Dr Giuliana Fenech from the University of Malta's Department of English is coordinating a three-year Erasmus+ HeD Cooperation Partnership Project themed, ‘Seen and Heard: Young People’s Voices and Freedom of Expression’. The project addresses a gap in current research on the role of literature and the arts in the understanding of freedom of expression as a human right, among diverse youth populations, in Europe. Through a collaboration with Humboldt University in Germany, the University of Wroclaw in Poland, and Amnesty International in Poland, Seen and Heard explores how literature is positioned in cross-sectoral projects based on human rights initiatives involving young people, while encouraging immigrant and local young people in Malta, Germany, and Poland to create their own protest piece through blended learning experiences and sustained support from researchers, educators, artists, activists, publishers, and policy makers.

More specifically the aim of the project is to establish a model for the full life cycle of a just and equitable social movement based on youth's freedom of expression in Europe. Through Seen and Heard, the young participants will better understand their human rights through stories and other forms of communication, will be more confident in expressing themselves (through a variety of media), and have faith that their voices matter. In addition, the research will offer; substantial data on human rights education and understanding of diverse young adult communities in three European countries - Malta, Poland, and Germany. It will outline the role of storytelling in establishing the importance of activism around human rights in the lives of young people; how young people understand the freedom of expression; what types of audio-visual material young people respond to; how literature can empower them to express themselves; what they understand to be a European identity; how literature and other forms of media impact their understanding of freedom of expression in Europe and what they perceive the core challenges to be.

Various activities and events will be open to academics from various disciplines, as well as educators across all levels, and the general public. For further information, kindly contact Research Support Officer Ms Sandy Calleja Portelli.