Sicily and Culemborg join forces Erasmus Project

Project Title

Sicily and Culemborg join forces

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Social dialogue; Environment and climate change; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Context/background of project.
The KWC and the Istituto comprensivo San Piero Patti have been working together for three years in small-scale collaboration projects between students of lower educational levels. We have noticed that these projects are valuable for the students, because they in general do not have many international contacts and are surprised by the differences they discover. The projects also are used to work on the development of their communication in a second language, English, which isn’t easy for this group of students.
A longer-term project including an exchange could multiply the effect of getting to know each others differences, and gives opportunities to work on respect for and acceptance of these differences, and work on their communication. Both schools are interested in developing their abilities (pupils and teachers) to work together with a foreign school in the perspective to overcome the differences.
Furthermore, we have noticed that it is difficult to set up assignments to work on for shared classes in both schools because the organization of both schools, in ways of educational approach, methodology, equipment, etc is completely different. To improve collaboration, teachers would like to meet, try and improve their international assignments, and work on new ones in collaboration with the involved students.

There are two main objectives of the project.
The first one is for students to gain knowledge about other cultures, learn that there are differences in the living environment between the Netherlands and Sicily (global citizenship). They have insight into the course of the refugee flow (arrival at Sicily and integration in the Netherlands). They have insight into the environmental issues in both countries and have thought about possible solutions. And they will improve their communicational skills in English.
The second one is for teachers; we have a better understanding of how students think and act as together with students from other countries. We can better respond to problems that students encounter in a collaboration. Teachers are better able to develop a project for lower educational levels and have completed a number of assignments to work with that fit with the students interests and capabilities.

number and profile of participants;
In two years, approximately 160 students from the Netherlands and 80 from Italy have worked on the shared assignments in their classes. Around 24 from each country were involved in an exchange. The students are chosen from the first 3 classes of VMBO (12 – 15 jr). Basic- and kader vocational, and Theoretical learning path. In Sicily the students are chosen in the age from 11 – 14 years. The main coördination is done by two staff-members: from each school one, accompanied by four other teachers.

description of activities and methodology ;
Generally there are two different groups of activities.
At first the exchanges, in which students and teachers will work on the development and evaluation of assignments to be carried out by their classmates. Furthermore, during the exchange there is a social and cultural programma to get to know each others country and culture. The project involves four exchanges (two to the Netherlands, two to Italy)
Secondly we have the main assignments carried out in the classes by all students. These assignments have different subjects, such as the refugee-problem , climate change and differences in the natural environment. Results are shared between the schools, and with parents and other students form both schools.

short description of the results and impact envisaged
After this project the pupils respect each others cultures, and have improved their communicational skills. We hope that after two years our students have experienced how instructive it is to work with students from another country. They have understood each other’s situation and are able to see issues such as the environment and refugees (at their level) in a larger picture than their own country. We hope that a number of assignments are ready for us to use and to share with colleagues in Europe. We have a better understanding of how students think and act as together with students from other countries. We can better respond to problems that students encounter in a collaboration. The teachers have learned from each other, are better able to develop a project and have completed a number of assignments to work with.

potential longer term benefits.
Both schools have learned how to effectively connect our students with students from other countries. After the end of the project, we want to continue working together on global citizenship and also in the field of current European affairs, we want to keep coming up with the students to come up with (small) solutions. After this project we have teaching materials that we can continue to use.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 54780 Eur

Project Coordinator

Stichting voor Christelijk VO Culemborg e.o. & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Istituto comprensivo San Piero Patti