„Inter-nation encounter to raise pollution and globalwarming awareness around the Baltic Sea“ Erasmus Project

Project Title

„Inter-nation encounter to raise pollution and globalwarming awareness around the Baltic Sea“

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 2017

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

Five schools from the Baltic Sea region (Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Denmark and Estonia) came together to make their students aware of the ecological situation of the Baltic Sea, its pollution and its consequences as well as possible solutions. In addition to the aspects of environmental protection as well as the linguistic promotion of the foreign language English, the intercultural competence promotion of the pupils was also in the foreground: through stays in host families, visits to political institutions and discussions with politicians (e.g. Mayor of Klaipeda or a Danish MP) Political efforts to protect the climate also highlight the importance of the European Union and constructive cooperation between partner countries to solve global problems.

Through classroom observations and discussions with the teachers, an exchange of the didactic-methodical repertoire of the teachers took place as well as an exchange of how the schools address the big issue of “environmental protection and climate change” in their everyday school life. However, also other everyday difficulties that teachers encounter in everyday life were discussed and different approaches of the schools were discussed (e.g. room hygiene or dealing with student delays).

The goals and results of the project included:
– a photo novel with fictional and real people
– Raising awareness among schoolchildren about climate protection and the protection of the Baltic Sea
– Development of measures that students and schools can implement to support climate protection
– a beach cleaning in Klaipeda
– Creation of different project results on the topic (e.g. project logo, water painting, quiz, message in a bottle, theater performance, mathematical models, water studies, assessment of water quality …)
– Visit to museums, scientific institutions and sewage treatment plants, which among other things deal with the consequences of climate change

Around 80 students and 20 teachers took part in the project. The students were aged 14-16 and had different profiles. The majority of the students had at least average knowledge of English, showed willingness to accept guest students at home and expressed interest in the project topic. Some project participants had weaknesses with their spelling and reading skills, had no financial means to travel abroad or had never participated in a student exchange before.
The teachers came from almost all departments of the schools. There was a mix of teachers who had many years of experience with EU projects and some for whom it was the first time. The school management also took part in the project and the project activities.

The effects achieved:
Surveys and discussions with students have shown that they have a very positive attitude towards the project, friendships have developed from different countries that still exist and that they have reduced prejudices about individual countries. Many of the project participants are still committed to climate protection (Fridays For Future) and strive at school to live more environmentally friendly. Some students have passed their final exams based on the context of this project (MSA).
The schools have discovered cooperation partners with whom they want to work in the future or who want to use them for individual projects.
With three partner schools from this project, a new Erasmus + project is planned in which the aim is to draw up a school-specific climate protection plan.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 120200 Eur

Project Coordinator

Melanchthon-Gymnasium-Berlin & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace nr VII im.K.K.Baczynskiego we Wroclawiu
• Klaipedos “Aitvaro” gimnazija
• Hjembaek Efterskole
• Tallinna Kesklinna Vene Gümnaasium