Collaborative processes to create common spaces: ‘Children’s Club’ Smooth project

Abstract

[eng] The SMOOTH project is a Horizon 2020-funded initiative involving eight European countries and approximately 50 educational institutions. It aims to reduce inequalities and promote active social inclusion of children and young people through collaborative processes between children and adults. The project is based on principles such as relevance, being a viable alternative for existing conditions, being effective in fighting inequalities and contributing to active participation and inclusion. The project involves action-research projects, and one of the case studies carried out in Portugal is the “Children's Club,” which aimed to provide a physical space for children aged 8 to 10 from disadvantaged social backgrounds to express and hone their skills, talk about their rights and wellbeing, and promote social inclusion and active citizenship. This paper presents the main data conclusions emerging from the "Children's Club" project, which lasted for 10 months and involved 19 children in a non-formal education context.