The European cultural framework promotes social inclusion increasing the skills of our disadvantaged students.

Project summary

The title of our project is "The European cultural framework promotes social inclusion increasing the skills of our disadvantaged students”.Our main target group is the disadvantaged students. "Our aim is to promote social inclusion in our schools since all partner schools include large numbers of any type of disadvantaged students (immigrants, refugees, disabled, with socio-economic problems, cultural differences, special educational needs, health problems, Roma) who are about 300 students in total number. The main objectives of this multicultural partnership, consisting of a group of six European countries with very rich cultures/history, are to assist in the cultural richness of Europe, to enhance our students’ cultural awareness and increase the volume of partnerships between schools in different Member States. Most importantly though, to promote the social inclusion of our disadvantaged students and the diversity and equality in our schools and in school education, as the disadvantaged students are most affected by the negative impact, which racism, discrimination and xenophobia have on them and due to these situations and to their particularity, sometimes tend to leave school prematurely. The teachers involved in the project, will guide and monitor during the activities and performances. The project will be performance based and all the participant pupils will be assigned smart educational tasks in order to carry out the planned events. The activities we have chosen are interwoven with the cultural richness of each country. Thus, every host school will teach participants its national language, dances, songs, recipes following lesson plans according to a student centered methodology. Main impacts will be anticipated to be “social inclusion” and acceptance of disadvantaged students,those with special educational needs and many other disadvantages. The opportunity to be introduced to different cultures and communities after their engagement in the teaching/learning activities will help them reinforce their social skills, self-esteem, confidence. Furthermore, team work, use of information technology and English can stand as motives to further develop their knowledge. Longer term benefits entail becoming equal European citizens respectful to other cultures and tolerant to the differences and diversities in the E.U. Not only students but also teachers will develop a renewed enthusiasm for teaching, an increase in their interest and openness towards other countries and cultures and an improvement in inter-cultural and social competencies. A better understanding of education systems, use of foreign languages and different methods of teaching within the different schools become important tools and develop them professionally. Furthermore, exchange of teaching practices and new visions - methods about modern curriculum constitute an important value for the future of European education system and life. The products will enrich the libraries of each partner school so that every individual or the whole school community may borrow and study them in the long run. Electronic forms of these products uploaded at the project’s website for more extended future use at European and international level will always be at hand. We believe that the dissemination of results through seminars that we are to organize and the school’s website, will enlighten schools of our region of the expected educational benefits as well as schools of the wider community.