EU Diversity Voices

Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) project EU Diversity Voices:

Amplifying Europe’s LGBTQI+, Minorities, Women and the Unheard Voices aims to foster transnational cooperation by increasing awareness of the EU’s historical achievements in human rights protection and connecting these milestones with contemporary challenges at local, regional, national and international levels.

About

EU Diversity Voices will organize seven events across seven countries to achieve project mission. Each event will highlight the importance of shared history, culture, and cultural heritage while reinforcing core European values – particularly those related to human rights and freedoms. Additionally, these gatherings will encourage civic and democratic participation, helping to sustain and strengthen open, democratic, equitable and inclusive societies founded on the rule of law.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) 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.

– Increase awareness among vulnerable populations about their rights and freedoms as well as about the existence of supportive institutions so that they know how to seek protection and pursue justice when their rights are being violated,

– Increase awareness among European citizens of the protection of Fundamental Human Rights,

– Promote the EU achievements in Human Rights,

– Engage European citizens in combating racism, antisemitism, antigypsyism, and all types of intolerance so that they will contribute to the long-lasting positive change,

– Draw the attention to the activities and achievements of human rights institutions to ensure that they continue their work, remain accountable and effective in their interest,

– Promote cooperation among nations in addressing transnational issues and encourage the spread of successful policies, effective strategies and best practices across different countries,

– Spread awareness about the general ongoing challenges including discrimination, violence, hate speech as well as share knowledge about detrimental struggles of each of the marginalized groups, namely:

  1. Woman – gender disparities, wage gaps, limited access to leadership roles, gender mainstreaming
  2. LGBTQI+ – legal recognition of gender changes, the right to marry and adopt children
  3. Migrants – employment discrimination, restricted access to essential services

– Foster public support for human rights and empower organizations, and activists to fight for policy reforms that strengthen the protection of fundamental rights,

– Provide policymakers and legislators with accurate, up-to-date data on fundamental issues so that they can adjust their policies and strategies accordingly.

Map of events

Meet the project team

Fundacja Parasol

NGO providing a wide range of different educational programs and personal development opportunities for various groups, including seniors, adults, unemployed individuals, youth, and people at risk of social exclusion. One of our main activities is language teaching, particularly in English and German. Additionally, we organize workshops for seniors, vocational training courses, and training in distance and digital learning. Our educational methods align with innovative approaches such as lifelong learning, blended learning, and e-learning. To ensure the highest quality of our services, we collaborate with local authorities, freelance teachers, and various external experts, including methodologists, ICT specialists, psychologists, trainers and coaches. Our second area of activity involves the design, development, and implementation of e-learning products and software. We provide e-learning solutions, training and services for different educational sectors and diverse target groups.

Funding

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) 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.

Solution: Solidarité & Inclusion

NGO based in Paris carrying out educational activities to promote social inclusion and cohesion, focusing on the inclusion of vulnerable groups, especially migrant women. Solution operates in a multicultural and socially complex environment, as in Paris and its suburbs there are more than 100 different ethnic communities whose younger adults may face economic difficulties, as well as social and labor exclusion. In the framework of the project, they will involve Algerian-French women. Solution’s mission is to propose to these people non-formal education activities bringing together different publics and stimulating, this way, intercultural and intergenerational dialogue while promoting the acquisition of soft and hard skills useful for professional and social purposes.

Associação Check-IN

Cooperação e Desenvolvimento is a non-profit organization, founded in 2010, based in Beja and also operating in Lisbon (Portugal). The NGO works in close cooperation with public and private entities, actively participating in quality of life improvement activities. Check-IN works with people of diverse ages and characteristics. Our target age groups and learner characteristics are: Kids (13-18yo – high school students): supports and engages the students seeking education, career assistance, and personal development are often in this age range; Young people (NEET; fewer opportunities -13-30yo): empowering by improving their personal and professional skills and increasing community engagement; Active entrepreneurs (+18yo): to create a varied and vibrant learning community that fosters education, business, and personal growth at various life phases by meeting the requirements of learners across these age groups and profiles.

Le Tre Ghine

Organisation from Italy born from a team of people, mostly women, with experience and training in activism, education and awareness regarding issues related to social inclusion of disadvantaged people, gender equality and LGBTQ rights, from a transfeminist perspective. It aims at activating and supporting the processes of emancipation and self-determination of each person, with particular attention to those in a state of vulnerability, through the fight against all forms of sexism, gender violence, homotransphobia, exclusion, discrimination, racism, xenophobia and through the promotion of universal access to knowledge, equality, interculturalism and the gender approach as the cornerstone of an anti-patriarchal society.

Learning Seed

Non-Formal Education and Civil Society Organisation based in Argos, Greece, focusing on youth, gender mainstreaming, anti-discrimination and active citizenship. Our initiatives nclude empowering women, providing educational opportunities for marginalized groups, and fostering social inclusion through experiential learning and community engagement. We work to inspire and mobilize the local community, advocating for lifelong learning, equality, and respect for diversity. LEARNING SEED has a robust background in executing Erasmus+ projects aimed at promoting gender equality and empowering women.

NGO Nest Berlin

Umbrella organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating transnational mobility. It champions the advancement of non-formal education methods and cultivates synergies among formal, non-formal and informal educational methodologies and environments. Our primary focus is on disseminating projects, where we take on the role of coordinator. Additionally, we have extensive experience in developing training formats and e-learning platforms to support multiple initiatives. NGO NEST BERLIN has been working in the CERV EURban Deco, addresses the colonial legacy of Europe’s recent past and its impact on local cities and societies, in CERV VOC (Voice of Change), focuses on combating the disengagement of young people from traditional forms of democratic participation, particularly among girls with migrant backgrounds.

European Diversity Voices

Amplifying Europe’s LGBTQI+, Minority, Women and the Unheard Voices aims to foster transnational cooperation by increasing awareness of the EU’s historical achievements in human rights protection and connecting these milestones with contemporary challenges at local, regional, national and international levels.

We will organize seven events across seven countries to achieve project mission. Each event will highlight the importance of shared history, culture, and cultural heritage while reinforcing core European values – particularly those related to human rights and freedoms. Additionally, these gatherings will encourage civic and democratic participation, helping to sustain and strengthen open, democratic, equitable and inclusive societies founded on the rule of law.

Freyr

Institute is organizing training, conferences, seminars for young people on human rights (gender equality, “no one is born to hate’ campaigns, civil and political rights, human right in digital era – cyberbullying, digital footprint, online child protection, age equality), global citizenship (environmental literacy, media and information literacy, global migration, diversity and multiculturalism). FREYR Institute has a special focus on people with fewer possibilities, with a migrant or refugee background, low-skilled, NEETs, at risk of social exclusion and marginalisation. We aim to empower our beneficiaries, connect and integrate them as global citizens. FREYR Institute is well connected to the local society, public and private organisations and bodies, and have strong ties in the local communities.

News

Articles

Human Rights

Beja, Portugal

Making Space
for Women and Girls

Rome, Italy

Gender Mainstreaming

Poznan, Polska

Beja speaks with many voices

A report from the first international conference “Desconstruir os Direitos Humanos”

In June 2025, the small, sunny city of Beja in southern Portugal became for a moment the European center of conversation about what is most important – humanity, dignity and justice. It was there that the first international conference “Desconstruir os Direitos Humanos” took place, as part of the EU Diversity Voices project financed by the European Union under the CERV program. The conference was not academic in nature, although it did not lack substance. It was not political either, although it talked about fundamental things. It was – above all – human.

A meeting place, not an intersection

Beja, a city with a multicultural history became the perfect stage for a conversation about diversity. Guests came to the meeting from all over Europe – from Germany, Italy, France, Poland, Greece, Denmark. Each of them brought their own experiences, but also a common goal: to amplify the voices of those who are not heard. For two days, participants debated racism, migration, gender equality, the rights of people with disabilities and building inclusive societies. It sounded loud but never shrill – rather like a multi-voiced choir of differences.

 Faces of Change

People who work in local communities on a daily basis – educators, activists, artists – spoke at panels and workshops:

  • Madalena Palma from Associação ESTAR recalled the history of grassroots work with children and young people.
  • Deolinda Zacarias, leader of the Shave E9G project within the Portuguese Programa Escolhas, showed how music and sport are becoming tools for social change in the Bairro da Esperança district.

 In parallel to the panels, there were mesas redondas – open debates on discrimination, migration, women’s rights and the inclusion of people with disabilities, led by Ana Ademar, Teresa Vargas and Inês Féria, among others.

 Culture as the language of law

One of the most important highlights of the conference was the photography exhibition. As the organizers reminded us: “music, image, movement – these are forms that break down linguistic and social barriers faster than documents and laws”.

When the conference ends, work begins

The participants left Beja with specific recommendations, a network of contacts and a sense that they are not alone. Although the conference lasted two days, its echoes will be heard for a long time – in local projects, new partnerships and activities in communities. In a world where there is so much talk about divisions, Beja showed the opposite: that Europe can meet not only in capitals, but also in smaller towns, far from cities. That change does not have to come from above – it can start with the residents of local neighborhoods, an artist from a small association, a teacher who believes in equality.

And above all – that diversity is wealth.

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Address

Fundacja Parasol
Franciszka Ratajczaka Street 20/18A
61-815 Poznań Polska

Open Hours

Monday – Thursday: 10am – 4pm
Friday: you are welcome after prior phone contact and appointment.