Educating the democratic citizens of tomorrow Erasmus Project

Project Title

Educating the democratic citizens of tomorrow

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 : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

Educating the democratic citizens of tomorrow.
Our project is about democracy, its multiple transformations throughout time and the ways this type of government can improve people’s lives.
The initial idea was born during a school visit to the National Parliament. The students had previously studied the types of democratic government and the importance of the freedom of speech in modern democracies. Despite the academic knowledge, the project hasn’t changed their view towards the democratic institutions.
Since we strongly believe that the systematic rejection of the democratic institutions is one of the major risks modern democracies are facing, as it could pave the way for various authoritarian ideologies, we decided to run this project. We aim to help the pupils have a different approach of the democratic institutions. We took into consideration that school projects should activate even the less advantaged. The activities are based on the principle that every pupil can develop his learning potential in an agreeable and stimulating learning environment, that favors autonomy and creativity.
The participants overcome 50% of students and staff in each school. The participants in each mobility are 30 pupils, some coming from less advantaged family environments and 12 teachers sharing the same concerns on children’s needs, early school dropout and personal evolvement.
Activities could involve visits to places where democracy was born, like the ancient Agora in Athens, where Athenian citizens discussed in person every issue of city life, the Greek Parliament or the ancient theater of Larissa, where poets and play writers of the 5th century A.C freely expressed their beliefs and accused their leaders, thanks to the democratic freedom of speech.
Rhetorical speeches on controversial issues and strategies used to influence the voters could be presented. Role playing could cover a significant part of the activities. The participants could play the roles of legislators, leaders, warriors, women, slaves immigrants to understand the conflict between individual and social interest. All the activities are designed to present the different and often conflicting opinions that flourish in a society and the competence required to use them in favor of the less advantaged.
The methodology will be a combination of theoretical research and development of social and interactive skills.
The students, teachers and the local community will benefit from the outcome of this project. By participating in different activities the students will improve language and communicating skills, share their knowledge on democratic institutions and understand the political evolution in human societies.
The local community will benefit from those future citizens interested in discussing, negotiating, presenting arguments and respecting people’s rights. In the long term, schools and communities situated in the countryside will feel that their needs will be respected and their opinions appreciated and they willingly accept their responsibilities as citizens.

Project Website

https://www.facebook.com/Educating-the-Democratic-Citizens-of-Tomorrow-109824807203145/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARCRIu8CBkGn56hth1M-nmgNm-vAXAOZ-JPuvW32VIUdiYcZzd1RCmsBVBiIGQznJb9-u9tTyN9yrjM9&hc_ref=ARSNA2zu0EVpF6Q4J0_5sjceL-gYB9kfHTipJZQaHn21A7N8z6nVgirzRfeyA7M4lo8&fref=nf

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 196373 Eur

Project Coordinator

Lykeio Gonnon & Country: EL

Project Partners

• 42 Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace im. A. Mickiewicza w Krakowie
• Agrupamento de Escolas Henriques Nogueira
• IES JOSEP SUREDA I BLANES
• Mathilde-Planck-Schule Ludwigsburg
• Gymnasio L.T. Kallitheas Elassonas