Refugees and Frontiers: Keep Europe United Erasmus Project

Project Title

Refugees and Frontiers: Keep Europe United

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Integration of refugees; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

Context:
Three years ago, our starting point was the opinion poll by The Jean Jaures Foundation. It showed a clear split in European opinion as far as the reception of refugees was concerned. We then decided to do a project about refugees and frontiers. Our goal was to create a website filled with teaching tools that help students to develop a greater sense of European identity. We hoped it would empower them to consider this situation in a Pan European context rather than viewing it solely as a state or a local issue.
In Greece especially the starting point was that since 2015 we started living face to face with the refugee issue, a huge crisis,with thousands of people walking around our city and seeking for a safe and better life, with shelters too close to our school community and with desperate people who left their countries under the threatening of their lives

The specific objectives being pursued in this project:
• improve understanding why refugees flee their own countries and wish to live within the EU;
• better understanding of practices and policies linked to the refugee crisis;
• greater understanding and responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity in and outside of Europe;
• to promote a greater sense of European identity;
• more active participation in society concerning the refugee issue and integration aspects;
more positive attitude towards the European project and the EU values;
• increased competence in the English language;
• increased level of digital competence and ICT skills

Number and profile of participants:
Our five schools with our participating students were the main participants, of course. All students were between 15 – 18 years old. During the project, we cooperated with a huge amount of other organisations, such as (local) authorities, primary schools, youth services, refugee shelters, language schools, NGO’s, universities, intercultural centres and local entrepreneurs, embassies,national and local authorities.

Description of undertaken main activities:
During our 3-year project, we have not only organised 3 transnational and 5 international meetings, we have given our students an valuable life and learning experience linked to our objectives.
Conversations, workshops and sports games and buddy projects gave students and refugee students a chance to get acquainted. Of course it created understanding on why refugees flee their native countries. Our visit to Brussels (and group discussions with MP Jeroen Lenaers), presentations by NGO’s and visits to local governments created understanding of practices and policies. On one hand, students recognised the difficult positions of countries and European authorities. On the other hand, the abstract image of ‘the refugee’ had been replaced by many personal faces and stories. It made them think in depth about the extremely complex issue at hand.
Several activities mentioned before, the exchange set-up itself and various presentations showed our students the enormous diversity in and outside of Europe. It stressed the fact that meeting people who are different enriches your life; Experiences like these are one of the big advantages of living in a free and open Europe. Because of this, our students were extra motivated to participate actively in society concerning the issue and integration through guest lessons at primary schools and the buddy project. The complete project was made extra challenging for students because of English being our main language for communication. Moreover, students were encouraged to use a multitude of different ICT tools and applications to make presentations, workshops and group work more varied and interesting. Later on, a detailed overview of all activities will be given.

Results and impact attained

Now we have reached the end of our project, our students have conducted interviews to measure the impact the project has had on its participants. Because of the sheer volume of activities and contact our group has had with refugees, NGO’s and other stakeholders, we can conclude that our students have truly gained understanding of and insight in the refugee crisis. They know people and their stories, they are aware of the different perspectives of the participating countries and are able to grasp why this situation is so extremely complex. Of this they have given testament during their presentations at home and during guest lessons that they gave.
They also indicate that their experience has affected their close circle of family and friends as well. Unfortunately, we cannot be sure of this result. Of course, we had also hoped of achieving results in the greater communities. But honestly, we are not able to measure any impact in a larger sense accurately.
As far as the buddy project is concerned, we can say that it definitely had impact on a local and personal level. ISK students had a smoother transition from their language school into regular education, because of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 126078 Eur

Project Coordinator

Stichting Dendron College eigen middelen inz internationalisering & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Academy Transformation Trust The Dukeries Academy
• LICEO DI STATO G.BAGATTA
• 4th General Lykeion of Alimos – Makrygianneio
• Haci Murat Hatice Ozsoy Anadolu Lisesi
• Holbaek 10. klassecenter