Think European – act locally: reinforce sustainable thinking in the frame of local actions Erasmus Project

Project Title

Think European – act locally: reinforce sustainable thinking in the frame of local actions

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: Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

Within the project “Think European – Act locally”, the Leibniz Montessori Gymnasium in Düsseldorf is planning a strategic partnership with three secondary schools in other EU countries: the 13th Gymnasio in Heraklion/Crete (Greece), the Sundsvalls Gymnasium Hedbergska (Sweden) and the Perifereiako Gymnasio Agias Varvaras in Nicosia (Cyprus).
The main objective of the project is to strengthen the idea of sustainability in the European context within the school communities and to act as a reference for future projects, using examples for local actions of the participating schools. At the same time it should be shown that the local identity does not contradict the basic idea of a European Union. On the contrary, it should become clear that an approving attitude towards a European identity presupposes a local identity. The idea and the principle of sustainability represent another (identity-connecting) core aspect in our concept, since in a common Europe all member states benefit from the sustainability ideas of each one. Only through sustainable action it is possible to shape both our local homeland and “our Europe” in the long term and to preserve it as a living space, regardless of its dimension.
A total of 144 pupils will be able to participate. The selection of suitable candidates will initially be based on interests, i.e. after the presentation of the project, pupils interested in the project will be able to contact us. In addition, participation is subject to the condition that the interested pupils must have the maturity to spend a certain amount of time abroad. They should regularly take part in lessons and, if necessary, in an existing working group (e.g. Fairtrade-AG) that is relevant to the project. Respectful cooperation and appropriate communication in English as well as active involvement in the planning and design of the project are further criteria. They must also be willing to accept guests.
We aim to achieve the aforementioned objectives through a range of learning activities. The planned activities/mobilities are:
1) A training for teachers of the participating institutions on the topic of the project in the very beginning.
2) Long-term mobility of pupils from Germany and Sweden in the partner school of each country country.
3) Short mobility of pupils and teachers. Working groups from all participating institutions meet for learning activities in the partial aspects of the project theme:
– Fairtrade (in Sweden),
– Energy production from renewable sources/recycling (in Cyprus),
– Regional products and sustainable agriculture (in Greece),
– Participation in a sustainability conference – preferably in Brussels.
4) Closing event:
– Form: regional market, starting with a common, fair and sustainable breakfast (a FAIR-TRADE- Breakfast is already established at the host school)
– Participants: School representatives from all schools, entrepreneurs, press, representatives of the municipality of Düsseldorf
– What’s going on? Presentation of the project and already evaluated results, ideas, activities; presentation of products
– Goals (selection): Creating awareness for one’s own actions; pointing out complex interrelations
Within the framework of the individual modalities and the planning steps, working groups will be formed for the following activities: Work with local partners, organisation in the school, contact with the press and representatives of the municipality of Düsseldorf, organisation and realization of the regional market and fair breakfast, evaluation of interim results, organisation of activities on site, public relations work and help with the organisation of accommodation.
When it comes to the implementation of sustainability in everyday life, we hope to sharpen the awareness of all those involved, both in short and in long term. We want to connect the actors involved from the local to the international level. This applies not only to the partner schools amongst each other, but also to companies and students. We want to shape a common future beyond the project, in which everyone – inspired by the cooperation – works for a common Europe and a sustainable future. The European idea should be strengthened as well as the awareness for the preservation of our planet and the sensible use of resources.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 9675 Eur

Project Coordinator

Städtisches Leibniz-Montessori-Gymnasium Düsseldorf & Country: DE

Project Partners

• 13th Gymnasium of Heraklion
• Sundsvalls gymnasium Hedbergska
• PERIFEREIAKO GYMNASIO AGIAS VARVARAS