This project gathered 50 young people of 10 different ethnic groups from Banat region, who travelled in the period of 26 August – 5 September 2005 through the following countries: Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria. The aim of the project was to support young people in discovering the cultural heritage of the minorities in Banat and reflecting on the co-habitation of different ethnic groups in the region.

The participants had the opportunity to travel to the neighbouring countries related to these ethnic groups and to present the cultural mosaic of Banat in an interactive way, through events organised in various cities in the countries visited. These presentations were based on the methods of social animation.

The main objectives of the project were:

• Developing a better understanding between minorities in Banat and between minorities and the majority;
• Promoting Banat’s ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity at national and international level, as well as its intercultural traditions, its inter-ethnic and inter-religious tradition of co-habitation;
• Creating a framework for young people from different ethnic groups to collaborate, to learn about themselves and about the others;
• Learning about the main aspects of cultural heritage of the minorities in Banat and of Banat in general, as a region of inter-ethnic co-habitation and collaboration;
• Presenting this heritage and the results of the project at local, national and international level with the aim to inform public policies, civil society and academia with regards to inter-ethnic relations.

The project was implemented by the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara in partnership with: Civic Parliament of Vrsac, Serbia, Pro Europe League Satu Mare, Romania and Association of the Promotion of Education and Culture Uzhhorod, Ukraine.

A presentation of the project is available here.