Yeurope - Making an European Student Magazine

Project summary

Students from Barcelona, Berlin, Krakow, Rome and Tallinn want to make a joint European Student Magazine (ESM) together. The young people come in a dialogue together by talking about topical issues from their point of view and by the creative process in producing a common student magazine. Starting from everyday questions and problem issues that play a role in all countries or concern young people in all countries equally (e.g. poverty, refugee issue, environmental protection and sustainability or the fear of terrorism), we want to reflect about our present - and even more importantly - about our future in Europe. A new survey carried out in some EU countries shows that young people appreciate the peace and the freedom of movement in the European Union very much. On the other hand, fear of an uncertain future leaves many students looking at an internal security issue. So far, the EU has been a “rock in the surf” (a safe place) but the erosion of the EU, which can be feared (e.g. by an emerging populism and stronger national orientations) also awakens the skepticism of many young people. Another initial point is the fact that students have been in the process of discussing the future of Europe. They want to learn more about the lifestyle and everyday life as well as get to know more about the attitude and thinking of young people in other countries. The planned project is particularly appropriate here. The joint transnational work on the European Student Magazine (for example during the editorial sessions) teaches them competences and skills in communication and social interaction, and thus the willingness to an intercultural dialogue as well as to reduce prejudice and to raise awareness about European diversity. It enables young people to understand that the problems and questions are often the same. Together they can find out how to deal with them and the way to solve them. Most probably, young people who go to school in the center of Rome are likely to report different experiences with refugee issues than students from Tallinn or the south of Berlin. In addition, the work on the ESM promotes the training of key competences (foreign language, targeted use of digital media) as well as critical thinking, creativity, independently and self-organized working. After all, these are essential prerequisites - quasi the "craftsmanship" in order to participate successfully and satisfactorily in the work, economic and social life. Every issue of the ESM will have a main topic. Starting from the lifeworld of young people, we want to pick up topics young people are interested in like: “Friendships”, “Bullying and cyber bullying”, but also “What do I do after finishing school? Is Europe an alternative?”, “How does the EU affect our everyday life?”, “How do we face the refugee issue?” “How is our security threatened? (Terrorism)”, “Poverty in our city”, “How can we live sustainably? or “The European Union in 25 years”. The main topics can be completed by other sections of the magazine, such as stories from the school daily life, presentations of music, films, books, recipes, fashion, sightseeing. The European Student Magazine will be published on an internet blog and will mainly be provided as a magazine app.