Members of the Llanelli Multicultural Network (LMCN) have returned from Florence after taking part in the latest transnational meeting of the Pinocchio Forum Project. The Project involves partners in Italy, Poland, Switzerland and Wales.
The two-year project is part of the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Programme which promotes intercultural understanding across Europe.
The project aims to analyse the story of Pinocchio and compare the partner countries’ folklore and stories. Although many people are familiar with the cartoon film version of the story, the book is far more serious with morale tales of how a wooden puppet becomes a real boy only by going through all the difficulties that many young people face, even today, including a range of difficult decisions and their consequences.
As part of the project, each partner organisation hosts a meeting and it was the turn of the Italians to host the Project in Florence, the home of the story of Pinocchio.
The UK Project Co-Ordinator, Paolo Piana said “whilst in Florence we learnt about the history of the story of Pinocchio, its author, and visited some of the places associated with Pinocchio”.
Paolo added “working and learning together with our European partners is so important, to build understanding and learn about each other’s culture. The positive impact on our participants has been tremendous”.
One of the Welsh participants, Helen Kane wrote in her daily project log “this has changed my life, I have learnt so much and met so many interesting people, after taking part in an art workshop I have discovered a talent I never knew I had!” she also added “I’ve also learnt the proper way to make pasta too!”
In Llanelli, over 300 people of all ages and backgrounds have taken part in Pinocchio Project activities so far.
The Project is open to everybody of all ages and runs until July 2014.
There are still a lot of activities that will be taking place, to get involved or for more information, please email Paolo, pinocchioprojectuk@live.co.uk or visit the Facebook page “Pinocchio Forum Project”.
Please follow the link to the film of the visit made by volunteer Malcolm Boorer
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