“Variety is the spice of life” Schools help pupils to share their identity with others and explore commonalities and differences through rich intercultural dialogue Erasmus Project

Project Title

“Variety is the spice of life”
Schools help pupils to share their identity with others and explore commonalities and differences through rich intercultural dialogue

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Following an international teachers’ meeting in Bucharest in November 2017 entitled “Anti-Discrimination” and “No-Hate-Speeches”, three teachers from ile de la Réunion, Poland and Belgium started an Erasmus+ project called “Variety is the Spice of lLfe”. The fact was that each teacher was confronted with discrimination of different kinds and hate-speeches in their daily school life.

Accordingly, they set three main objectives:
1.students strengthen their understanding and expression of identity and self-esteem
2.schools strengthen constructive dialogue and critical thinking about cultural differences
3.inclusion

However, since the terms in inverted commas were associated with the darker side of human beings and therefore had a high chance of being perceived rather negatively by the students, the first objective was to highlight the positive in the minds of each participant from these negative perceptions. This is the reason why the teachers included the term “Variety” or numerous different people with different traditions and cultures in the new heading. The”pice of Life” was to match the optimism the teachers wanted to give to this project. Over the years, both have proved to be exactly right.

In the spirit of positive thinking, the students listed up twenty values that testify to their profound humanity.
It seems necessary to include the list of values here, as it is the cornerstone on which all participants could build each day to achieve their three main goals in the best possible way.
Our Values:
1. Trust
2. Anti-Discrimination
3. Anti-Hate-Speeches
4. Tolerance
5. Solidarity
6. Respect
7. Hospitality
8. Peace
9. Cohesion
10. Cooperation
11. Democracy
12. Freedom
13. Freedom of expression
14. Self-esteem
15. Equality between all people
16. Equality before the law
17. Empathy
18. Moral courage
19.Generosity
20. Courage
At all levels, human values are primarily a qualitatively outstanding sense of achievement. The students developed civility, respect for themselves and others, and constructive critical faculties, so that they can henceforth play a significant role as role models as self-confident and responsible citizens (multiplier effect).
It should also be noted here that the priority “social and educational value of the European cultural heritage” became a matter of course at some point due to the ever-growing curiosity of the students. In the first year of the project, we gave our students personal responsibility by allowing them to choose the subject matter themselves. The students showed a great interest in history in the broadest sense, from Charlemagne to the birth of the European Union. During the student-meetings, they showed an increasing interest in religions and/or philosophy up to very everyday aspects such as food, music, languages, traditions, etc. ….

During the second year of the project, the three teachers selected the subject matter for all three countries in order to determine at the end of the project period which method would be better… Answer: NONE! In both cases, the high level of motivation remained and, in parallel, the need to contribute to society grew in many students. Thus, it was clear to the teachers that pedagogical contents are very important – whether it is the choice of students or teachers – but they only reach the students if they are included in the responsibility, are allowed to show their own initiative, also perceive respect and tolerance from their teachers and finally can see from their side that they can grow into VALUABLE human beings by using their human values in everyday life.

The coordinator would like to take this opportunity to express her profound thanks to all those involved. Special thanks go to the staff of the National Agency in Eupen, the “financial advisor” of the German-speaking Community and last but by far not least to our Headmaster of the ZFP-Eupen, Mr SCHLEIHS, who has always supported and accompanied our Erasmus+ project with goodwill and assertiveness – especially in somewhat difficult times.

In this summary, it was unfortunately far from possible to list all topics and educational resources, which is why the coordinator can be reached at any time at the following e-mail address: jenniges.marita@gmail.com.

However, it is important to note that the planned exhibition will take place after the Covid-19-pandemic. All involved participants are pleased to invite every schools of the German-speaking Community to this event.

You are most welcome!

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 125456,54 Eur

Project Coordinator

Zentrum für Förderpädagogik & Country: BE

Project Partners

• Collège F Mahé de Labourdonnais
• Katolicka Szkola Podstawowa im. Jana Twardowskiego