Promoting Health and Well Being in Body and in Mind through Culture and Identity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Promoting Health and Well Being in Body and in Mind through Culture and Identity

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: Inclusion – equity; Health and wellbeing; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

Project Summary
The title of our project is ‘Promoting Health and Well Being in Body and in Mind through Culture and Identity’. We believe that a child’s well being in mind and in body is enhanced when they are exposed to and respect other cultures and identities. The backgrounds of our pupils are very different but the needs of our pupils are the same: to be healthy in minds, body and attitude, to cherish our own identity, be respectful of our differences and to learn from each other. The main aim of our project is to develop and promote healthy living in mind, body and attitude across Europe through the sharing of experiences, ideas and cultural identities. Three of the present partners have previously participated together in a very successful and fulfilling Comenius project in the area of health and well being. In the past we concentrated on healthy eating, recipes, dance and playground games. Having found this to be an enriching and rewarding project, we decided to broaden the scope of our focus and to explore elements of culture, identity, healthy –in-mind strategies and targets, sport and music. We hope to promote social cohesion and intercultural dialogue while having fun together, develop understanding and mutual respect and to foster a mutually beneficial partnership which encourages a desire to work together and learn together. We aim to promote the similarities between different cultures and people and to respect and embrace difference. We will do this using technology in an innovative way
There are five schools participating in our project. They include Ireland, Spain, Netherlands and two schools from Poland. Four of the schools are Catholic, one is of the Muslim faith. The five schools are diverse with two in the centre of a large city, one in a large town, one in a small town and one in a village. The backgrounds of our pupils are very different but the needs of our pupils are the same : to be healthy in mind, body and attitude.
We will undertake a wide range of activities encompassing school based activities, virtual activities, cultural activities, etc These include class to class projects via technological communications, virtual cooperation between partner schools for sharing music, art, poetry, ideas on health lifestyles and nutrition. We will set up Healthy Cookery clubs for pupils, run mindfulness sessions, create watercolour projects, dramas on legends, and publish books and dvds to showcase our work
We will establish new whole school practices, have specific class to class pairing between partner schools using technological communication, role play and drama sessions, creating pen pals and ensuring excellent and consistent communication between partner schools. We will display the project on our shared website, on our own schools’ websites, on display areas in our schools and classrooms.
We hope to improve self esteem and self confidence of our pupils and improve their knowledge of and attitudes towards different cultures, social backgrounds and religious faiths We will develop their sense and appreciation of what it means to be European. Our schools will also benefit by improved teaching and learning through mutual sharing of expertise. Teachers will learn more about their European colleagues, about their education systems, teaching methods and practices. Schools will set up new whole school practices to enhance the well being of pupils
The impact of the project would also be expected to reach a local and European level. While at a local level, the children, teachers, parents and local community will embrace the project and its many activities, they will also be acutely aware that this project is collaboration by a wider community – our European friends. Through regular contact and shared activities with our European partners we will develop an awareness of being ‘European’ and realize and respect the many different cultures, faiths and social backgrounds that exists throughout Europe. We hope to build the foundations for continued partnerships and to develop the relationships we have with our European colleagues

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 81910 Eur

Project Coordinator

St Canice’s School & Country: IE

Project Partners

• Szkola Podstawowa nr 164
• Szkola Podstawowa nr 36 im. Zenona Wasilewskiego
• Al Ummah
• Colegio Católico San Vicente de Paúl