Do It Yourself Erasmus Project

Project Title

Do It Yourself

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Creativity and culture; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

Not everyone can be good at science but almost everyone is able to develop one’s creative abilities. In order to help youngsters find their place in this consumerist society and changing labor market we need to develop the entrepreneurship of our young generation . We wanted our pupils to change their attitude from “use it” to “do it yourself”. What is more, we aimed to direct the youth to such common values as close communication and self-perfection in regard to the pride of national identity and tolerance to other nations, environmental awareness and social entrepreneurship in the context of European cooperation.
Getting to know national old crafts of our own country and other European countries we have developed better understanding of different cultural backgrounds. Similarities and differences of national features defined by historical and social factors have proved all nations to have evaluated due to the same satisfaction of practical needs.
The knowledge gained through practice is long lasting and turns into skills. We aimed to make our pupils turn to a practical and creative way of learning about their culture taking a closer look at old crafts which gave enormous satisfaction of self-realization and practical benefit. The gained craft skills and entrepreneurship competences are very useful in one’s personal life and may even shape our students’ future career.
This project ” Do It Yourself” united four European schools: Rokiskis Juozo Tumo-Vaizganto gymnasium in Lithuania, which is the only gymnasium in Rokiskis town providing secondary education for 846 pupils and employing 115 teachers. The administration of the gymnasium supports the participation in various European projects and cooperation with other European schools. The partners of this project were: 1)The First School of Economics which is a state Secondary Vocational School of Economics in Zagreb, Croatia. Nowadays 1100 pupils attend the school and 83 teachers work there. 2) Escola Secundária António Damásio in Lisbon,Portugal, is a public school for students between the ages of 12 and 18. There are 1370 students and 161 teachers. 3) The secondary vocational school called « IIS F. ORIOLI» in Viterbo , Italy. The school has 120 teachers and 997 students aged 14-19.
All involved countries have very different experience in entrepreneurship education, environmental activity and competences of ICT use in education. We used those different experiences for our sake of benefit: shared our experience and taught each others to find the ways to their improvement.
We applied the learn-practice-teach methodology: students gained new skills and competences, they applied them in practice and shared the gained experience teaching others and creating new integrated products. The Guide of Methodology with DVD includes the outputs of the project activities : educational program “Employment of old crafts of European countries for development of entrepreneurship skills”; the methodology of making handicrafts based on the peculiar old crafts of partner countries; methods of integration of old crafts with new designs employing modern technologies and using recyclable materials; The ABC guide of business for beginners, a list of references to video and teaching/learning materials made by project participants, the photo gallery : the modernized national costumes, the photos from Fairs and other celebrations and events. DVD has the tutorial videos and PPTs whiuch are needed for the lessons of learning the old crafts and the basics of business. The project web site was designed and all project information was regularly uploaded and updated. The project quarterly newsletter was used to disseminate the project progress and results achieved. The e-version of all project outputs including The Guide of Methodology are accessible there.
The main activities:
-Celebration of The International Language Day, International Europe Day, organize cultural weeks of partner countries in their schools.
– creation of the project space, logo , badges and other promotional materials;
-educational trips to the local craftsmen and workshops with them; practical creative workshops teaching other students and parents; creating handicrafts for the fairs and exhibitions and organizing them;
-learning/teaching/training activities in partner countries with many integrated lessons, educational programs and creative workshops; creation of educational videos and e-materials;
– Celebration of International Pie day, Mother’s/Father’s Day.
Under the project impact the popularity of Entrepreneurship education has increased, the communication in school communities has become closer, participants have developed their creativity, expanded English skills and the profile of European citizens with wider outlook and more open thinking. The project outputs are being applied in partner schools and used by other schools as well as new ways of cooperation have been established.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 95805 Eur

Project Coordinator

Rokiskio Juozo Tumo- Vaizganto gimnazija & Country: LT

Project Partners

• Prva ekonomska skola
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Santa Maria dos Olivais
• IIS Francesco Orioli