Me, You and our Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Me, You and our Europe

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: EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Pedagogy and didactics; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship

Project Summary

The context in which this project was developed, is the context of a need, felt in the 3 participating schools. All teachers in this project noticed that there is something missing, something essential lacking to educate the teenagers of today’s society. Our students don’t seem to be motivated enough, our students seem to want to work and learn, but only for the result on their report card, not because they want to know more, or because they want to be able to do more. With this project we want to fill that void. We are convinced that the opportunities this project offers, will motivate students. We are sure that if they can experience what it means to be an active member in their own community, if they can experience the values that they share with international peers, if they learn about the possibilities that a united Europe offers them, that then they will be motivated to be the best version of themselves.

The participants are students aged 15 to 18. In each school 10 to 15 students per school year can participate directly in the project. We specifically chose to work with this group because they are almost ready to step into adulthood, but before they do so, we hope to fill their backpack with useful and meaningful skills and knowledge to enhance their chances in life.

Through this project we aim to raise teenagers who no longer sit back, but instead, take up their responsibility and take part in the democracy they live in. To do this we will work with 6 topics, divided over 2 school years. During the 1st school year a 1st group of students will focus on the following topics: my region and my country, my cultural habits and traditions and finally each other’s culture and habits. During the 2nd school year a 2nd group of students will first get acquainted with the results created by the students from the previous year so they have a firm base to start from. Then they will elaborate on that work by linking regional and national cultures to a bigger and united Europe. The topics they will cover are: the history of Europe, Europe’s institutions and Europe’s chances and challenges in the future.

To reach these goals the project work will consists of an alternation between project work at each school and student exchanges. During each school year every school will host once and travel twice. During each travel only half of the students of each school will take part in the physical exchange. This way it stays feasible to work with host families and it also safeguards the quality and functionality of the the group work during the exchanges. At the same time, all students have the opportunity to travel once.

The research carried out in each school separately will be shared on eTwinning so all students and teachers can keep track of each other’s progress and discoveries. The general topics that will be discussed have been decided beforehand, but as we aim to make our students more engaged and participative, there is also room for students’ input. This means that the exact results cannot be listed, it might be blogs, vlogs, presentations, quizzes, art works,… . Teachers will also use eTwinning to exchange lesson plans, ideas for effective group work, evaluation forms etc. Besides eTwinning, the students will also develop a website on which they post updates in between and during the exchange. Via this medium, we aim to inform a larger group of ‘indirect’ participants such as parents, …

It is unquestionable that an international experience benefits all schools in general. First of all, we believe that a combination of enhancing students’ knowledge about Europe, its history, its opportunities, but also its challenges and the real life experience of a European project offers, will lead to an impact on several levels. For the students it will significantly change their vision of themselves and their roles in society, but not only for those participating directly, but also to the rest of students of our schools since all of them will benefit from the shared experiences taken place during these two years and afterwards. Students will get the chance to grow and develop a wide range of skills and competences. Their creativity and willingness to look at situations from different perspectives will be encouraged. Furthermore, they will practice both their language and ICT-skills. And with the support from UCLL through the Skillville platform they will develop the key competences needed to succeed in higher education.

On school level, the impact will benefit more students and teachers than involved in the project, as lesson plans and teaching methodologies can be shared during teacher meetings or projects. This will lead to a healthier school environment in which motivation and involvement from both teachers and students will be an added value to regular school life. In addition, a sustainable relationship between all partner schools will lead to more possibilities for further cooperation.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 87268 Eur

Project Coordinator

Inspirocollege & Country: BE

Project Partners

• I.E.S. Virgen del Pilar
• 5 General Lyceum Veroias