Open Minds Studio Erasmus Project

Project Title

Open Minds Studio

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 youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

The “Open Minds Studio” project was created as a result of work of a group of Polish youth in the national youth initiative “Kids with passion” (“Youth in Action” Programme ). The current project was an extension of the completed initiative which was for the Polish group a gateway to the Programme and international cooperation. Finishing a local initiative young people decided to take steps to join the international events and lead their first international project. Polish participants invited the youth from a Portuguese partner organization ETIC to cooperate. Both participants joined forces in a desire to conduct non-formal citizenship education activities for children. In addition, the participants were concerned about their future career and wanted to gain experience that will help them find future employment or set up their own businesses. Young people wanted to develop their enterprise in direct action, they wanted to shape their citizenship through workshops and work for the local community. There were 20 people involved in the project (10 PL and 10 PT) aged 18-30 years, being trained in various occupations and at different levels (from vocational schools to the universities), the unemployed working in ProHarmonia, and people who did their work below their qualifications and they wanted to change their situation. With time the youth polished up specific actions to be taken under the project. The youth created a platform with the materials of civic education, which today are scattered on the network are available in one place. The platform contains materials (or links to them) in Polish, Portuguese and English. The platform is available to educators conducting civic education classes, looking for inspiration and materials for teaching. The platform places information about available materials, ongoing projects, it is a place where educators can post their own materials and exchange expertise. In addition the youth prepared, in cooperation with teachers and coaches, an original set of five classes of civic education for 8-10 years old. They covered topics such as citizenship, active citizenship, attitudes and actions of a responsible citizen, including solidarity, freedom, human rights, equality and globalization. The youth prepared together lesson plans, under which they a variety of methods and tools used, e.g. blocks, cameras, computers with software for animation. Young people tested and then led the classes for children, first in national languages, and then a series of classes in English. Working with children the participants also used the project work method. The children prepared videos in stop-motion animation technique “ABC Democracy”. They created mini film studios, where they learnt teamwork, communication and gained new skills in the creation of movies (among others). The best productions were shown at the festival, which were prepared and guided by the youth in both countries (on-line transmission). Lesson plans were placed on the platform and are available to other educators. The youth worked with children from primary schools which cooperate with the ETIC and ProHarmonia and children from centres supporting people in difficult situations. The youth conducted 50 classes. The classes were attended by 120 children (from PL and PT).The youth also planned workshops developing their citizenship in national groups led by the coaches of the organizations and via international on-line seminars. They also planned short-term intensive training that they needed in order to best prepare for working with children. The youth participated in a course of stop motion animation and a coaching course. Joining in the activities of the Project young people took up work for the local
community. In the immediate action they enriched their knowledge of citizens’ rights and developed competences needed by every active citizen. It was necessary if they want to achieve success in their personal and professional life in PL and PT. Young people learnt to work in an intercultural environment.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 39885 Eur

Project Coordinator

Centrum Edukacji ProHarmonia & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Escola Técnica de Imagem e Comunicação Aplicada