SETTING OUR MINDS FREE FROM STEREOTYPICAL IDEAS Erasmus Project

Project Title

SETTING OUR MINDS FREE FROM STEREOTYPICAL IDEAS

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

As citizens of a multicultural Europe, our purpose is help protect any minority, by being understanding and respectful of others, because this is the key for social cohesion and a healthy democracy. Nowadays we observe an increasing of immigration cases , and countries like Turkey, Romania and Macedonia are making efforts to adapt to this phenomenon, by applying different programs or taking specific initiatives . PT and LT are some other countries being also in the frame of the issue as members of the European Union.
We chose this topic as a priority for our schools and for our project, because we realized how important it is to our students to become aware of the stereotypes and discrimination, increasing the chances to change and for people to live in harmony together.

Objectives
We want to reach the following objectives:
to combat hate speech and hate behavior inside schools;
– to increase social awareness, tolerance, empathy for the immigrants and the refugees
– to reduce stereotypes and raise awareness about the risks they may cause
– to improve the knowledge related to tackling the issues of stereotyping and discrimination (bullying) inside each school
– to promote the active involvement of the students in the social life on the topic of stereotyping and discrimination
– to develop a strong relationship between schools and local NGOs who are addressing the same topics
We intend to obtain a big impact on the participants such as :
– a better awareness of the phenomenon of stereotyping and discrimination, bullying at local and European levels
– an increased involvement of the students in the community life
– increased spirit of tolerance between students, more respect for each other
– eliminated the prejudice from their way of thinking
– improved cultural and intercultural awareness
– more autonomous individuals
– improved communication skills, language level, social skills
– improved their analytical and problem-solving abilities
– increased their self-confidence
Participants
The project addresses a target group of 360 students of different specialisations in our school, boys and girls, 13-18 years old. We believe that this is a critical age, when the risk is higher for them to develop long-lasting negative attitudes towards other people based on stereotypical thinking and discrimination.
The project also addresses teachers in our schools, school counsellors and psychologists who will turn the project results into longterm practices at local levels.

Main activities
We have planned 4 LTTAs and one TM
JS – At the beginning of the project to widen project move and plan the whole action.
C1 – Stereotypical thinking and discrimination: common stereotypes related to nationalities; direct, indirect, multiple
discrimination; forms of discrimination and their effects – xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia.
C2 – Gender and racial equality: common gender and racial stereotypes and their effects; ways of combating them.
C3 – Religious equality: common stereotypes related to religions and religious beliefs; effects of such stereotypes; analysis
of cases in which stereotypes and discrimination against religions had terrible consequences
C4 – Stereotypical thinking and discrimination in schools – how can we address and solve these issues?

Methodology
The project will cover 5 main areas:
– Project management
1. Design and implementation of methodologies for the sustainability plan
2. Financial management
3. Risk management
4. Monitoring and evaluation of activities and results
5. Organisation and attendance of TM
– Selection and preparation of the participants
– Organisation and participation in LTTAs
– Elaboration of tangible results
– Dissemination
1. Creation of website and a e-twinning space
2. Design of materials – brochures, flyers, posters, banners, articles
3. Dissemination meetings

Results and impact
– increased awareness of the democratic values of the EU, increased wish to participate actively in local campaigns against discrimination, better intercultural awareness, communication and dialogue; increased social awareness, tolerance, empathy for the immigrants and refugees; improved knowledge of the concepts of stereotyping and discrimination and the areas in which they can manifest, the dangers they bring about; improved English skills, data manipulation, critical thinking skills, improved team work abilities (developed in local activities and transnational exchanges)
Tangible results
– informative instruments created for the purpose of the mobilities, creative poems and prose on the topic of European diversity, role plays recorded on the videos, posters on the topic of “NO HATE in schools”, “United as One under the European Sky”, photographs of students for the competition about cultural differences “I am not You but We can be together”, collection of interactive games and activities.

Project Website

https://read.bookcreator.com/tXQw1A0J0YPGbu5Tpm6Ho3e551T2/APvwLKFaSqOjpmv6NWMsqA

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 142305 Eur

Project Coordinator

Agrupamento de Escolas Águeda Sul & Country: PT

Project Partners

• Kaunas Antanas Smetona Gymnasium
• Pazar Fen Lisesi
• SOU Gimnazija “Goce Delcev”
• Colegiul National de Informatica “Carmen Sylva” Petrosani