“Discrimination Based on Appearance” Accepting “Diversity”=Accepting “the Other” = =Accepting “the Different” “How do I look? We are all different, we are all beautiful.” Discrimination is ever-present in any society. It is based on unexamined stereotypes and results in the prejudicial treatment of people who happen to be members of a particular group. Being different in appearance in a group of people is often converted in forms of discrimination and this is acted on every level of social life. Society makes assumptions which are unquestionably adopted by the majority of people. As a consequence ‘the Different” is automatically rejected. Through the Greek subtopic, “Combatting Discrimination of Appearance-Accepting Diversity”, and our YoUtopia project in a wider context, we are investigating forms of discrimination upon ‘the Different’ and are pointing out the effects that such a behavior has upon people. Heading to the opposite direction, by working under the principles of Equality and Tolerance, developing a spirit of Volunteering as a top significance procedure in social affairs, we equip ourselves with those qualities that can develop a collective conscience on combatting discrimination of appearance or of any other kind. Accepting diversity seems to be the only means of maintaining cohesion of society, coexistence and collaboration of individuals in a multicultural society of today. We hope that this project, through getting sensitized on Appearance Based Discrimination issues and promoting Diversity principles, will challenge the participative members and the wider social circle that is being involved in activities one way or another to exhibit the benefits of being a multicultural society with respect for the “Different”. As an impact of this endeavor we hope that students, teachers and parents are going to get more emotionally mature, develop empathy towards the subtle issues of Diversity and Human rights and confront their own bias and prejudices. Our common goal is to make apparent that Acceptance of “the Other”, “the Different”, enhances our quality of life and transforms us to thinking spiritual individuals that stand for the Right and for Justice. Kapetanidou Theodossia (Coordinator Teacher for the Greek Subtopic-Mathematics Teacher)

2. 4th meeting of YoUtopia
How do I look?
We are all Different. We are all Beautiful

3. How many nationalities indeed?

4. Accepting
Diversity
Discrimination
Combatting Discrimination
Stereotypes and Prejudice
of looks
YoUtopia: Towards
Participative Citizenship

5. How many different countries and
cultures?

6. The research aim of the Greek
subtopic is to prove that
 All people are equal no matter
what his origin, color, height,
weight, style, ……
and to adopt the idea that by
 Accepting Diversity and combatting
Discrimination of looks and of any
other kind we can achieve in
establishing a fair city to live in.

7. How many different languages,
customs and habits?
YoUtopia: towards participative citizenship

8. The main objective of our work is
to promote active citizenship by:
• comparing topical dimensions of society
on appearance based discrimination
• analyzing the effects of discrimination of
appearance on individuals,
• challenging people to develop a more
tolerable conscience towards this issue

9. Altogether totally synchronized!!!

10. And here too in international groups

11. We hope that members of YoUtopia
will be encouraged to:
 broaden their minds and thought on
appearance based discrimination issue
 take initiative and act within a group in a
fair and non discriminative way
 develop collective spirit that gives the
same opportunities to members of the
group to enhance personal skills, abilities
and respect.

12. They seem to understand each
other!!

13. We also hope that..
this work on Appearance Based
Discrimination and Acceptance of Diversity,
is going to contribute to the establishment
of a constant relation between students,
parents and local society, aiming to
the exchange of the ideas of equality,
tolerance, volunteering and diversity and
the adoption of practices that promote
multiculturalism and respect of the Different.

14. They can communicate despite
the different languages!!

15. They are able to plan and agree
and… Again how many countries?
Not one, not two but eight

16. Moreover pupils and teachers,
of different European countries and of
different cultural background,
have a unique opportunity to get involved in
common cooperational activities,
contributing to developing a new
consciousness of belonging to a common
wider educational, vocational, cultural and
economical society
where all people deserve to be equal

17. They can explore and exchange
opininons and wonder….

18. They can learn different countries’
history!!

19. And travel back to Ancestry

20. Summing up the mission of schools taking part in the
inquiry of Discrimination of Looks and Diversity
is to inspire students to become active EU
citizens through
research and collaboration of different
 genders,
 generations,
 nationalities,
 people with different physical abilities
and looks and
through learning to become tolerant
personalities to what promotes human dignity.

22. Learning about other civilizations
reinforces multiculturalism and diversity

23. As referred in our application form
Life style is shaped in childhood and
teenage period not only by educating
students, but also by providing them
opportunities of real life experience.
Special importance is given to the fact that
our work addresses every participant-member
by putting through questions like:
• - who, if not you?
• - when, if not now?
• - where, if not here?

24. Working and exploring
together…

25. Presenting their inquires

27. Working on international teams
on Questionnaire results

28. And here too on Twinspace
disccussions summaries

29. YoUtopia:
towards participative citizenship
In conclusion
as a result of all intended activities,
the Greek subtopic aims to
 prove that only real change in the way of
thinking and realizing concepts like Diversity and
Human Rights by every citizen, including
youngsters, may lead to the establishment of an
ideal society, and
 shape an alternative model of an ideal society
locally, nationally and on European level too.

30. On our presentations Day

32. YoUtopia family
working and
attending activities

35. YoUtopia during works

36. Participating in activities too

37. This is Diversity. People from 8 different countries working
harmonically together for a common goal. THAT of
interrogating the effects of Discrimination of appearance
and on applying the principles of Equality and Respect of
everyone by accepting DIVERSITY

39. Visiting places together!!

42. Showing interest for other
civilizations you appereciate more
your own one!!

43. What is this cylindrical sculpture?
YoUtopia members now know.

44. This is diversity-multiculturalism

45. Greeks, Italians, Polish, Czechs, Turkish,
Latvians, French, Romanians seem to get on
well together despite their multiculturalism and
multi-nationalism

46. And here the same simple
relationships despite the differences

47. And going around together!!!

48. We can do it. We can create a new
fair World. It’s one way road.

49. Thank you for visiting Aigaleo.
See you!

50. Appearance Based Discrimination
Accepting Diversity
Combatting Discrimination
Respect for the Difference
Multiculturalism
Inteculturalism