Tearing down the Wall – Beyond boarders of group identity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Tearing down the Wall – Beyond boarders of group identity

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

Tearing down the wall – beyond the borders of group identity

In November 2019 it will have been exactly 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In remembrance of what borders mean in history and in today’s world, but also in one’s own world, we want to dwell on identity in the larger meaning of the word with this project. Not only national identity or what it is like to be an EU citizen, what it is to be a Dutchman or German, but also our own identity, ‘how it is to be different (gender identity), who am I, what are my borders?’ are subjects we want to explore. In this project, the courses of Religion, History, German, English, Politics and Dutch will be taught throughout the whole school year and immerse into all facets of identity.

64 pupils of Reynaertcollege will take part in this project, of which 24 pupils take part in the exchange too. From the Gymnasium Georgianum 50 pupils will take part in all sorts of assignments in this project and also 24 pupils will take part in the exchange in January. Because the results of the exchange will be presented to other levels inside the school, but also to exterior partners, the scope of the project will be even larger.

Summary of the planned / organised activities:

Reynaertcollege:
-September: pupils are writing a motivation letter, it is the start of the literature project “Die Welle”, and they’re making a film about themselves and their surroundings.
– October: in Religion their own identity will be the main topic in the lessons.
– November: History and German: 30 years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the Wall in Comics, a visit to the German embassy and the EU Parliament in Brussels.
– December: Dutch lessons: debate about ‘Zwarte Piet’ (black Pete) and Christmas
– January: the exchange. 24 Pupils from Hulst and 24 pupils from Vreden (Germany) will take part. They will stay in host families and will work on the project’s main topic: identity.
– February: a VLOG will be presented to other pupils in school and the local press. We will visit a play about sexuality and defining borders.
– March: Purple Friday theme gender identity. Debate about Brexit and inclusion with students from the Christ Church University from Canterbury (UK).
– April: start of their thesis in History, German, Politics and Religion.
– June: Trip to Berlin. During Religion classes pupils will work on prejudices and stereotyping.
– July: Evaluation with all the partners of the project
– August: start up new co-operation by partner schools. Pupils will work on their theses .

Gymnasium Georgianum:
September: pupils are writing a motivation letter, they’re making a film about themselves and their surroundings. Dutch lesson: What is identity? A Transgender organisation will come to school.
Oktober: Dutch: The appearance as part of identity. Skype with Vanessa Münstermann.
November: Dutch: Pupils read the book Kinderjaren of Margo Minco, visit to Westerbork and the Nationaal Onderduikmuseum in Aalten.
December: Visit to synagoge in Enschede.
January: the exchange week.
February: What is the influence of language and culture on the own identity?
March: Europeweek: Presentation to teachers, pupils and parents.
April: Visit to a mosque in the Netherlands .
May: ‘Rememberance of the Death’ in Amsterdam.
June: Looking back on the visit to the Deltawerken in January. Which role has water in the identity of Dutchmen? Pupils make a poster around identity.
July: Evaluation.
August: start up new co-operation by partner schools.

We are going to be working with one main subject (identity) that will be covered in History, German, Dutch, English, Politics and Religion classes. Throughout this main topic we will talk about identity in all its shapes. This will be implemented with debates, lessons, excursions, theses, external speakers, exchanges and school trips.

While lots of politicians talk about identity and differences between other people, it is not clear what identity actually is. We hope to make our pupils more conscious about who they are and how their way of thinking is formed, we will be working on identity in all its shapes throughout the school year. More than ever people live in their “bubble of own righteousness” because the internet and its algorithms. Therefore, it is important that pupils get into contact with people with other ways of thinking and can discuss with them respectfully. We hope that we can change their narrow-minded ways of thinking about other people and cultures that are strongly represented in their minds. All in all, we hope that our pupils will eventually become open-minded adults.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 27940 Eur

Project Coordinator

Reynaert College & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Gymnasium Georgianum Vreden