THINKING ALLOWED – Teenage students have their say on Human Rights Erasmus Project

Project Title

THINKING ALLOWED – Teenage students have their say on Human Rights

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Inclusion – equity; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

“Thinking Allowed – Teenage students have their say on Human Rights” promoted the active citizenship of the new generation of “native Europeans”, prompting their spirit of initiative towards important issues such as immigration, equal opportunities, democracy, human rights, in line with the Paris Declaration of 2015, which supported values of freedom, equality, dignity, and respect for the diversity. The project was born in response to the terroristic attacks that took place in Berlin, in December 2016, which highlighted the need for more cooperation among European schools. The Strategic Partnership born out of the project “Thinking Allowed” allowed the exchange of experiences and the establishment of good practices among the partner schools and training organizations. The general objective of the project was to stimulate a reflection on teaching methods as well as on European civic values while, at the same time, facilitating the process of Language Learning in a real context of debate and cultural exchange. The project covered a period of 24 months and involved different European schools (the Lycée “Martinère Monplaisir” from Lyon, IES “San Rosendo” from Mondoñedo, the Greek School “A ‘Arsakeio Geniko Lykeio Psychikou” located in Athens, the Romanian Technological High School “Mihai Eminescu” of Suceava) and training organisations (“Formamentis Srl” from Battipaglia, in Italy), coordinated by the high school “Liceo Statale Publio Virgilio Marone” from Avellino.
88 students and 12 teachers took part in the training and exchange activities promoted by the project, divided into 1 Short-term joint staff training event and 3 Blended mobility of school learners:
– Activity C1 – mobility of teachers towards Italy for the realization of a Training Event for school staff;
– Activity C2 – mobility of learners to Spain; main topics: equal opportunities and gender differences;
– Activity C3 – mobility of learners to France; main topics: immigration and cultural integration issues;
– Activity C4 – mobility of learners to Romania; main topics: defence of human rights and the fight against bullying;
– Activity C5 – mobility of learners to Greece; main topics: democracy and freedom of expression.
The 12 participating teachers all came from state-of-the-art schools located in 5 different European countries, with years of experience and diverse professional profiles and backgrounds; the 88 students, selected from the III and IV classes (and equivalents), represented different socio-cultural, economic, religious and linguistic contexts, often coming from economic disadvantages and geographical limits.
The project “Thinking Allowed” promoted the following positive impacts:
– all partners were able to better understand the European funding mechanisms and, specifically, those of the Erasmus+ Programme, improving their planning and organizational skills;
– participants in LTTAs improved their school performance, intercultural dialogue, language and digital skills as well as their soft skills (flexibility, self-esteem, team work) developing a more positive attitude towards cultural exchange and the general sense of belonging to the same European Community;
– major knowledge of the possibilities offered by Europe for the internationalization of schools’ didactics;
– learners (and families) managed to overcome cultural, religious, social stereotypes and prejudices, which means communities more open to intercultural dialogue; they also improved their proficiency in English, used as the main language of exchange;
– broader knowledge of the features characterizing the VET system thanks to the mixed cooperation between the partner schools and a training organization specialized in professional training, a strategy that allowed the deep integration of both worlds;
– deeper familiarity with the Erasmus+ Programme and the European tools of recognition and certification of skills acquired in formal, non-formal and informal learning contexts.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 115340 Eur

Project Coordinator

Liceo Statale “Publio Virgilio Marone” & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Filekpedeftiki Etairia – A’ Arsakeio Geniko Lykeio Psychikou
• Lycée La Martinière Monplaisir
• FORMAMENTIS S.R.L.
• IES SAN ROSENDO
• Liceul Tehnologic “Mihai Eminescu” Dumbraveni