“Walk with me – Feel safe, Be sound” is an initiative aimed at enhancing the sense of security for people walking on the streets be themselved. Conceived within the BeYou project, the initiative focuses on creating a virtual support community for those who feel insecure walking on the streets and on raising awareness about personal safety.
BeYou is a project funded by the Erasmus+ program and coordinated by the Fondazione Comunitaria di Agrigento e Trapani. It aims to empower young people as key actors for social change and sustainable development in their communities at local and European level.
Through the “Youth Community Incubators” program, the project supported the realization of Walk with me, an initiative selected by the Foundation for its innovative approach.
From Ideas to Action
Viktoria Toth, a student from Trapani and the promoter of the initiative, actively participated in intense training sessions facilitated by trainers Antonino Carpitella, Sara Gallo, and Gabriele Giarrana, to turn her idea into reality.
Through these sessions, Viktoria received all the necessary guidance to concretely realize her project, starting collaborations with experts to develop an accessible and user-friendly website that serves as a reference point for resources, information, and support. Developed by Vito Sugameli, the website features essential content that guides users on safety practices, allows sharing of experiences, and connects them with volunteers.
“We didn’t think it would actually happen! Usually, these initiatives remain just ideas, and the possibility of realization seemed very distant. Walk with me will serve as an example to give us courage to carry forward our ideas,” say some students from the Rosina Salvo Institute involved in the website’s review phase.
The Project’s Identity
The initiative represents a significant step towards empowering individuals who often quietly face concerns related to personal safety. In this context, creating the project’s visual identity is particularly important as it immediately conveys a sense of trust. “The first time I met Viktoria, she was with her dog, Zeus. On that occasion, she told me that she often walks with him and then shared her idea with me. I immediately thought – We already have a logo!” says Ilenia Galia, the creator of the project’s visual identity.
The simplified image of a dog with a cheerful color palette aims to evoke trust and serenity. Data collected in support of the idea shows that over 80% of a sample of 100 respondents do not feel safe walking on the street, and 1 in 10 has been a victim of assaults.
By integrating digital tools and community involvement, “Walk with me – Feel safe, Be Sound” aims to provide individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to feel safe and secure in their daily lives. Initiatives like this exemplify the potential of young people in promoting significant social change and fostering a collaborative community environment.
About the project
BeYou is a project selected and co-funded by the Erasmus+ program under Key Action 3 “European Youth Together.” The project is coordinated by the Fondazione Comunitaria di Agrigento e Trapani in partnership with Organization Earth (Greece), ANDCTR (Romania), Hub Nicosia (Cyprus), and Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (Spain).
If you want to continue following BeYou project activities Read the project sheet, visit the project website, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
For participation or further information, contact Alisa Marghella at a.marghella@fcagrigentotrapani.it.
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