Health, Education, good Life and Progress among adolescents in Europe. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Health, Education, good Life and Progress among adolescents in Europe.

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 : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Pedagogy and didactics; Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development)

Project Summary

Background: Stress , depression and mental health issues are prevalent in our societies and particularly among young people . The factors in our lives that affect especially young people are the fast pace, social media, peer group pressure and other pressures from society. The students need to discuss these matters and have tools how to handle stress. The problems we are facing are put into a European context in this project where we have many opportunities to have conversationsand discussions on transnational level. We believe that teachers need to work in their classrooms with these issues on a regular basis . Even though mental illnesses and depression have been stigmatised for a long time through out generations we can fortunately see a change coming in our societies. This project is one way to contribute to a more open discussion on the matter.

Objectives: The main objectives is to work on social inclusion in the school environment. This will be done through raising the level of awareness on:
1. Stress
2. Depression
3. Mental illnesses

Parrticipants: The partners will be from Poland, Italy, Spain , the UK and Sweden, 32 teachers and 120 students. The age group ranges from 15-19 years of age and subjects taught by the teachers are Civics, Psychology, English, Philosophy. The students represent a variety of programmes at each school therefore they will face a diversified group of students and will have an unempt number of opportunities to test their points of view on the issues discussed. Some of the students have never been abroad so the mobilities are a very good way to introduce and include them to a European context. The participating schools represent a range of Europe, from south to north from east to west. The different contexts the schools are working in enhances also the opportunities to have vital and widening discussions. The discussions will also highlight the teachers´ pedagogical goals and give the teachers a chance to share best practices on the issues.Our societies are similar in many ways yet there are differences that enriches the discussions and the tasks that will be fulfilled. The problems we face concerning stress and mental illnesses are somewhat similar yet we might tackle these differently which will again enrichen the discussions.

Activities: The activities will be carried out during the mobilities but there will also be pre – tasks prior to the mobilities to be fulfilled in each individual school. The students will create power points, pocket movies, surveys, questionnaires, logo for the project keeping a focus on the key aspects of the project. The activities during the mobilities will also include activities such as sightseeing, cultural practices, cooking, learning some language spoken in the host country. The students will be staying in host families which further enhances communication between partners and understanding of the cultural context that the students are in. The teachers will be preparing the activities but also be in charge of lessons and workshops within the field in each hosting country.

Methodology used: The methodologies used are the ones that have been previously mentioned highlighting the core ideas of the project. The opportunities given the students are for instance discussions, debates, collaborative learning , skype meetings, contacts via whatsapp, Facebook,Google classroom. The main focus for contacts is to have as many face to face opportunities for the students as possible so that the conversations are alive on the the issues of stress, stress handling, depression and mental health.

Results/predictions: The main focus is to make the students more aware of stress, the causes of stress, how to handle stress, to discuss more openly about depression and mental health issues. Equally important is the fact of social inclusion in this context as well.The students have also created together with their peers and under the guidance of professionals a tool box and techniques how to handle stress.. They have become more creative in their ability to identify the first signs of stress and can convey they newly won knowledge to others inside and outside of school. The project will give them an opportunity to create contacts with their peers in other European countries and hopefully they will last many years to come.The teachers will create networks with teachers in the partner schools .

Future/long term benefits : The project will live on even after the end of it since these are issues that need to be discussed and highlighted on a regular basis. The project will definitely enhance teaching methods as well and students´ performances , give the students food for thought and hopefully as well lead to some changes in teachers´attitudes towards stress in school environment .

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 162000 Eur

Project Coordinator

St Eskils Gymnasium & Country: SE

Project Partners

• IISS”GORJUX-TRIDENTE-VIVANTE”
• Poole Grammar School
• IES Massanassa
• Zespol Szkol Ogolnoksztalcacych im. Henryka Sienkiewicza w Szydlowcu