Handy hands together in Finland, Estonia and Latvia Erasmus Project

Project Title

Handy hands together in Finland, Estonia and Latvia

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

The context and the background of the project
Our project was a collaboration of three countries: Finland, Estonia and Latvia. The collaboration between Finland, Veikkolan koulu, and Estonia, Mustjoe Gumnaasium (represented by MTU Kooliklub “Idee”), had started already in school year 2012 when the first arts and crafts exhibitions were held in both countries. Estonia has a strong handicraft tradition and experience in arts and crafts. Latvia, School no 21 in Riga, was the newcomer in this project and has also a long handicraft traditions and honourable mentions and awards in artistic projects, as well as in arts and crafts projects.

The objectives of our project were to collaborate in order to combine arts and crafts, global education and sustainable development. With the help of arts and crafts we can promote many educational objectives that are hard to influence with cognitive subjects. In addition, we wanted to involve pupils, who are usually easily left out and out of projects. We wanted to increase internationality between schools in subjects which don’t necessarily need language or foreign languages, and whose products are accessible to everyone. Arts and crafts, and learning and understanding different materials develop theoretical thinking, spatial perception, control of one’s body, and control of materials and tools. Also, arts and crafts strengthen self-esteem, teach problem solving skills and produce experiences of creative joy. They can add welfare and quality of life to a community. In the age of ICT and theoretical know-how, it is important to continue and develop handicraft culture and traditions. With this project we wished to support the pupils’ cognitive thinking and learning, as it is scientifically researched that working with one’s hands affects cognitive learning. One of our aims was to appreciate aesthetics and our own skills as well as the skills of others. Another aim was to develop consumption habits and cultural activity and ecological viewpoint.

The number and profile of participants
The collaborating schools were: Veikkola comprehensive school in Kirkkonummi, Finland, Mustjoe Gumnaasium in Tallinn, Estonia and School number 21 in Riga, Latvia.

Description of activities
There were the annual arts and crafts exhibitions where pupils of all three countries participated. For these exhibitions pupils planned and prepared their handicrafts during their normal textile and technical work lessons. A selection of pupils from each participating country traveled to these exhibitions and participated in various workshops held during their visiting week. After each exhibition pupils spread their gained information and new knowledge via various media. The numerous activities were evaluated on the bases of the feedback, reports and enquieries within the practises and values of the local administration. The results were analysed and communicated to each party.

Methodology used in carrying out the project
In our project the pupil was the centre of all activity. Hence, all the activities were planned, executed and assessed by pupils and the role of teachers was to support and guide the pupils.

A short description of the results and impact attained
Since the handicrafts is a multifaceted phenomenon we expected several results in the following fields: global education, expanding and strengthening of pupils’ skills in arts and crafts, involving the different learners, integrated curriculum and the tangible works and events. The increased cooperation in the project created new networks and opened new perspectives into learning and into how we look at the world. Involving all kinds of learners in an international and pupil-centered project improved their skills and empowered them to further learning. Both school communities and individuals profited from the projects results.

The potential longer term benefits
This project affected all the participants, both teachers and pupils, in many ways and thus created long-lasting impacts in the participant school communities. First and foremost, the way we carried out this project, e.g. by empowering the pupils and making co-operation among different kinds of school subjects, contributed to create unforgettable experiences to all participants. The gained experiences and learning on internationalization, tolerance and the meaning of handicrafts has supported the further learning in other school subjects, as well, and helped to disseminate the outcome of the project to a wider context. The participant teachers learnt new working methods, too, and improved their teaching and co-operation within their working communities.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 97200 Eur

Project Coordinator

Veikkolan koulu & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Rigas 21. vidusskola