CERAMIC-ALLY Ceramic for inclusive training purposes Erasmus Project

Project Title

CERAMIC-ALLY Ceramic for inclusive training purposes

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Migrants’ issues; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Ceramic-ally project aimed at teaching and learning techniques including pottery decoration as a tool for training and social integration and as activities leading to inclusive learning environments.Ceramic-ally partnership addressed training actions for non-EU citizens or newly-arrived migrants and asylum seekers, it developed training paths for an inclusive educational approach in VET.Teachers and staff of organizations participating in this project on the basis of their previous individual experiences identified tools and work placement methods. These approaches were based on achieving work based learning, and producing tangible joint outcomes, training material and tools. The final products designed are easily accessible to trainers and teachers in other EU countries.The partnership chose ceramic as the central topic of the project with the purpose of exchange good practices, because working with clay offers the opportunity for each individual to participate in a practical creative process. The kind of group learning activity was relevant to the acquisition of social skills. It generated a feeling of wellbeing by the easiness of getting along well with others. It enabled communication and could even develop a sense of citizenship. The primary goal was to allow partner organizations to develop and reinforce EU networks for teaching and learning ceramic craft, increasing trainers and staff capacity to work at transnational level, sharing and exchanging ideas, improving knowledge about practices and ceramic crafts methods and inclusive teaching techniques. The partnership also produced tangible outputs such as: a video of the ceramic course implementation, an e-book on the workshops held in each partner country, and collective creations of objects that represent the partner country in the idea of the participating target groups. The objects created in the workshops were filmed and photographed to form a virtual exhibition on the project website that also documented the audience on how working the clay could be used as a means for inclusion, to share the culture of people with diverse background.The project partners were all actors involved in VET field. The partners came from PL, EE, PT, MT, IT, and most of them had already gained experience in the Program Erasmus +. One partner was a newcomer, but had experience in the specific field of CERAMIC craft. Working with ceramics has a value recognized historically worldwide: many migrants arriving to Europe know this craft. The project emphasized the relationship between the artisan/artist and his/her creations. It highlighted the real sense of “handmade” products and enhanced the development of creative abilities while fostering social inclusion. Our goal was to provide an occasion for Intercultural exchange through which mutual cultures, of locals and immigrants, can be known and valued. The workshops carried out at a local level in each participating country motivated migrants and people from disadvantaged groups to meet and learn together in a collaborative way and to acquire knowledge of rules and habits of their hosting societies in a direct and informal key. The project reached relevant stakeholders of local communities in the world of ceramics and crafts. These had already been identified at application stage. They were involved in local activities and brought their knowledge of traditional pottery techniques. There were different layers of evaluation which were implemented in the project. There were aspects of self-evaluation and of external evaluation. At local level: we established a network among trainers, associations and experts to work further on the topic, to share experiences. At regional level: we established a network among labor market access departments, employment centers, commerce chamber, ceramists local associations, arts and crafts associations, representatives of language schools for learners of a second language, local decision makers about immigration policy. All partners have plans to use the project resources and the exchange of good practices. All partners contributed on local and national dissemination to make the European project results visible through the project website. All contributed to build the Ceramic-ally network. Tools for dissemination: a website, a video about CERAMIC-ALLY training course, e-book, logo and brochure about Ceramic-ally, common mural of tailes, as well as a Ceramic-ally exhibition with visual boards.Ceramic-ally networking created a long-lasting tie between participating countries.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 75240 Eur

Project Coordinator

Fundacja Euro-Form & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Fundacja CREATOR
• LUETEC
• The Mosaic Art And Sound Ltd.
• ASSOCIACAO RECREATIVA, CULTURAL E SOCIAL DE SILVEIRINHOS
• Mittetulundusühing MITRA
• GENISTA RESEARCH FOUNDATION