“Roda” of global cultures- Capoeira as an alternative way of interacting in the age of digitization (An international student exchange project to widen the intercultural horizon and identity development of young adolescent) Erasmus Project

Project Title

“Roda” of global cultures- Capoeira as an alternative way of interacting in the age of digitization (An international student exchange project to widen the intercultural horizon and identity development of young adolescent)

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: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

The project is titled “Roda” of global cultures – Capoeira as an alternative way of interacting in the age of digitization (An international student exchange project to widen the intercultural horizon and identity development of young adolescents). The main aim is to raise awareness of the rapidly increasing pace of digitization, the changing modes of communication and interaction particular to young people and to sensitize them for a balanced use thereof in providing them a practical example (the capoeira game) as analternative form of interaction in comparison to the digital tools they usually use. The project includes a theoretical and practical part which are interrelated. The theoretical part of the project deals with aspects like:
• What is communication? How does successful communication work?
• What does language- or culture-aware communication mean? What should I care about in everyday life?
• What does nonverbal communication mean and how is it used in various cultures and interactions?
• How can facial expressions and gestures be interpreted distinctly in different cultures?
• What does the term “diversity awareness” include? As a starting point of the discussion: Who am I, what characterizes me as an individual in comparison to my fellow human beings?
• How important are digital media in our everyday communication? An empirical comparison of media consumption related to communication and its qualitative content.
• Does communication on social networks and digital media generally pose a risk? If yes, which kind?
• Finding a balance between the use of digital media and personal interaction: Creation of a common guideline for the healthy handling of digital media.
The practical part of the project with its weekly training sessions offers children and adolescents an alternative/ interpersonal form of interaction and communication unlike the experience provided by digital media. Thus the project participants can also discover their own (physical) abilities and improve them in various ways. Because “… Capoeira is …art for the artist, dance for the dancer, culture for the culture lover and game for the player” (https://gingado.de/grundlagen/was-ist-capoeira-2/ Datum 8.1.2019). This amalgamation of art, dance, games, culture, music, sports, dialogue, artistry, body
control, rhythm and much more encompasses a wide range of interests and is ideal for the student exchange. Capoeira (its practice now being included in the UNESCO World Heritage) has also been established as a symbol for peaceful coexistence thereby undermining it as an adequate alternative mode of interaction with others. Although Capoeira’s roots go back to the colonial period of Brazil in which it was occupied by Portuguese settlers , Capoeira further changed and developed separately away from the realm of martial arts to a symbol of peaceful and social coexistence today. Thus, in addition to the promotion of “Open Education and Innovative Practices in the Digital Age”, the key objectives also include the promotion of “internationalization of adolescents”, “increasing access to affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care” and helping young people to participate in “[…] the social and educational value of European cultural […] and cultural heritage”. The four project meetings are designed to deal essentially with the practice of the game of Capoeira. The workshops which are mainly planned in the target countries should lead to a gradual development in the various fields of competence. Accordingly, the following division provides an overview about the countries and the primary workshops:
• Germany: Capoeira – the game itself (acrobatics, dance)
• Belgium: music, lyrics and songs related to Capoeira
• Turkey: historical development of Capoeira: from its origins to today
• Portugal: learning to play the instruments of the “roda”.
The well-planned program schedule and clearly defined responsibilities within the respective Erasmus + teams, consisting of (co-) coordinators, eTwinning officers, administrators and public relation officers not only ensure a smooth process but also provide benefits for their everyday work.

Project Website

https://www.instagram.com/roda_of_global_cultures/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 64904 Eur

Project Coordinator

Städt. Gesamtschule Iserlohn & Country: DE

Project Partners

• OZEL AKA KOLEJI
• GO! atheneum Russelberg Tessenderlo
• Escola Secundária de Paredes