European Union has been built on the values of equality, human rights and acceptance of different cultures. It is important to cultivate these values from the school years, as the children will be the adults of tomorrow and the future of European integrity is in their hands. The respect of diversity is important at many different contexts. The most important at our times of crisis is the respect for people from different cultural backgrounds, be they immigrants, ethnic or religious minorities. Nevertheless, discrimination has many facets and it can address students with physical or mental disabilities, students with learning difficulties, students with different physical appearance or behaviour. Therefore, the interventions at the school curriculum to address respect for diversity should address the different forms of discrimination and approach the issue from all the different angles. In the project ”VIDEO.A.R.T.”, we intent to engage the students of our schools in dealing with discrimination and creating respect for diversity, employing video art and mobile technologies that are appealing to young people and at the same time will help them develop multiple skills and competencies. The partnership is composed by four high schools, namely the 4th General High School of Acharnes (GR) as coordinator and Fondo Formacion Euskadi (ES), Nösnäsgymnasiet (SE), Liceo Stabili (IT) as partners. The Athens Video art festival (GR), a private company, which will pass professional knowledge and expertise on to the participating school communities, completes the partnership. The main actions of the project are: - Learning activities in 4 countries - Making of videos by students - Good practice Guide - Online video platform and collaboration space - European video contest - European awards night The VIDEO.A.R.T. project is meant to use positive, creative, constructive, challenging and stimulating activities in order to teach school students a wide variety of skills and to have a durable impact on their attitude towards persons that are in some way different from the majority. It is also meant to involve teachers and students from many schools at national and European levels having as impact longer term collaborations.
The European Union has been built on the values of equality, human rights and acceptance of different cultures. It is important to cultivate these values from the school years, as the children will be the adults of tomorrow and the future of European integrity is in their hands. The respect for diversity is important in many different contexts. The most important in our times of crisis is the respect for people from different cultural backgrounds, be they immigrants, ethnic or religious minorities. Nevertheless, discrimination has many facets and it can address students with physical or mental disabilities, students with learning difficulties and students with different physical appearance or behaviour. Therefore, the interventions at the school curriculum to address respect for diversity should address the different forms of discrimination and approach the issue from various angles. In the project ”VIDEO.A.R.T.”, we prompted the students of our schools to deal with discrimination and create respect for diversity, employing video art and mobile technologies that are appealing to young people and at the same time helped them develop multiple skills and competencies. Objectives met: For students - Engage in project activities and participated actively in the whole project, including the definition of the methodology - Developed respect for diversity, cultural awareness and discrimination - Developed technical and artistic skills (ICT, film making and editing, video processing, screenplay, creating infographics, animations, using mixed techniques, creating mobile apps, digital photography etc) - Developed cultural awareness and a sense of European identity - Developed linguistic skills For teachers - Provided teachers with a methodology and resources to cultivate respect for diversity Participants and their profiles: - P1. 4o Geniko Lykeio Acharnwn is a secondary 2nd level general studies school with 360 students and 25 teachers from the ages of 16-18. The school has a diverse student body from various ethnic origins and has experience in promoting intercultural dialogue. - P2. Multitrab Productions is an urban non-profit organization, based in Athens that aims to the promotion of the art work of Greek and foreign artists, as well as the organization of promotional activities involving digital arts. - P3. Liceo Classico Stabili Trebbiani is a General Lyceum in the region of Marche in Italy. The region of Marche is characterized by a high amount of immigrant population which is also reflected in the school students of LCST. - P4. FONDO FORMACION EUSKADI S.L.L. (ES) is an experienced Vocational Training Centers in Spain promoting and coordinating European projects in the field of vocational training, education and training. It is managing PCPI BARAKALDO of the Municipality of Barakaldo (second largest town in Basque country) which is a school for youngsters between 16-18 years old, who drop out of the regular educational system and prepares them to go out to the labour market. - P5. Nösnäsgymnasiet is an upper secondary school with 1100 students and 90 teachers. The students' age is 16-19 years old. The school is located on the west coast of Sweden in a small town called, Stenungsund, with 24 000 inhabitants. Activities: 4 learning workshops, 5 transnational meetings, articles in the local press, European video contest, Award night, social media accounts, presentation seminars. Results: student videos, Good Practice Guide (GPG), video platform (available in 5 languages and freely accessible). The project impacted young people, teachers, local representatives, educators on local/regional/national/EU level. The long term effects are to promote respect for diversity, multiculturalism, social inclusion in society as a hole.