Hestía | Belonging Through Community Theatre

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Introduction

Community theatre is a powerful tool for social inclusion, cultural participation, and youth engagement. The Hestía Project: Belonging Through Community Theatre was developed to exchange best practices in youth work through community theatre. Funded by Erasmus+, this initiative ran from April 1, 2021, to November 30, 2022, across three European countries.

Background and Objectives

Hestía was founded on the idea that community theatre can strengthen social inclusion, particularly among young people. The partner organizations, specializing in youth work, arts, and community development, collaborated to develop tools to foster community building through cultural participation.

Each partner brought unique expertise to the project:

  • Spain – Community theatre
  • Ireland – Devising theatre
  • Greece – Physical theatre and public space performances

The project aimed to:

  1. Exchange best practices through study visits and skill development in community theatre and youth work.
  2. Encourage youth participation in local communities via intercultural mobility and artistic expression.
  3. Equip youth workers and theatre makers with new competencies in inclusion and community engagement.
  4. Create a video documentary to showcase the project’s impact at both national and European levels.

Project Implementation

Hestía was structured around transnational activities, focusing on skill-sharing and inclusive community theatre practices.

  • Study Visits – Conducted in each partner country, focusing on their respective expertise. These visits enhanced international collaboration and strengthened the quality of youth work.
  • Youth Exchange Programme – This initiative helped young people develop new skills, engage with their communities, and participate in a public performance.
  • Video Documentation – The project was recorded by filmmakers and made available on YouTube with English subtitles, offering an accessible way to share the project’s results.

Throughout the project, continuous monitoring and internal questionnaires ensured that planned objectives were met and that youth workers effectively developed new competencies.

Key Outcomes and Impact

The Hestía Project resulted in significant achievements at both the individual and organizational levels:

  1. Enhanced Collaboration – Partner organizations expanded their networks and strengthened their ability to implement innovative Erasmus+ projects.
  2. Skill Development for Youth Workers and Artists – Participants gained competencies in inclusive youth programs, improving their employability and motivation to initiate new social and cultural projects.
  3. Youth Empowerment – Young participants developed their self-expression, creativity, and critical thinking through community theatre. They also built cultural and social connections, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and active citizenship.
  4. Public Engagement – The project’s final performances were open to the public, allowing the broader community to engage with and benefit from the initiative.

Conclusion

The Hestía Project successfully demonstrated the transformative power of community theatre in youth work. By fostering inclusion, creativity, and intercultural collaboration, Hestía has left a lasting impact on both youth workers and young participants. Its legacy continues through the video documentary and the strengthened networks among partners, ensuring that these practices will inspire future initiatives in community theatre and social inclusion.

 

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