Get addicted to happiness Erasmus Project

Project Title

Get addicted to happiness

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

Today’s school programs are focused on achieving high educational results, not paying enough attention to the well-being and mental health of their students. There are some alarming trends such as increased school violence, depression, teen suicides, and high level of stress among students which suggest that happiness in schools should be one of the most important areas for the future of education. Furthermore, this lack of social and emotional wellbeing has a profound negative effect on our European community.
Our project, “Get addicted to happiness”, involved 6 partner schools from: Poland, Turkey, Spain, Croatia, Italy and Portugal. Its main goal was to promote wellbeing and mental health, as well as to show their great impact on happy family and social life. By taking actions, we wanted to improve the quality of life, functioning and well-being of students, school workers and the local society. In addition, the purpose of the project was to improve the use of English. By interacting with peers and teachers from partner schools, our students learned about the culture, customs and traditions of other countries, and developed their skills in using computer-based information technology.
In the first year of the project, an Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was conducted to test the level of happiness of students and teachers in partner schools. The results had shown that all schools needed work on improving school atmosphere. Our search for happiness started in the family and then continued in sport, health and literature. In connection with the above mentioned topics, we organized the celebration of the “World Smile Day”, “Thank You” event, Sports Fun Day, the meeting with the dietician, combined with the exhibition of posters promoting healthy lifestyle. We wrote “A little book of happiness”, “Happy Stories”, as well as organized a recitation contest “Happiness is everywhere”. Teachers had developed a booklet with relaxing exercises for students “3 minutes to happier YOU”.
In the second year, participants focused on the most important factors influencing the well-being of young people, such as art, music, dance and volunteering. The following actions were taken: “Happiness in Art” exhibition, a three-generation karaoke festival, writing letters to seriously ill children, organizing a Kindness Day, writing happiness recipes, “Happy dance” workshop.
The pupils and teachers took part in four short-term exchanges of groups of pupils, during which the activities concerning the sources of happiness were taken up. It was also an opportunity to improve communication skills in English and to learn about different traditions and cultures.
The most important result achieved during the project is the increase of happiness in all partner schools, measured at the beginning and in the end of the project (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire). Our project has raised interest in partner countries, increased tolerance for cultural differences, and has contributed to the strengthening of the attitude of the European citizen. Language tests had shown a significant increase in students` communicative competences. Through daily contact with peers from partner countries and international meetings, our pupils had developed their IT skills. The need to work in an international team fostered the development of youth’s social skills, such as tolerance, co-operation, leadership etc.
The participation of teachers in the project and international meetings increased their ability to communicate in English, and also ICT. Due to our broader educational offer and international cooperation, our schools have become more attractive for students. There has also been a greater integration of the local societies with the schools. Project activities were also an excellent tool for the promotion of partner schools on the international level.
The final product of our project is an e-magazine. It was published once in a semester and sent to local authorities, institutions, parents, schools, the media, etc. In addition, members of Erasmus Clubs ran a project website in English, and two Facebook groups: “Get addicted to happiness” and “Happiness Hunters”. They also published their achievements on the e-twinning platform. Our project was awarded the European Quality Label.

We are confident that thanks to international co-operation within our project, we have made our schools happier and more exciting places where students will be happy to continue their education.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 144820 Eur

Project Coordinator

Zespol Szkol im. Jana Pawla II w Zbuczynie & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Escola Dr. Horácio Bento de Gouveia
• Hermanos Escuelas Cristianas-Colegio LaSalle
• Istituto Comprensivo Battipaglia Salvemini
• Ozel Kardelen Ortaokulu (Kardelen Egitim Tic. San. A.S.)
• ustanova