The Boombox project works with young people and young adults in a participatory process, drawing on cultural education approaches to develop solutions for their professional integration. It is aimed at participants from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are transitioning from school to work. Young people who are exposed to unemployment at an early age participate less in social and cultural life and are at risk of becoming isolated from society. ‘Boombox’ aims to activate this vulnerable target group and promote their future skills by addressing an element that is central to their identity: their favourite music and the emotions associated with it. In joint ‘listening sessions’, participants experience resonance and practise self-expression and reflection on their (digital) living environment and the influences associated with it. They transfer their insights into their own creative process, supported by technical and artistic input on audio and music production. Boombox aims to enable young people to experience themselves in a new, contributing role, strengthen their confidence in their perceptions, train important skills such as clear communication and critical thinking, and become aware of their resources. They contribute their perspectives and experiences to the further development of the programme and participate in prototyping for a social media campaign to reach their peers.
