Flüchtlinge – gestern und heute Erasmus Project

Project Title

Flüchtlinge – gestern und heute

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Integration of refugees; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

For all three partners musical work has a high priority. That’s why the schools wanted to realize an international project with historical background after recent, purely musical, intercultural encounters.
One important aim of the project was to increase the understanding of “the foreign” and to dispel fears. This project was intended to expand intercultural awareness of the pupils on the basis of a foreign language and lead to the creation of a tolerant attitude towards people from other cultures. But not only the students also their families and other people should get in touch with “Flight and expulsion” to get a sense for European values, to improve their tolerance towards foreign people and to make integration possible.
The international cooperation encouraged to look at “refugees yesterday and today” from the countries’ different points of view. Music helped to get in touch and to exchange emotions. The universal language “music” removed language barriers and fears of contact. So working together was much easier then. Since the topic “refugees” produced emotions, music and dance also proved to be a suitable medium for presenting the results. The project’s implementation was always characterized by a high degree of student activity. The students did research on the subject in their own environment and on the Internet. The results were discussed via eTwinning. Parallel to the peer-learning teachers supervised intensively. Furthermore the project was based on emotional approach. That’s why the contact to contemporary witnesses and refugees was as important as music. Music was the medium to get in touch and to present.
In the project’s 1st year, students did research on “Refugees yesterday” at their own schools first. Then they got in touch with their partner students and exchanged the information. They prepared presentations and websites (https://twinspace.etwinning.net/27505/home). During the 1st meeting in Rome the project was officially opened – expressed by music. Besides teachers and students were working on the project’s next steps. Students of all three schools met in Wemding to present their results in an exhibition and during a big joint concert in aid of refugees. Here, the media was enabled to introduce the project locally. After phases of evaluation, in the 2nd year work phases on “Refugees today” took place as well as an interim meeting in Rome. Students did interviews with refugees and worked together with the helping community of St. Egidio. There was a concert with and for migrants as well. The results of “Refugees yesterday” and of “Refugees today” were put together and presented during a big concert for peace in Liepaja in April 2018. In addition, the results were published on a new homepage (erasmus.rs-wemding.de). Finally the project was evaluated and future intercultural encounters were planned. More than 200 students and their teachers were directly involved in the project but many other students, families and the neighbourhoods around the schools were affected as well.
Visible results of this project were the presentations, the exhibitions, the websites as well as the concerts performed together and the advanced skills of pupils in the historical, social and musical area as well as in the foreign language English. Friendships began between the young people of all countries. In addition, students became active EU citizens in discussions among themselves and with politicians. However, there are many results that are not directly visible, such as the awareness of the current situation of refugees, the personal development of the participants, the break-down of fears and prejudices or the receptiveness to other cultures.
The project produced an enormous external impact to the schools and people became very interested. It is hard to say whether people are really more open-minded now. But anyway, the project caused attention and awareness concerning “refugees yesterday and today”. People reflected the current situation of refugees comparing to the past. In addition, the international events brought back the European idea to the people. And the policy-makers got aware of the project because of the contact to local authorities such as city archives but also district administrators or members of parliament. The press’ reports, the homepage and meetings even with federal politicians published the project all over the countries. Staying in host families and the English language enforced the international character of the project.
As long-term benefits the participants got better language skills, other competences and personal development. This might improve their opportunities on the job market. In addition, intensive European relations were established. But the most important benefit will be a permanent positive attitude towards refugees.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 60350 Eur

Project Coordinator

Anton-Jaumann-Realschule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Istituto Comprensivo Regina Margherita
• PIKC Liepajas Muzikas, makslas un dizaina vidusskola