The Complete Freedom of Truth: Youth Activism

The Complete Freedom of Truth (TCFT) is an inclusive international programme for disadvantaged and vulnerable young people, using art, culture and conversation for social change.

Over 14 years, TCFT has brought together over 2000 young people with artists and other professionals through the partnering of 16 UK and international organisations, across 8 countries in Wider Europe. 

TCFT provides training and informal learning, cultural sharing, and arts activity, which includes eating together using local businesses, collaboration between art forms and socially relevant conversations.

Young people are not only the future of our world, but they have a significant part to play now in the transformation of our struggling planet, as well as the recovery of society coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The chance for vulnerable young people to express themselves, cultivate deeper connections and develop skills has never been more important, especially taking into account poor mental health, formal educational failings and the ripple effects of decisions that have been made without their participation.

However, for this to happen, young people need access to cultural and creative opportunities that will inspire, allow their skills to flourish and give room for collaboration.

At a time when arts and youth services are being cut, TCFT is essential and so is your support, especially as we come together in June on the Island of Portland in Dorset, which is an isolated area with some of the highest poverty statistics in England. Over 60 young people of different backgrounds and abilities will be working together with artists, academics, climate change and social justice experts to develop their ideas of how to create a better world for us all.

The young people of Portland and West Dorset will be joined by others from Italy, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Italy, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Denmark and Albania. Included in this group will refugees, which will strengthen their engagement with UK communities and help their stories to be heard, which are especially important in this present time.

We need £7500 to ensure we can host, support and meet increasing costs of accommodation, food, travel, visas and insurance for the growing number of young people wanting to participate including young refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and Iraq.

- Food - for one day for one young person - £15

- Accommodation - £25 pays for one young person for a day

- Visas, medical insurance and travel - £100 helps to cover 25% of the cost for one young person coming from a non-EU country

- Well-being support - £200 covers the cost of a trained well-being support worker dealing in anxiety, stress and trauma

One of the first young participants from Bosnia, who is now a successful social worker with a major international NGO in her region, said to us recently, “I love this project because it’s limitless.” Maja Djukanovic

By supporting our campaign, you will be showing young people that you care about them as people, and the part they can play in society.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and supporting the TCFT journey. Have a look at thecompletefreedomoftruth.com if you want to learn more about our work so far.