Turku University of Applied Sciences

The main aim of MIMO was to develop and to apply art-based methods for preventive youth and social work in close cooperation with young people, teachers, health care professionals, artists, and social and youth workers. The main target group and beneficiary of the project results are the young people aged 13 to 17 years at risk of social exclusion and the professionals working with them. MIMO has its starting point in the fact of social exclusion as a problem emerging among youth across Europe. There are cross-border issues of youth alienation, low level of school attractiveness, students’ extremely low feeling of subjective wellbeing, frequency of acts of school violence and the changing demographics regarding youth multiculturalism and diversity. It is addressed in research that culture and art are means of enhancing well-being. However no comprehensive training, knowledge of professionals and applications of art-based methods in preventive youth work exist in Southern Finland and Estonia. MIMO will build cooperation between youth organizations, schools and MIMO partners: universities, an NGO and an enterprise in order to develop multi-professional teamwork (MPT) and practical tools of art-based methods for preventive social and youth work. In this cross-disciplinary work there will be professionals from university degrees of Performing Arts, Film and Media and Health/Social Care.