Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Student Ambassador Programme Erasmus Project

Project Title

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Student Ambassador Programme

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Social dialogue; Access for disadvantaged; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Across Europe there are issues with discrimination in schools based on people’s background and identities, this stems from a lack of awareness and understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) issues such as migration, race, refugees, disabilities, ethnicity, religion, LGBT+, sexuality, gender and poverty. This project brings together at least 150 students aged 15-19 from 6 schools to become ED&I ambassadors, challenge discrimination and increase awareness of ED&I. Our key aims are to promote ED&I; tackle discrimination; and to encourage social action and social/community responsibility amongst students and staff. Additionally, we are committed to prioritising students from disadvantaged backgrounds including refugees, migrants, religious-minorities, ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and students likely to drop out of school or less likely to continue into higher education.

In the first year of the project schools will appoint student ED&I ambassadors who will learn about a different ED&I theme each month and devise strategies to raise awareness of these themes in their schools and communities.

Timeline of potential monthly themes:
– October- Black History Month and European Heritage
– November- Tolerance & Community action
– December- Disability Awareness
– January- Holocaust Memorial
– February- LGBT+ History
– March- Women’s Month
– April- Autism awareness
– May- Heritage Month and Mental Health awareness
– June- Refugee week and Pride Month

In the second year of the project students will draw on what they learnt in the first year to devise their own social action project for their school and community. Students will use research and planning to learn about the needs of their peers and community to create an outcome that will benefit them and promote ED&I. The final campaign/output can be in any form including, a fashion show, book, performance, film, series of posters or event. Students will also continue to promote monthly themes using the material created in Year 1 of the project.
 
The large breadth of the project means that students will have the opportunity to learn about a range of issues that do not typically appear on the school curriculum. Staff will also benefit as they will have the opportunity to share approaches with partner schools and devise strategies to raise awareness of ED&I in their schools whilst reducing bullying and discrimination.
This project is innovative and interdisciplinary; and participants will develop a range of skills and knowledge during project activities.
Students will:
– Learn how about ED&I and raise awareness of ED&I issues
-Learn research methods such as interviews and surveys
-Actively engage in debate and political discussions
-Tackle discrimination
-Develop personal skills and key competences including intercultural competences, communication, teamwork, independence, and
public speaking
-Develop IT and creative skills
-Learn creative approaches to creating campaigns and disseminating ideas including video, radio, photography, posters, art, essays and blog posts.
-Develop language skills particularly English language skills for the students currently undertaking English lessons
-Actively engage in their schools and communities

 
Staff will:
-Be better equipped to promote ED&I, tolerance, and anti-discrimination
-Develop personal skills and key competences

Outcomes
-Ongoing ED&I student ambassadors
-Student social action project
-Project website and TwinSpace
-Posters
-Workshops and assemblies held in schools focused on project themes
-Student conferences including student presentations and external speakers
-Presentations focusing on key themes of the project created by students, which will be used during and after the project
-Reports on student perceptions of ED&I issues
-Postcards for schools showcasing traditions and cultures of partner schools
-Celebration of ED&I dates and Erasmus+ Day
-Project report/brochure to be disseminated in schools and community
-T-shirts
-Badges
-Project video
-Erasmus corner in schools

Longer term benefits
-Increased awareness of ED&I and more tolerant students and staff
-Materials produced during the project will be used in the schools after the project is completed and will be shared publicly
– Continued celebrations of ED&I themes in schools using material created during project
-Reports will be available to the public via school websites, project website and eTwinning
-Increase the motivation for learning among students from vulnerable groups
-Students more motivated to engage in school, community and charity
-Improve skills and competences such as critical thinking, communication, creativity, and teamwork
-Increased awareness to innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to promoting ED&I
-Staff better equipped for reducing discrimination
-Stronger cohesion amongst partner schools, community hubs, local organisations

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 2250 Eur

Project Coordinator

Bow School & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Colegio Pureza de María
• Cumhuriyet Anadolu Lisesi
• Escola Secundária de Camarate
• Geniko Lykeio Agios Nikolaos,Sithonia,Halkidiki
• Lycée Professionnel Ferdinand Buisson