Everyone Has a Story: Storytelling for Inclusion Erasmus Project

Project Title

Everyone Has a Story: Storytelling for Inclusion

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Migrants’ issues; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Context
The world of stories is a world without boundaries or frontiers. Stories have represented the right frame in which the different cultures involved have interacted during the two years’ collaboration among partners from Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia,Turkey and Italy. Stories worked as a tool, the right teaching method to pass on knowledge in different social contexts.
Stories taught us about life, about ourselves and about others. Storytelling was a unique way for students to develop understanding, respect and appreciation for other cultures, and promoted a positive attitude to people from different lands, races and religions.
Storytelling enhanced intercultural understanding and communication. Stories allowed our students to:
– explore their own cultural roots;
– experience different cultures;
– offer insights into different traditions and values;
– consider new ideas;
– reveal differences and similarities among cultures around the world.
Background of the Project
Our students came from a wide variety of backgrounds – mainstream, minorities, students with SEN, students with behaviour problems, high achievers, students in orphanages. The main priority of our initiative was to create a culture of acceptance and respect these differences. By involving them in activities related to stories, they were able to acquire values and principles in a non-threatening environment.
Participants
The target group consisted of 400 students aged 13-15 in all the 5 schools. Among the students in the target group, there were students at risk of dropping out, abandoned children, students with disabilities, immigrants, with special needs, financial, social or economic obstacles, students with integration problems and, of course, mainstream students. Those who face difficulties represented almost one quarter of the Target Group.
The participating teachers were English and literature teachers, who worked to create the project outputs, but also teachers of other subjects who were involved in the organization of project activities and exchanges. In general there were 2 teachers per country accompanying the students in each exchange.
Objectives attained:
1. students were involved in their own learning;
2. students’ language skills, literacy, critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability were developed;
3. intra-cultural and intercultural understanding were attained;
4. European values and cohesion among European citizens were promoted (measured by analyzing students’ and teachers’ attitudes to
other cultures, as seen during the LTTA activities and discussions);
5. a better awareness of European cultural heritage was attained;
6. an atmosphere of non-discrimination and mutual acceptance in each partner school was created;
7. better school results were reached;
8. values of tolerance and acceptance among students were spread;
9. a decrease of drop-out rates was obtained;
10. students’ motivation and self-esteem increased.
Activities
TPM1 – Italy – December 2017- Coordinator meeting: Start of the Project
C1 – Bulgaria – April 2018; Topic: Stories from around Europe
C2 – Romania – June 2018; Topic: European stories to develop interpretive skills
C3 – Slovenia – October 2018; Topic: European stories to develop critical thinking skills
C4 – Italy – Mar 2019; Topic: Developing creativity through stories – Creating the story map of Europe
TPM2 – Turkey – May 2019 – Coordinator meeting: Evaluation and sustainability.
Results and impact
Project results included the creation of a common website, an eTwinning account, a Facebook page, CDs, a calendar, initial and final evaluation documents, dissemination materials such as brochures, ppts, videos, certificates of attendance, Europass certificates, collection of stories from all around Europe in a common Story Book, creative activities starting from stories around Europe (special activities for SEN students), activities and tasks developing critical thinking skills, map of European story characters; collection of materials for teachers, set of adapted materials for SEN students, creation of stories illustrated by children, progress and final reports.
The impact was observable at different levels:
Students
-cultural awareness, acquisition of European values, development of skills, acquisition of knowledge, improvement of school results, self-confidence;
Teachers
-better cultural awareness, improvement of leadership, communication, presentation skills, experience in exchange of best practice;
Institutions
-improvement of human resources, increased group cohesion, positive image.
Long-term benefits
All the products will be used during lessons.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 121280 Eur

Project Coordinator

LICEO STATALE VITO CAPIALBI & Country: IT

Project Partners

• OSNOVNA SOLA KOMENDA MOSTE
• Ivan Vazov High School
• CARSAMBA 75. YIL MESLEKI VE TEKNIK ANADOLU LISESI
• Seminarul Teologic Ortodox “Sf.Ioan Gura de Aur”