COGITO ERGO SUM – critical thinking in the struggle against prejudice Erasmus Project

Project Title

COGITO ERGO SUM – critical thinking in the struggle against prejudice

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: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Project ‘COGITO ERGO SUM – critical thinking in the struggle against prejudice’ was a response to a wide variety of needs in the Public Schools Complex in Lesznowola and in the Lesznowola community. The needs were identified basin on the municipality data, psychologists’ and youth counsellors’ records, surveys conducted at school and other observations. A constantly growing number of foreigners in our area had developed prejudice among young people. Furthermore our pupils didn’t have the ability to think critically while analyzing the information they were exposed to. It turned out very often that they had adopted a stereotype way of thinking from their peers, relatives and mass media without considering their reasonability or relevance. Basing on that attitude towards newcomers or those who look differently generates a high risk of their incapability of incorporating into an international environment in the future.
The main goal of the project was to help pupils in the process of adaptation to the world that is constantly changing: breaking with prejudice against people from other cultures and those who are visibly different. ‘COGITO ERGO SUM’ was focused on the education in the field of tolerance, empathy and better communication. It also aimed at improving language skills – in the decades to come our students will have to integrate into labour market, very often in an international environment. Some students had an opportunity to communicate in English during their visits to partner countries.
In order to achieve the goals mentioned above it was crucial to cooperate with other primary schools located in countries different from ours. That’s why the Polish school had developed relationship with partners from Turkey, Hungary and Italy. Having consulted the needs and expectations of the four schools the project coordinators had elaborated a list of specific actions that were put into action during the three year schedule time.
We aimed to increase students’ awareness in terms of prejudice, define and eliminate prejudice acts among youngsters and explain that “different” is indeed “the same” but raised in another culture. Raising prejudice awareness resulted in reinforcing a critical thinking attitude towards the information that pupils receive in their environment.
Consequently the project participants were encouraged and taught to evaluate and select the data offered by the world around them.
The steps that were taken during the project included the English language and ICT (Information and Communication technologies) development actions. Not only did the students use new technologies but they also produced decent outcomes of their work, for example: a “Map of prejudices” – a graphic image of common prejudices among European countries, numerous workshops developing consciousness and skills in the area of the project theme, padlet documents on stereotypes hidden in advertisments around us, art exhibitions, contests, recorded speeches promoting fighting against prejudice, screenplays and movies related to the project . The actions that all partners were looking forward to were shooting together a film on prejudice and creating a “Decalogue” of non-discriminatory behaviors. As the tasks were planned for the last partner meeting in May 2020 which unfortunately was cancelled due to Covid-19 epidemy they were not completed.
Because of the big number of planned activities and the strive to obtain high quality results , the project was conducted during three years (2017-2020). The students involved in the project were at the age of 11/12 -14/15.
Referring to the outcome of the surveys made in the course of the project it can be stated, without any doubt, that the project objectives have been met. The project pupils who have graduated from our school are equipped with knowledge, skills and experience that are crucial to set up healthy relationship with the people around.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 104464 Eur

Project Coordinator

ZSP w Lesznowoli & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Gyomroi Weores Sandor Altalanos Iskola es Alapfoku Muveszeti Iskola
• Istituto Comprensivo Verga
• Cavdarhisar Ortaokulu