aspects of mobility for young people in the region.
For this reason, Mob in Med! has been conceived as a project built by and for young people. 22 young people, aged between 18 and 35 were selected through a call for applications. 16 among them come from 4 European countries (France, Italy, Malta, Greece) while the other 6 come from 6 Southern Mediterranean countries (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Jordan, Palestine). They are all actively engaged in the civil societies of their countries.
The group will take part in a series of workshops including:
• An online Kickoff Meeting – held on 2 December
• An editorial workshop to define the campaign’s editorial line (online) – 22 January 2025
• An advocacy workshop (online) – 11 February 2025
• A communication and dissemination workshop (online) – March 2025
• A 3-day in-person workshop in Reggio Calabria – May 2025
Four videos will be produced, each focusing on a different territory. A graphic booklet, designed as a travel journal, will include both recommendations to improve the current situation of mobility and illustrations featuring the testimonies and itineraries of some young participants who experienced obstacles during their journey to Reggio Calabria to attend the Med Youth Meeting last June. The audiovisual and printed materials will serve as key tools for the awareness raising and advocacy campaign in the framework of this project.
The aim is to disseminate information on the state of youth mobility in the Mediterranean among the general public, civil society, institutions and governments fostering positive changes in policies and practices and thereby facilitating youth movement.
This campaign will involve partnerships with independent media at local, regional, national and Mediterranean levels.
CONTACTS:
Réseau Euromed France
Executive Director, Marion ISVI: [email protected]
Youth Project Officer, Swann HAREL: [email protected]
Mana Chuma Teatro
Communications & International Relations Manager
Elizabeth GRECH: [email protected]