Flows of life: Immigrants and refugees in search of an identity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Flows of life: Immigrants and refugees in search of an identity

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: Migrants’ issues; Integration of refugees; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

The six participating schools are primarily characterized by the heterogeneity of their students. There are students who are migrants (1st and 2nd generation) as well as newly arrived refugees, mostly underprivileged, who struggle to cope and adjust to the host country both in social and economic terms. They co-exist with native students, they are exposed to the educational system of the host country, and they are also influenced by their parents. Along with these as teenagers they undergo a state of identity formation which brings a lot of stress to them and is aggravated by the fact that they are trying to find their place in the new reality. Our schools seek for ways of managing diversity. Intercultural education, which is a tool to this end, is strongly linked with the theory of identities. The core elements of one’s cultural identity are embedded in a strong sense of belonging to a distinctive culture, traditions, language, symbols and history of a country. These merge together with the cultural elements of the host country and a new interesting identity is formed. Accepting and embracing the new identity empowers the individuals and helps them thrive.

The project aims at researching each own and other people’s elements of identity, helping minority and native become empowered and redefine their relationships with “others”, increasing cultural dialogue, developing tolerance to other culture differences, raising awareness of shared history and values, reinforcing a sense of belonging to a common European space, offering students the chance to participate in an international project, promoting the fundamental values of the EU , fostering a European identity, developing students` soft skills, developng language skills, promoting networking, exchanging good practices and creating synergies, encouraging active parental participation, strengthening social and educational competences of the teachers ,exploring good practices, and disseminating knowledge and experienced gained within the educational organizations and the local communities.The total number of the participant students is 150, aged 12-15. They are migrants and natives selected on the basis of their desire and commitment to the project, who bring a variety of cultural elements to the project. There are also underprivileged students in the project. The participating teachers in the mobility are 10. They are strongly commited to the project, enthusiastic and passionate, possessing organizational skills and professional qualifications.

The project consists of six thematic areas, which represent six manifestations of cultural identity: Culture, History and Geography, Myths and Traditions, Language and Symbols, Dances and Games. Each school is responsible for one of the thematic areas, the exploration of which will mainly take place in their country with the contribution of all schools.The methodology of the program is as follows: Project management meetings will take place via the e-twinning platform, and other applications. eTwinning will also be used for establishing communication not only among the teachers, but also among the participating students who will work before each flow preparing the theme to be explored. The great range of activities, which will take place during each flow (presentations, ongoing photo exhibitions, logo competition, poster creation, artistic creations, drama games and short act performances, games, dances, collaborative writing activities, radio broadcast, traditional breakfast, traditional lunch, website posts, social media posts, T-shirt design and printing, cultural excursions) ensure the thorough exploration of each topic, the motivation and active involvement of the students. The products, which will result from the project (e-books, e-dictionary, e-journals, videos, DVDs) are to be used for dissemination purposes as well along with press releases, articles, information day, events targeted to parents/local community and leaflet distribution.

After the completion of the project the students are expected to become empowered, to develop appreciation to other cultures, to become more language competent, to develop valuable 21st century soft skills and- more importhant- to gain a European perspective enabling them to develop the identity of European citizens.Teachers are also expected to gain valuable experience on managing cultural diversity and to be both professionally and socially empowered by exchanging good practices and by communicating and collaborating with their peers on cultural issues. The activities of the project, which are to be organized and presented with the help and at the presence of parents as well as of the local community will actively involve them, will raise awareness on cultural issues and will eventually bring them close to the European values.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 191160 Eur

Project Coordinator

IMERISIO GYMNASIO NEAS KALLIKRATEIAS & Country: EL

Project Partners

• Agrupamento de Escolas Marcelino Mesquita do Cartaxo
• INSTITUTO ALEXANDRE DE RIQUER
• Johannes Kepler Privatschulen
• NMS Staudingergasse 6, 1200 Wien
• ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO CASSANO MAGNAGO II