The ever increasing flow of migrants and refugees requires prompt answers on the part of all political, social and educational agencies to help them integrate in the new countries and become familiar with new social patterns. This big challenge for schools and educators has motivated the schools participating in this project to seek out a partnership to address issues around social cohesion, and integration of refugees and migrants.All partner schools have a high number of students with a migrant background and feel the need to improve strategies aimed at promoting tolerance and social inclusion within a European setting in the light of the process of internationalization which forms integral part of the organizational plan of each partner school. Our partnership is focused on developing and fostering the awareness and commitment to inclusion, interchange, cooperation and learning in an international setting. It will thus contribute to the growth of partner schools as educational communities which promote quality development by encouraging the best use of resources and opportunities for “Equity and Inclusion” within a European framework.Our project MIND, (Migration and Integration Needs Development), aims at working on cultural diversity promoting common European values, fostering social integration, enhancing intercultural understanding and a sense of belonging to a community. Within the project framework, differences become a positive source for learning in order to reach the necessary competences to carry out positive interactions and become more active citizens that appreciate diversity and help other people to do the same.Students will be actively involved in activities intended to• make them understand needs and obstacles migrants face when entering a multi-cultural society and job market• think about the concepts of freedom and respect in order to be able to share common values in a multi-cultural society• find strategies and options to help newcomersAs main output students will produce a guide for immigrants and locals that can support both parties in daily and school life providing a common ground for better and quicker integration. The handbook will include useful advice, links, procedures, job search information, list of supporting associations, everyday language resource glossary and other useful information related to the territory of each partner country.The main expected impact is to acquire a broader knowledge and understanding of issues related to reduce obstacles for immigrants and enjoy a fruitful inclusion in the host country and within the European job market. Therefore the partner schools will cooperate with local and national institutions. Considering the migrant-related nature of our project, all “MIND” activities will be developed in order to have a long-lasting effect on the inclusion process within school and society, making information more accessible and user-oriented both at school and in the areas where the schools are located.
After experiencing the shock of the Brexit vote we have to enthuse our youth for the EU in order to prevent a further decay of the EU. In this project students of five European countries have worked together intensively for 31 months. They cooperated and developed an affinity for the concept of a united Europe. This will enable them to act as ambassadors for the European Union. An intercultural competence was developed by evaluating differences of European customs and reflecting on their own customs. The students experienced the similarities and differences in European customs and participated in activities comparing these customs. Communication competence was developed as the students had to communicate their own ideas to students of other nationalities. Team building skills were improved as workshop tasks were carried out in multinational teams and migrants were included when possible. In these teams the students had to develop a common position for the point of discussion. Student maturity was strengthened by cooperating with students from other countries. The students took over all responsibility for presenting results in front of multicultural audiences in different countries. The students used English as the working language for the entire project time of 31 months and this improved their English language skills. A guidebook was developed that would enable migrants and locals to achieve a successful integration. Migrants, companies and organisations were interviewed in all partner countries and our students analysed the issues faced by migrants. Within the guidebook you will find, among other things, ways of making friends in a new country as this is an important skill for integration. Raising awareness for cultural differences through the guidebook will support migrants to cope with these differences. The project strengthened the ability of empathy in our students by looking at the life experience of refugees, gained by interviewing refugees at all partner schools. We organised meetings and exchanged ideas with migrants of similar age in order to reduce prejudice towards foreigners. Especially as prejudice towards foreigners may have been a big factor in the Brexit vote.