VARIED CULTURES, COMMON ROOT Erasmus Project

Project Title

VARIED CULTURES, COMMON ROOT

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: Creativity and culture; Social dialogue; Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage

Project Summary

Diversity is vital as a counterweight against tendencies towards loss of identity and cultural roots in our age of globalization. In today’s expanded Europe, given the increasing ease with where people can cross borders and find work outside their own country, it seems crucial that our pupils are able to tolerate the views of those whose origins and background are different from their own. Valuing and respecting cultural diversity are the keys to countering racism. All individuals must feel free to discover the uniqueness of their culture and identity while developing understandings of the cultural diversity that exists in the world around them.

Denying cultural expression means limiting the expression of the unique point of views on life and the transmission of knowledge from generation to
generation. The distrust and fear of difference which often results from isolation from other cultures can be overcome by fostering cultural understanding and by emphasizing the common interests that all Europeans share. Collaborating, We can create a more equal and fairer society that respects and values its diversity.

This project is a research into the past of each of the participant countries, through their history, culture, language and customs. The ultimate aim of the project is to discover the links between the different cultures that make up the European Union, compare them and draw conclusions about the differences and similarities that enrich and unite us. As a consequence, the cross-cultural differences actually will come together to find common links and this will be the first step for a better understanding between cultures. We believe that our world’s chance is in cultural education for the today students who will be the tomorrow adults. Small steps made by students and their families in some European countries, will lead for sure to a better future for the whole world.

The project aims to enhance cultural diversity in Europe and to promote the exchange between different cultural customs present in European societies today. One of the primary motivations behind the project is the strong belief that a higher intercultural competence will make a contribution to a peaceful world. The basics of this project fit with the general framework and principles of the European Union‘s Lisbon Convention and UNESCO’s Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions (20.10.2005); aims about recognition and promotion of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development.

Our partners represent contrasting social and economic backgrounds and a varied collection of communities from across Europe. By working together to deliver our aims we will be successful in showing our pupils, parents, staff and others, how people from different parts of Europe can work together so as to improve relations and create a more cohesive European citizenship. The target groups include teachers, pupils and their families, local communities, NGOs.

The study of Cultural Diversity provides students with opportunities to:
• help to promote a positive sense of identity and high self-esteem, together with positive regard for the rights and identities of others
• acknowledge that people have different belief systems, values and attitudes that result in different actions and behaviours
• appreciate the contributions of diverse groups of people to their community and make a contributionto intercultural understandings by means of participation in appropriate events
• develop a sense of shared identity with others, as a member of a community at the local and national levels, in addition to a part of the global society
• define and critically analyse narrowly nationalistic or ethnocentric views, developing tolerance of the views and lives of others, and understanding of and empathy for people, regardless of their cultural or ethnic background
• develop awareness of similarities and differences of beliefs and practices in diverse cultures, and learn to detect and avoid cultural stereotypes and bias
• explore different ways in which media and information and communication technologies can portray a global event or story and how these can affect one’s beliefs and attitudes
• acknowledge that increased migration, communication and economic interdependence, blur the boundaries between ethnic and national groups

The project methodology is based on the concept of interdisciplinary teaching as a means to improve the quality of education.

Our project brings basic European values such as human rights, tolerance, solidarity, fight against racism and xenophobia, anti-discrimination, equal opportunities, cultural diversity, equal rights of men and women, integration for those with special needs, the importance of knowledge-based society, the ability of entrepreneurship and innovation etc. closer to participants’ everyday life by promoting dialogues and art activities linked to them.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 151920 Eur

Project Coordinator

I.I.S.S. “Mazzei – Sabin” & Country: IT

Project Partners

• ZEYTINBURNU KIZ IMAM HATIP ANADOLU LISESI
• Colegio PioXII-FUNDACIÓN ESCUELA VIVA
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Albufeira Poente
• ITHCF gembloux