No matter how far away we are, we are Europe! Erasmus Project

Project Title

No matter how far away we are, we are 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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Creativity and culture; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

How can Europe be defined? Is it the geographical proximity of the countries or rather common values and ideas? How far away do you have to travel from central Europe until you reach the point of not feeling European anymore? This leads us to the question if you can even recognise in the outermost regions or in countries at the edge of Europe the feeling of belonging to Europe and the true spirit and solidarity of a united Europe?
Due to these questions we are six secondary schools located in Tromsø, Norway, Lappeenranta in Finland, Santa Cruz de la Palma on the island of La Palma, Matoury in French Guyana, Ravine des Cabris on Reunion Island and Kirchheim/Teck in Germany, which want to explore what it means to be European even though we live really far from each other. Thus, the title of our project is „No matter how far away we are, we are Europe“. Our project deals with the topic of reducing distances between people, schools and countries.
As our main goal we would like to make students and teachers aware that geographical distances do not play a role and above all, by visiting far away places, schools and students we want to show that barriers in people’s mind can be reduced. This is possible on the one hand by working in cross-national teams and on the other hand to see how they live in reality, to get to know students, talk to them face to face and see their school and town. Only this can foster common values and a mutual understanding and it also leads to a European identity.
Our partners are from the South American continent, others are situated in the Indian or the Atlantic Ocean, near the Arctic or just a step from the Russian border. Due to these locations, most students probably feel far from Europe and especially this seems to be the chance to bring everybody closer together. It is very important to show them the similarities they can have with other high school students in Europe. We want them to recognise that despite different cultures they all have a lot in common. We share culture and values, the same hopes and fears and this bring us together, despite distances.
The aim of the project is to promote active European citizenship, to support life-long learning, to get to know other cultures, people, Europe and differnt school systems as well as to promote mutual understanding and tolerance. Further, students and teachers discover different points of view and see differences and similarities of young people all over Europe no matter how far away they live from each other.
We will focus on the EU’s values and the agenda 2030. During the two years we will have a look at how:
• to promote peace and the values of the EU
• sustainable development and environmental protection can work
• to promote education and equal opportunities on the labour market
• to combat social exclusion, right-wing tendencies and discrimination
• to respect and support cultural diversity
• to fight for freedom, democracy and justice

Further, we want to develop step by step an interactive travelling page, which shows the uniqueness of Europe and what each country contributes to it. To reach all those aims we use different and creative methods, which bring the students into the habit of working on their own, to develop their ICT skills further and to enhance their social as well as their 21st century skills. They need to interact a lot and use English as their working language. The students also do their project work between the LTTs and will compare and present those at the LTTs. In this way, they deepen their knowledge on the subjects, work in workshops and visit places and talk to experts.
Other aims are to strengthen the teaching profession, exchange good practices and new methods and to integrate those into lessons. Teachers will become more motivated, committed and will use more student-oriented and innovative teaching methods. Also the teachers will interact internationally which will reflect on their attitudes, too.
Some of the tangible results are to establish parliamentary committees (according to the structure of the European Parliament), an interactive travelling page, project logo, art works, films, posters, interviews, a talkshow, the realisation of a “Go Green Day”, a “Good Deed Day” and a “Cultural Day”, a flashmob and a song.
Ways of communicating with all the partners will be email, during the meetings and through Twinspace. All the results will be published and shared on the created project’s homepage as well as on eTwinning and on the Erasmus+ site.
Next to the content related themes, we would like to promote the European idea and to underline the necessity of working closely together with a mutual understanding to keep up a unified, powerful and functioning European Union to overcome intolerance, political and social crises and to strengthen our responsibility towards other people and the environment.

At the end all school principals sign our friendship agreement which is created by the students.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 27328 Eur

Project Coordinator

Jakob-Friedrich-Schöllkopf-Schule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Kimpisen lukio
• IES VIRGEN DE LAS NIEVES
• Kongsbakken videregående skole
• Lycée de Bois d’Olive
• Lycée Polyvalent Lycée des métiers du bâtiment et de la communication visuelle Balata