About

COTAF is a European project that strengthens social cohesion and democratic participation across Europe by turning lived experiences into civic dialogue and inclusive policy.

Faced with rising polarisation, discrimination, and exclusion, COTAF offers a constructive response rooted in Human Libraries—public events where individuals share real-life stories to dismantle stereotypes, foster empathy, and build common ground.

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Over two years (2024–2026), COTAF activates 7 partner cities—Bologna, Donostia/San Sebastián, Lesvos, Istria, Budapest, Prague, and Liepāja—through three thematic waves of Human Libraries:

• Gender Equality

• Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees

• European Values and Active Citizenship

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Each wave includes local Human Library events, facilitated by trained moderators and community mediators, and complemented by structured policy conversations.

What We Do

• Human Libraries: People become “living books” by sharing personal stories with small audiences in safe, facilitated dialogues. These events amplify voices often unheard—survivors of economic violence, youth from migrant backgrounds, civic leaders from marginalised communities—and enable citizens to connect beyond stereotypes.

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• Train-the-Trainers Programme: Three online sessions equip facilitators with inclusive methods, trauma-informed approaches, and evaluation skills to ensure quality and safety in every event.

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• Policy Labs: Two online policy dialogues—one local, one transnational—translate qualitative insights into actionable recommendations, co-designed with city officials and EU stakeholders.

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• Digital Human Library Platform: A multilingual repository of anonymised stories, tools, event summaries, and policy briefs—co-created by all partners to ensure legacy and replicability.

Our Objectives

• Promote intercultural dialogue and community participation across cities.

• Address gender-based violence, institutional bias, and barriers to inclusion.

• Support citizens—especially youth, women, and people with a migration background—to become active participants in democratic life.

• Bridge personal narratives and public policy through participatory tools and evidence-based recommendations.

Who We Are

COTAF is coordinated by Fondazione Yunus Italia ETS and implemented in partnership with:

• Impact Hub Donostia / San Sebastián (Spain)

• Movement on the Ground (Greece / The Netherlands)

• Fenntartható Vállalkozásokért Alapítvány – Foundation for Sustainable Enterprises (Hungary)

• Impact Hub Riga / Liepāja (Latvia)

• Impact Hub Praha (Czech Republic)

• Impact Hub Istria (Slovenia)

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Together, we represent a network of civil society organisations, local governments, and social innovators committed to building participatory, inclusive, and rights-based cities across Europe. Each partner leads specific activities—from local Human Libraries to transnational Policy Labs, and the final international conference in Prague.

Why It Matters

COTAF is grounded in the belief that every person carries a story that can shape a more just and inclusive future. In a time of growing social fragmentation, we create civic spaces where voices meet, learn from one another, and imagine change—together.

By combining storytelling, community dialogue, and local policymaking, COTAF connects lived realities to systemic transformation—empowering communities to become agents of solidarity, inclusion, and European democracy.

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This project is co-funded by the European Union (CERV Programme). Grant Agreement No. 101249763.
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).