NOVA#2 - OUR HERITAGE, OUR FUTURE
Our Heritage โ Our Future was NOVADERโs second international step โ a continuation of the rhythm we began in Greece.
This time, the focus shifted from rights to roots: exploring Europeโs living cultural heritage and the traditions that breathe through songs, crafts, rituals, and food.
Hosted in the serene hills of Maceira, Portugal, the training gathered youth workers from six countries to learn how to safeguard intangible cultural heritage through creativity, collaboration, and youth work.
We explored how intangible culture isnโt something to preserve in museums โ itโs something to keep alive, to share, to remix, to celebrate.
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What was it about?
Inspired by UNESCOโs framework on Intangible Cultural Heritage, the programme delved into:
cultural identity and belonging;
traditional music, crafts, and rituals;
how to engage young people in preserving living traditions in their communities.
Workshops ranged from hands-on field visits to creative labs where we produced the Intangible Cultural Heritage Booklet โ a vibrant collection of traditions from all partner countries.
Fado, Ebru, Martinki, Capra, Azulejo, and the Galichka Wedding โ every page became a bridge between generations.
Us Actually Doing Some Work
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NOVADER joined as a Turkish partner, bringing stories of Ebru (paper marbling), Hamam culture, and Kฤฑna Gecesi (Henna Night) โ blending art, memory, and community into the wider European conversation. Our delegation contributed to discussions on how to make heritage accessible and relevant for youth, and how digital storytelling can help reimagine traditional practices in modern contexts.
From Human Rights Education: The Sequel to Our Heritage โ Our Future, our path is slowly forming a trilogy of what we stand for โ culture, empathy, and creative learning.
Discover the Vibrance of Portugal
We met passionate youth workers, shared songs under Portuguese stars, and talked about how identity evolves when cultures meet.
From Fado to Ebru, each story reminded us that heritage is not something old โ itโs something alive.
And in a world that moves too fast, remembering where we come from might just be the most radical act.
๐ Read the Intangible Cultural Heritage Booklet (PDF)
๐ฐ View the Project Info & Partners on ๐งญ Results Platform
๐ Learn more about the Host Organization โ APSRDH Maceira