Art can give voice to the unheard, and this belief stood at the heart of the Erasmus+ training course “Three Years of Resilience: The Path to Freedom.” Held in Timișoara between 24 February and 2 March 2025, the programme gathered 19 youth workers who use art as a tool for human rights education and social transformation. The course was organised by the Timiș County Youth Foundation (FITT) in partnership with Faina UA, uniting Romanian and Ukrainian participants in a creative space of learning, reflection, and solidarity.
Set in Timișoara — a city known as both the cradle of freedom in Romania and a refuge for many Ukrainians fleeing war — the training explored how visual arts can amplify stories of resilience and advocate for justice. Participants engaged in workshops on artivism, where they learned to use painting, graphic design, and mixed media to convey messages about displacement, freedom, and human dignity.
Throughout the week, the programme alternated between creative workshops and field visits to cultural landmarks such as the Museum of Art, the Faculty of Arts and Design, and the Art Encounters Foundation. These experiences offered inspiration while contextualising the role of art in shaping collective memory and resistance. The sessions encouraged participants to analyse how symbols, monuments, and artistic interventions reflect the ongoing struggles for human rights in Romania and Ukraine.
The central part of the training focused on co-creation sessions, where participants collaborated to develop their own artistic projects around themes of freedom and social justice. Working together across cultures and disciplines, they transformed ideas into powerful visual statements, blending activism with creativity. The process culminated in a public exhibition hosted at the Youth House, where their works were displayed to a local audience. The event celebrated art not only as expression but also as engagement — a dialogue between artists, communities, and the realities of our time.
Beyond artistic skills, the course strengthened participants’ capacities as educators and facilitators. They explored how art can be integrated into non-formal education for young people, using creative processes to promote empathy, awareness, and participation. The training also provided opportunities for mutual understanding, building bridges between Romanian and Ukrainian communities through shared experiences and artistic collaboration.
“Three Years of Resilience: The Path to Freedom” reaffirmed FITT’s and Faina UA’s commitment to promoting human rights education through art. By combining activism with visual storytelling, the training highlighted the transformative power of creativity — showing that freedom is not only a goal to be reached but a process of resilience, solidarity, and shared humanity. The postcards created by participants as part of this project can be viewed below.
Project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.