E-LIS-LAB
Workshops to learn and promote Italian Sign Language (LIS), with deaf and hearing young people from Lecce, Turin and Marineo.
Why it started
For many deaf young people, taking part in community life is still hard: there are few spaces where they can communicate on equal terms, and sensory barriers often add up to social and economic ones. The same is true for many young people not in education or employment, or with a migrant background.
E-LIS-LAB sets out to break down these barriers, using Italian Sign Language and LIS/Italian bilingualism as tools for self-expression, encounter and active citizenship.
What it does
The project runs for one year, from October 2026 to September 2027. It is led by YouthMed APS in Lecce; Naqah is a partner together with the Fondazione Istituto dei Sordi di Torino.
- a group of 15 young people aged 20 to 25, five from each organisation, including deaf young people, young people not in education or employment and young people with a migrant background;
- two national meetings, in Turin (January 2027) and Lecce (July 2027);
- online mentoring in LIS and Italian;
- local social theatre workshops;
- meetings with decision-makers on accessibility and participation;
- a webinar open to other young people and a public final seminar, in both languages.
Funding
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.