Have a Brave Trip Erasmus Project

Project Title

Have a Brave Trip

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Integration of refugees

Project Summary

At the beginning of the project young people in Europe seemed to have every opportunity to get in touch with people all over Europe whether it was by travelling without borders or by the use of the internet. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the conditions of the project changed. All partner schools were in lockdown and had to cope with severe problems of teaching. During this time students of the final years left the schools. It proved difficult to continue the work of the project. Unfortunately the meeting with students in Italy couldn’t take place.

It took a few months until digital teaching became normal. An extension of the project by 12 months was applied for and granted. Step by step the participants established digital ways of continuing the project. Although the pandemic was not over a final teachers’ meeting could take place in Italy to secure the results and pave the way for a follow up project.

At the beginning of the project the so called “refugee crises” was in the centre of attention. It had reinforced xenophobia being also triggered by the anonymity of the World Wide Web and bearing many risks for the students. The project was supposed to encourage them to meet the unknown where possible and warning them of naivety at the same time as is reflected in the title “Have a Brave Trip”.

As a means of communication English was always used amongst students and teachers. Students should learn to approach each other without prejudice, learn to trust each other and rely on their own judgement. At the same time they would be given means to recognize and avoid potential hazards and to act responsibly.

The three partner schools were an ideal combination with different cultural backgrounds. Whereas the German and the Italian group were used to people with different ethnical backgrounds including refugees the Polish school had hardly had any experience in this area.

As far as methodology was concerned the German school has a tradition of confidence building measures by Adventure Based Learning whereas the Polish partners have worked on preventing accidents including First Aid for many years. The Italian partner is specialized in dealing with the internet and its positive and negative effects on young people. Each school was an expert and a learner respectively. Workshops and trainings were given at each school. Unfortunately the part in Italy had to be dropped due to Covid-19 as the school was in lockdown for months.

We also included in our project students with learning difficulties, social problems and refugees. Taking part in the field trips and facing challenges taught them new skills in the new adventurous ways.

It was agreed that stop motion films on the topic would be produced between the meetings. Participants were encouraged to share their work with the peers from the partner schools, and upload vlogs and comments. The best ones were awarded, also taking part in international mobility meetings. This kept students motivated and involved.

By method of taking turns in firstly creating lesson plans, later animated films and videos results were constantly exchanged and improved. The video spots created by each school were used to run a social campaign on anti-bullying.

All methods were installed in all three schools to enrich their curriculum. Results will not only be implemented in the schools but only have an impact on the vicinities of the schools.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 80160 Eur

Project Coordinator

Oberschule am Leibnizplatz & Country: DE

Project Partners

• ITSS”L.CAMBI-D.SERRANI”
• Szkola Podstawowa nr 1 w Koluszkach