Young people and intercultural dialogue

1
Young people and intercultural dialogue

• EYCAdemy Research 2007/2008

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The project EYCAdemy

• EYCAdemy is a comparative qualitative European
  youth research project. The method used for the
  research are focus group discussions.
• Focus group research is a qualitative method that
  helps to discover thoughts that are not obvious.
  In focus groups you get answers to questions you
  did not ask The open-ended interaction in focus
  groups leads to stimulation of thoughts and
  emotions, to the revelation of material which is
  not ordinarily forthcoming in an individual
  interview. Focus groups furthermore allow
  examination of how people in various roles
  interact, and the observation of important
  behaviour.
• For focus group research the definition of the
  sample is of outmost importance, since
  qualitative research does not aim for
  representative results. Nevertheless the sample
  is drawn according the needs of the research to
  cover various groups and to create homogeneous
  group settings for each single discussion round
  at the same time.
• For the EYCAdemy project young social researchers
  from different countries are specially trained in
  two sessions to organise, moderate and analyse
  focus groups.
• In the first training session the trainees are
  intensively trained in the moderation of focus
  groups, in defining the research sample and
  guidelines. In their home countries the
  participants conduct research on a chosen topic.
  The second session aims to create an
  international report, comparing the national
  reports and defining patterns and differences.
• The final report was completed by Manfred
  Zentner, who lead the research project.
• The topic of the EYCAdemy project 2007/08 was
  Young people and intercultural dialogue.

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RESEARCH DESIGN

• 460 young people participated in 62 focus groups
  all over Europe.
• The research was carried out in
• Andorra (And)
• Czech Republic (CZ)
• England (Eng)
• Estonia (Est)
• Netherlands (Ned)
• Poland (PL)
• Romania (Rom)
• Russia (Rus)
• Serbia (Ser)
• Turkey (Tur) and
• Wales.

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RESEARCH DESIGN

• The sample for the research is defined through
• a) education (high allows direct university
  entry and normally most of the students go to
  university low vocational schools, work,
  school dropouts),
• b) age (15 to 26 with the break at the age of
  possible end of high school and entry to
  university),
• c) experience with projects for intercultural
  dialogue (like the EU-programmes Youth, Youth In
  Action, Sokrates, Leonardo, Erasmus or other
  exchange projects as well as projects directly
  targeting intercultural dialogue) and
• d) origin (rural or city, whereas city is
  defined as a town where all facilities important
  for young people are located all kinds of
  schools, university or other high education,
  leisure time facilities).
• To provide a good talk situation the groups are
  divided as follows
• 15 to the age of university entry / low education
  / city / no experience
• 15 university / high education / city / no
  experience
• University 26 / students high / city / no
  experience
• University 26 / work low / city / no
  experience
• University 26 / education mix / origin variable
  / experience
• 15 uni or uni 26 / education mix / rural /
  experience variable

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RESULTS

• For the report, the results of the research topic
  are summed up in the following chapters Personal
  contact to other cultures, Differences in
  culture, Benefit of contact with other cultures,
  Understanding of the term intercultural
  dialogue, Projects for intercultural dialogue,
  Conclusions.
• The results are illustrated by verbatim quotes
  from the different focus groups held in the
  participating countries.
• Guidelines about conducting focus groups on this
  specific topic for the moderators are attached to
  this presentation.
• For country details please refer to the country
  reports.

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Personal contact with other cultures

• In all countries the focus group participants
  had already contact with people from another
  culture, even if it was not immediately obvious
  to them. Many participants disagreed that they
  met people from other cultures when the topic was
  discussed the first time but after some thinking
  about the theme they agreed.
• Young people mostly thought that they meet
  people from other cultures while being abroad
  as tourists or in exchange programmes. But in
  most of the countries also residents of the given
  country were mentioned. This tendency was the
  weakest in Poland and Turkey and the strongest in
  the Netherlands.
• It was mentioned that in their own country young
  people have the chance to get in contact with
  other cultures when they meet migrants or
  representatives of minorities. These meetings can
  happen in everyday life (schools, universities,
  work, neighbourhood) or on a less regular basis
  when going to other parts of their city or
  country.
• These encounters were not perceived as positive
  in all countries. Especially the perception of
  young people from minorities (Hungarians in
  Serbia and Romania, Roma in Romania and the Czech
  Republic, Russians in Estonia, Caucasian in
  Russia) was characterised by prejudices.
• It was interesting to notice that in
  multicultural settings induced by historically
  caused migration (England-Newcastle,
  Netherlands-Utrecht) the perception of different
  cultures in everyday life was not as obvious as
  expected. It seems that daily contact with people
  from a different cultural background leads to
  more acceptance.
• In general, the focus group participants shared
  the opinion that it is valuable to get in contact
  with people from other cultures because getting
  to know other cultures helps to reduce prejudices.

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Personal contact to other cultures quotations

• In bigger places you get a bigger variety of
  people but not around here being up north and
  rural. (Est)
• I really have very little contact with other
  cultures, and I regret that because I live in an
  area that has many foreigners. In my school
  however, well I think there are two kids in my
  class that are from a foreign background. (Ned)
• I have a friend from Latvia, I also
  communicated with guys from other European
  countries people are so calm, nothing like here
  in Russia. We always worry about different stuff,
  fuss about difficulties and tend to turn even
  small obstacles into great trouble. People there
  have a well-regulated life, they are pretty and
  happy to be who they are. (Rus)
• Since I have started to study, every year,
  every summer-break I work in London. And I always
  share flat with people from other countries
  China, Pakistan, Czech Republic. It is more fun
  to live with them than to live with other Polish
  people. (PL)
• In Dublin, I was living with Chinese, working
  with people from India, partying with Irish and
  at the university there was a mix of almost all
  cultures and that was great! (PL)
• In Estonia there are people from many different
  nationalities, but I havent been in too much
  contact with them. (Est)
• Yes, I mean if you look around. She looks
  around the circle She comes from Palestine. She
  comes from Cape Verde. She in turn comes from
  Ghana, therefore... (Ned)
• You dont have to go abroad to compare
  different cultures (Eng)

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Differences in culture

• The main differences mentioned by young people
  were language, values, religion, food, customs
  and a general way of life as well as the attitude
  towards life. Also the sense of humour was
  mentioned.
• One can find noticeable similarities in the
  perception of differences. Whereas the young
  people in the English groups could not find many
  differences because in the end all people are
  more or less similar young people in Russia and
  Estonia pointed to big differences in the
  attitude of life between them and western resp.
  south-western Europeans They are more polite,
  more relaxed and more open.
• It was a general outcome that people from other
  countries have a different way of life, but this
  was normally not stated for the neighbouring
  countries except in Serbia and if minorities of
  these neighbouring countries were residents in
  the own country.
• Religion was seen as big reason for differences
  but not the belief itself but the way people
  practice their religion.
• Some Turkish young people as well as some
  Romanians mentioned that they felt prejudice
  against them when being abroad.
• The focus group participants saw reasons for
  existing differences in the upbringing of
  children, the heredity and the resulting local
  customs.

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Differences in culture quotations

• In Switzerland they give four kisses when
  greeting, I thought it was funny. (And)
• If you find a topic for discussion it doesnt
  matter from which nationality the person is.
  (Est)
• Very small things that you are not aware of at
  the beginning, such as giving your left hand to a
  Muslim or to someone from Iran. These sort of
  things, if you dont know the meaning of these
  then you have no idea that they could be
  insulting to someone else. (Ned)
• The Arabs, they are ready to kill themselves
  for a cause and become extremely violent if you
  say anything wrong about their religion. (Rom)
• I think the main difference is in being
  free-hearted. For example in the south people I
  met are more free, friendlier and crazier, in
  the north they are closed. (CZ)
• Italians are very religious. They pray all the
  time. (Ser)
• At first the person from another culture seems
  to be an ordinary person, but at some point you
  see what strange things he/she is doing, but when
  you are with him/her longer together, the person
  turns back to ordinary again. I guess it is just
  a process of getting used to. (Est)
• The people abroad are more free. Their customs
  and habits are different and they are usually
  polite and friendly. We do not approach people on
  the street. We dont understand this. But this
  comes from home and culture. (Est)
• Estonians struggle with everything too much and
  live for the future. We should learn from the
  Spanish to live now and not for feeling good in
  30-40 years. (Est)

10
Benefit of contact with other cultures

• In all the groups participants mentioned
  benefits of intercultural contact. The benefits
  can be more or less divided into two areas
  personal development and increasing tolerance.
• Personal development is achieved on one hand
  because of an improvement of language skills if
  you meet people from other countries. If young
  people stay for a longer period in a foreign
  country this is also a positive aspect for future
  job perspectives. Beside that also soft skills
  improve because of an increasing knowledge. Via
  personal experience one learns that cultures are
  not always as presented in the media.
• This leads to the big benefit for society as a
  whole increasing tolerance and decreasing racism
  and prejudices lead toward a reduction of
  tensions and the diminution of the chance for a
  conflict.
• No big differences in the perception of the
  benefits were to be found in between the
  different groups inside the countries Higher
  educated people stressed a little bit more the
  fact of achieving language skills. The benefits
  for society were seen alike only expressed in
  different ways Whereas the young people from the
  higher educated groups used terms as tolerance
  the others described the same phenomenon by using
  expressions like understanding that all young
  people are similar.
• For young people with a different cultural
  background than the majority in a country the
  contact with people from the mainstream culture
  also provides the opportunity to correct wrong
  perceptions and to fight prejudice.

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Benefit of contact with other cultures 2

• Beside these benefits also a higher appreciation
  of their own country, their own living conditions
  and their own culture was mentioned in all
  countries.
• In general it was pointed out that personal
  benefits sum up to a benefit for the whole
  society. But it is interesting to note that in
  the Serbian groups it was mentioned that the
  contact to other cultures benefits on personal
  level and on the level of society but the
  interests of the politicians are sometimes
  independent of this development.
• But not only positive aspects were pointed out
  in some groups it was mentioned that it might
  lead to conflicts if too many people from other
  cultures are migrating to a given country and do
  not / try not to accept the customs and values of
  the new home.
• In connection to this the fear of losing their
  own culture was also mentioned in some groups.
  Especially the fear of getting americanised was
  mentioned in some countries.
• On the other hand an important impact on society
  is seen in the possibility of economical
  development of the country if foreign companies
  invest. This might furthermore lead to more
  political stability.

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Benefit quotations

• Being aware of equality between people unifies
  human beings. (And)
• I can challenge racism with an informed view
  (Eng)
• It broadens your mind about the world you go
  somewhere and come back and are happier. (Est)
• By being able to understand and experience each
  others lifestyles and respect each others
  values, communities can become closer and have
  more to share. (Wales)
• What you see nowadays on the news is Moroccan
  this, Turk that, Surinamese this, Antillean that.
  You dont hear the positive things, only negative
  ones. (Ned)
• It is when you have met other people and
  countries that you realize how small you actually
  are. (Ser)
• By staying abroad we can develop language
  skills, for example accent and slang. (PL)
• Meeting people from different cultures changes
  personal points of view. It is possible to
  decrease, even to overcome prejudices. For
  example, Ive been once in Mardin, it was a
  village where Kurdish people live mainly. I
  really experienced that we shouldnt think
  negatively about them, we are not different and I
  noticed we are a part of a combined culture.
  (Tur)
• Differences between cultures make every culture
  richer. But, they shouldnt merge, so they
  shouldnt lose their particularities. (Tur)
• appreciate what we have (And)

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Benefit quotations 2

• ACCEPTANCE in capital letters, to avoid things
  like World War II, thanks to acceptance. (And)
• If we become more opened, then the society will
  also be more open. It is like a snowball effect.
  (Est)
• We were excluded from the rest of the world,
  and that was destructive. (Ser)
• We can reap benefits at an economic level
  its an opportunity to promote Polish culture.
  (PL)
• In the situation as it is now between the
  Romanians and the Italians if an exchange was
  made, or if they the Italians knew other
  Romanians, they would see they are not all like
  that. (Rom)
• You go in person, but when you return, you tell
  others what youve seen, and automatically
  everybody around you starts to change. (Rom)
• People are growing more individualistic and
  more envious they do not feel so much a part of
  a specific community anymore. (Rom)
• Definitely, society can learn something new
  from other cultures. (Cz)
• Some traditions in this country have been lost
  along the way. (Eng)

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Understanding of the term intercultural dialogue

• Even though all the people participating in the
  research had experience in contact with other
  cultures and even though the vast majority of the
  participants saw these encounters positive for
  themselves and for society, the term
  intercultural dialogue was by the lower educated
  groups mostly not understood correctly.
• The meaning of this expression was not clear to
  all.
• Explanations of the term ranged from a correct
  description to a discussion between
  representatives of different cultures and to a
  communication training.
• It was sometimes seen as a typical
  bureaucratic or scientific expression which is
  politically correct but has no or little content.
  Especially in Andorra the connection to
  politicians was pointed out and that gave a bad
  impression of intercultural dialogue.
• Also some stated that because of the connection
  to the official terminology some groups of people
  in society would be excluded from special
  projects of intercultural dialogue just because
  they are not interested whenever they think it is
  official or political.
• When the meaning of the term was explained in
  the groups by the moderators almost everybody
  agreed that intercultural dialogue is important,
  They emphasized the possibility to meet with
  people from other cultures and to reduce the
  chance for conflicts.
• The aims of intercultural dialogue are seen in
  knowledge and understanding which lead to
  tolerance and acceptance and eventually to the
  reduction of racism.

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Intercultural dialogue quotations

• Very politically correct, but give this term a
  normal name so that people can understand it.
  (Ned)
• Negotiation in order to work a solution on
  global problems. (Rus)
• For me, intercultural dialogue is bringing
  together the richness of the different cultures
  and learning from each other... (Tur)
• Intercultural dialogue is equal communication.
  On an individual level it takes place also now in
  the focus group, when we all evaluate each others
  culture. Me as a cultural phenomenon (Est)
• For me, dialogue is overcoming the barriers,
  finding similarities and elimination of faults.
  (PL)
• Its related to migration, how to integrate
  newcomers, to what level we should assimilate
  them. (PL)
• I can also imagine that in such an
  inter-cultural dialogue where there are so many
  people from different cultures, there are people
  who dont even understand the concept. I think
  that this might exclude a lot of people. (Ned)
• For instance, an artist from France is
  encouraged to work with some Russian gallery,
  theatre, museum so on. And this artist putting
  his entire soul into his creation. This is
  Intercultural dialogue. (Rus)
• Neither government, nor social authorities are
  able to work out a solution on this difficult
  situation, people themselves are in charge of
  their future, first of all they have to realize
  it personally. We need to pay much more attention
  to the upbringing of younger generations and to
  fostering democratic values and tolerance towards
  other nations. (Rus)

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Intercultural dialogue quotations 2

• Its important to learn about the philosophy of
  other cultures, not only their traditions,
  gastronomy, etc. in order to understand their way
  of thinking. (And)
• Intercultural dialogue is not important. I am
  afraid that soon we will be all one big European
  mass. (Est)
• I think its a good concept and I agree with
  it. But the name does little for me as it makes
  it sound boring and too intellectual for many
  young people to even bother taking it on board.
  (Wales)
• Just take a look at our Parliament and youll
  see whether our people are ready for any kind of
  dialogue. (Ser)
• If there were cooperation with Albanians
  before, maybe we wouldnt have this situation
  today. (Ser)
• Intercultural dialogue is essential and
  unavoidable, its a natural process, a
  consequence of cultural development. (PL)
• Many conflicts with Arabs are the results of
  lack of understanding of their religion. We
  should start the discussion with Muslims, before
  some radical group will do it. (PL)
• I think our differences are our richness. A
  world with the same type of people, behaviours
  and cultures would be very boring!.. (Tur)
• I see the aim also in the fact that
  intercultural dialogue might help foreigners
  coming to the Czech Republic to adapt here
  easily. (Cz)
• People should want this themselves. If you do
  not want it, even if it is implemented by law, it
  wont do any good. (Ned)

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Projects for intercultural dialogue

• The vast majority of the focus group
  participants were interested to be part of
  projects for an intercultural dialogue, since
  they provide young people with personal
  experiences and learning possibilities.
• The expectations of an appropriate design of
  such projects varied not only between the
  countries but also between the groups. No common
  patterns were to be found in the answers. For
  some, intercultural exchange projects were only
  connected to student exchange programmes, for
  others it meant meetings with people from other
  countries and for some it also included contacts
  with minorities in their own countries (but some
  objected to that, since the differences wont be
  that big).
• It was a common opinion that politics (and
  politicians) should not be part of the projects.
• The main obstacles for taking part in a project
  for intercultural dialogue were lack of
  information, lack of time (besides school, work,
  family and friends) and lack of money (for longer
  exchange projects). Also the barrier of language
  capability was mentioned. Furthermore it has been
  pointed out that not many organisations and
  institutions exist that organise such projects,
  so the number of opportunities is limited.
• But above all, insufficient information is seen
  as the biggest obstacle for a personal
  participation.
• It is furthermore noticeable that in the
  Netherlands projects for intercultural dialogue
  were understood as projects inside the country.

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Projects quotations

• Its necessary for us that the projects
  schedules are compatible with our working life.
  (And)
• It would be good if we could speak the
  language. (Eng)
• I would like to go to an exchange student
  programme, but I heard stories, that the family
  where I am going to live, can be strange. I am a
  little afraid. (Est)
• An obstacle is also feeling guilty because of
  my parents. In case I go somewhere and start to
  like it there and I am not coming back who
  would take care of the parents who are living
  here? (Est)
• Personally I dont think these schemes are
  advertised very well and it was only by chance
  that I was given an opportunity to take part in
  this focus group. (Wales)
• Simpler design, simpler name. So that you can
  open a low-threshold shop somewhere and organise
  activities there. By means of advertising or
  posters. (Ned)
• I really think that the less government
  intervention, the better! Thats because I go
  pretty crazy from all these terrorism actions.
  All this government intervention should be as
  little as possible. I think these things should
  come mainly from municipalities and neighbourhood
  frameworks. (Ned)
• It would be interesting mingling with people
  who have different customs, who live far away.
  (Ser)
• Intercultural dialogue is not just formal
  projects and meetings. It happens everyday when
  we meet someone different, it happens when young
  people are travelling and working abroad. (PL)
• I really would like to participate in that kind
  of project. It is very important for me to learn
  how the other people live on earth!... (Tur)
• Haha, and who is going to take care of my
  child? Earn money? (Cz)

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CONCLUSIONS

• Meeting with people with a different cultural
  background is seen as an important means to
  increase tolerance and understanding and to
  reduce prejudices.
• Young people do have contact with other cultures
  if not personally then via media.
• The benefit of meeting people from other cultures
  is the increase of knowledge especially
  language, which leads to better chances in the
  labour market.
• The benefit for society is the reduction of
  prejudices and the diminution of the chance for
  conflicts and wars.
• The term intercultural dialogue is too
  bureaucratic for young people, especially for
  juveniles with lower education. Furthermore the
  term sounds very political which makes it less
  interesting for the young.
• The interest in participating in intercultural
  projects is widely spread if it also brings
  personal benefit (e.g. language). But the
  information about opportunities for such
  participation is not sufficient.

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GUIDELINES

• EYCAdemy European Research Training 2007/2008

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OPENING

• Start Hello, my name is And this is my
  assistant...Thank you for coming to this group
  today. We do have a camera here and will record
  the discussion, but this is only for us (because
  my assistant might not be able to put everything
  down but we have to make a report, so the taping
  helps us, but it is not broadcasted, and nobody
  else sees it, ...) if it is the law, that you
  have to ask for an individual permission of every
  participant do so
• We will just talk a little bit about things you
  do, so this is no test, you can not say something
  wrong. You can say everything that comes into
  your mind about the topics, nobody will see it
  and in the report their will be no names.
• But for the beginning, so that my assistant can
  get used to your voices, and can take good notes,
  please just tell us one by one your name and your
  age.
• 0. Now we can really start. I am interested in
  your travelling and in your holiday activities.
  So what is your favourite spot for holidays? Give
  me some reasons for that. Can you please describe
  that place, so everybody might get an impression
  about it.

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INTRODUCTION

• I am interested if you ever had personal contact
  to people from another culture. To whom?
• Please do also think about migrants, refugees,
  minorities, or other religions.
• What makes them different?
• And where did you get in contact with people from
  other countries? Could you please describe the
  situation when this happened.
• And when?
• Was this during your holidays? At school? In your
  home town? In a pub? During leisure time? Think
  of all situations when you met such people and
  describe them.
• Were there differences in the contact?
• Did it have different effects? I mean, did you
  experience the difference between you and the
  people from the other culture in a different way?
• What was the most effective form of contact
  with regards to experiencing the difference?
• Was this positive or negative?

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KEY QUESTIONS

• What do you think was it important for you to get
  in contact with another culture? here is the
  step from getting in contact with people from
  another culture to contact to another culture
  implying a more abstract way of analysis of
  cultural differences.
• Why was it (not) important for you?
• What is your benefit if you get contact to
  another culture, if there is one?
• Is there a benefit for society if contacts to
  other cultures are happening?
• What is the benefit?
• Do you also see problems if different cultures
  get in contact?
• Please describe the problems that you see.
• Now many politicians talk about intercultural
  dialogue. If you have hear dthis term, how do
  you understand it?
• Can you describe it please?
• Is it important that intercultural dialogue
  occurs? (If the term is not known intercultural
  dialogue is understood as exchange between people
  from different cultures especially with
  minorities or migrants.) Why (not)?

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KEY QUESTIONS / CLOSING QUESTIONS

• What do you think is the aim of intercultural
  dialogue?
• Knowledge? Tolerance? Acceptance? Understanding?
• What is your personal opinion on intercultural
  dialogue?
• Do you think it is a good idea?
• Would you be interested to join projects for
  intercultural dialogue?
• What should they look like?
• Who would be in charge of these projects?
• What would you need to join such projects? Do you
  need more information on them?
• Do you need money? Time?
• What are obstacles for you to join these projects?

25
Young people and intercultural dialogue

• EYCAdemy Research 2007/2008
• Supported by the Partial Agreement within the
  framework of the Council of Europe.
• Project administered and report commissioned by
  EYCA - European Youth Card Association
• pitálska 27, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• mail_at_eyca.org
• www.eyca.org / www.euro26.org
• Report finalised by
• Manfred Zentner (jugendkultur.at)
• Manfred is an Austrian youth researcher and
  trainer, who is also the national correspondent
  for Austria to the European Youth Research
  Network and national correspondent to the
  European Knowledge Center.
• For further information mzentner_at_jugendkultur.at