We are different, we are same, a project about diversity Erasmus Project

Project Title

We are different, we are same, a project about diversity

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship

Project Summary

As school is reflecting our society, the participating schools in this Erasmus+ project were challenged by rising racism and affected by more and more right-winged political parties with xenophobic opinions proliferating around Europe. The previous years of increased immigration had led to a situation where the schools involved in this application all were in need of adequate tools on how to deal with diversity in order to meet and defeat racism. At the same time, schools were encountering a growing fear and non-acceptance of persons that are different or don’t, for any reason, fit in our social patterns. As a result teachers faced more, and in many cases hidden, bullying in our schools which in its turn resulted in more pupils refusing to come to school.

The KA2 project “We are different, we are same, a project about diversity” aimed to enhance the understanding and acceptance of diversity through intercultural dialogue between students (14-17 years) and teachers from four countries; Italy, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

The objectives of the project were aimed at a diverse group of students age 14-17, teachers and parents in order to:

• raise students awareness of how to contribute to a tolerant society
• give students and teachers different intercultural perspectives on diversity, tolerance and bullying
• give teachers insight in different concrete methods for dealing with diversity and intolerance
• raise parents’ awareness of how school is tackling diversity and intolerance and how they can be a part of this work

The main methodology of the project was based on activities that relate to 4 themes: tolerance, bullying, diversity and special needs education. All themes were prepared and presented by both students and teachers and analyzed both separately by each school and together during 3 planned transnational meetings held in each of the partner countries. Due to the covid-19 pandemic the fourth transnational meeting focusing on special needs education was never held, however much of the preparational work was made separately at each school. It is a loss for the final outcome of this project, since the transnational meetings add a very important dimension when both students and teachers compare and discuss topic-related aspects and thereby increase their understanding of them. In all there were 104 budgeted mobilities of which 72 were allocated to students, but we were able to increase the number of students participating in the different LTTAs. however the project involved all teachers and students of the participating school.

The concrete results of our project were enhanced tolerance among students, less bullying and discrimination and an increased understanding for people with disabilities and fewer opportunities. In a wider perspective, this project has also resulted in students that are better prepared to become interculturally skilled and responsible European citizens. The activities performed equally trained our students in critical thinking and in recognizing media manipulation. By sharing the best practices from each school and community and collecting all work into a “Diversity Toolkit”, the project in addition has produced concrete outputs that will benefit not only our but also other schools in our different countries.

In the longer perspective, the project contributed to an inclusive school environment where diversity is promoted, which in turn lowers the risk for Early School Leaving.

The project not only contributed to the top priorities of the Erasmus+ program and the EU2020 strategy, it also targeted a number of goals of the 2015 Paris Declaration by:
– ensuring that young people acquire social, civic and intercultural competences, by promoting democratic values and fundamental rights, social inclusion and non-discrimination, as well as active citizenship
– enhancing critical thinking and media literacy, particularly in the use of the Internet and social media, so as to develop resistance to discrimination and indoctrination.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 107103,61 Eur

Project Coordinator

Hultdalsskolan & Country: SE

Project Partners

• Škola umeleckého priemyslu, Vodárenská 3, Prešov
• Istituto Istruzione Superiore “Pertini-Santoni”
• I.E.S LÁZARO CARRETER