M(e)Y(ou) Society Erasmus Project

Project Title

M(e)Y(ou) Society

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

The three-year project M(e)Y(ou) Society connected three partner schools: Milojka Štrukelj Primary School Nova Gorica from Slovenia, Colegio Villa Fátima from Spain and Primary School “Elisaveta Bagriana” from Bulgaria. The Slovenian school was the applicant school and at the same time the initiator of the implementation of this project. From previous correspondence we discerned that we face similar problems of peer violence and that we want to improve our own activity in this field. We also got the sense of readiness for work and determination to reach the goal, so we decided to cooperate.
The project involved approximately 130 students aged 12 to 15, school leadership, and professional workers of the schools included in the project.
We have prepared a three-year program entitled “More than a diploma”. The schools have included this program in their curriculum. The program is useful for all schools that want to systematically carry out activities to raise self-esteem with the aim of reducing peer violence. The program includes a manual for teachers with student worksheets, a cover for the student portfolio and certificates for active student participation.
The aim of our project was to train teachers with the method of experience to conduct workshops and reflections for students, with which we developed social competencies for reducing peer violence, which included:
– getting to know and accept their own feelings, emotions and values,
– getting to know and accept interpersonal, intergenerational and cultural differences,
– learning about the methods of solving conflicts and expressing unpleasant emotions,
– developing a sense of belonging to their school community and encouraging patriotism.
With this project we expose the need for having more time to carry out educational activities in class community.
We found out from a study that the level of self-esteem of pupils significantly affects the decline of peer violence. This consequently affects the improvement of students’ marks and also school attendance. Therefore, we expect the long-term effects of our project to show in students’ lives; so that they would reach for different addictions less and grow up into independent and active citizens.
We prepared a comparative analysis of the state of educational issues and the sense of self-esteem between the classes of students included in the project and students of the same age that were not included. Activities of the project with students involved have brought positive shifts in the areas of interpersonal relationships, security, mutual support, improved communication and empowerment to deal with various distresses.
The results of the project also include the Problem Solving Recipe and the collection of didactic aids Words that Help.
In the project, we carried out three short-term exchanges of groups of students. The students actively participated in international activities with presentations, workshops and teamwork with their peers from other countries. By doing so, they built their self-esteem and improved the active use of foreign language.
We also carried out four short-term joint staff training events. By visiting and actively cooperating with partner schools, the participants felt and learned about the peculiarities of educational systems and the way of life in different cultures, which improved our common knowledge and the ability to accept and adapt.
The last two mobilities planned in the project were carried out in an adjusted form, mostly virtual, due to the spread of the new coronavirus.
The results of the project are published on the project website (https://twinspace.etwinning.net/32394/pages/page/396898) and on the site http://www2.arnes.si/~erapro/ for free use by all interested schools.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 101245 Eur

Project Coordinator

Osnovna sola Milojke Strukelj Nova Gorica & Country: SI

Project Partners

• PS “Elisaveta Bagriana”
• Colegio Villa Fátima