Different Backgrounds, Common Future Erasmus Project

Project Title

Different Backgrounds, Common Future

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: Migrants’ issues; Inclusion – equity; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

Today’s world is developing very fast, the reality is changing every day for the better, but also for the worse. Many countries are affected by the war or are in a difficult economic situation. We are witnessing the continuous transformation and constant development of societies. In searching for better places to live people decide to migrate. Unfortunately, assimilation is difficult both for refugees and people from host countries. The main goal of our project is to integrate pupils aged 12-16 from the partner countries in the fields of art, culture and science (mainly foreign languages) during the project period (24 months) confirmed by films, brochures and guides, newspapers. The other objectives of the project are to develop the sensitivity of pupils, their parents and the local community for the needs of others, to make them aware of the importance of tolerance and acceptance of the broadly understood diversity, with particular regard to the situation of immigrants. It is important to broaden students’ intercultural skills and competences – teamwork and respect for values. Another element is motivating students to learn foreign languages, processing information, using ICT tools such as: PowerPoint, Word, PDF, social networking sites, Skype, eTwinning platform and more. In addition, the development of creativity and initiative among young people and other stakeholders and a change of mindset on immigrants. Project activities will improve the learning outcomes of disadvantaged students by reducing or eliminating differences and disparities. The competences of all the teachers who are involved in specific project activities will also increase. Target groups are 12-16 year old students, teachers, and local community representatives from villages, small towns and larger cities. For most of the schools involved in the project (Germany, Latvia, Denmark, Finland, Poland) the activities are geared towards a multicultural community. All institutions face the problem of the lack of tolerance towards foreigners, as well as refugees’ troubles that involve language learning, coping with the acquisition of the school knowledge or finding and maintaining work. The project’s activities are addressed to people with prejudices, with a low tolerance threshold, and to refugees and their families. We will focus on integrating and developing tasks. We plan to organise charity events (we will donate people in need thanks to the money gathered), matches and other sports activities, meetings with interesting people who will support our initiative. We intend to broaden the knowledge and skills of project stakeholders also through art (performances, sculpture, artwork, music, film). A brochure of recipes for recipes characteristic for partner countries will be created. We also anticipate common actions to be taken during students and teachers meetings in partner countries. We plan to organize 5 outgoing meetings (in Germany, Poland, Denmark, Finland and Latvia) for 2 teachers and 3 pupils each time. During the implementation of the various elements of the project, designated pupils and teachers will record subsequent events and then make it available to a wider audience, using tools such as the eTwinning platform and blog, as well as during additional meetings to disseminate the results of the project after the event. Multimedia presentations, posters, flyers and written reports will be created that take into account the conclusions of the specific implementation. Students will benefit from a range of IT tools, including: Skype, You Tube, Facebook, and teachers will communicate regularly via email, SMS, Skype and Facebook. One working meeting will be held at the end of the project to summarise all the activities.

As far as the material results are concerned, we hope that thanks to the project the schools will be present in the local environments as institutions establishing international relations. There will be posters, guides, artwork, sculptures, films, photos, presentations and newspapers that will be a permanent and tangible proof of joint, creative actions among schoolchildren from 5 countries that have combined one need – integration to broaden the worldwide tolerance, respect for the difference and diversity supported by the mutual understanding. We look forward to increasing the learning outcomes and language competences which will be confirmed by the Europass documents.

Project activities will be continually monitored, the results and their impact on the environment will be observed, interviews which will draw conclusions for the future will be conducted (Green Chair). Significant element of the evaluation of the project activities and results will be surveys conducted by the designated persons at the beginning, during and at the end of the work.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 105120 Eur

Project Coordinator

Zespol Szkol Publicznych w Jazgarzewie & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Kaukajärven koulu
• Smiltenes vidusskola
• Kurt-Tucholsky-Gesamtschule
• Espergaerde skole