Recently, Europe has seen an unprecedented rise in extreme-right populist movements becoming more “mainstream” and “acceptable” across many European member states. Indeed in various elections in member states since 2014 the radical right was able to secure between 10% and 25% of votes. According to the EU document 'The European Union and the Challenge of Extremism and Populism' as a result of various European strategies and political 'opportunism' , right-wing politics has 'spread into the public space and pervaded traditionally moderate political discourses in Europe'. These issues are being discussed in the media, within communities and at home, impacting on the views and opinions of our children. These themes have to be handled carefully and sensitively in our multicultural societies hence why the planning for this project has been extensive and the workplan will be conducted by experts in this field and involves young people, parents and members of the wider community in all regions. We have begun to explore this theme through our Challenging Extremism KA2 project with Slovakia and Germany. This project seeks to become a 'transition' project, thereby building on the important work already undertaken so we do not lose momentum in this widely anticipated topic of study. The project needs to work within different countries in order to find a cross reference and collective European approach. We need a collaborative approach bringing in expertise from across Europe to inform and contribute to this complex issue. Although we are including partners from only 3 countries they are linking to ELAN the European Local Authority Network established by Cardiff Council in 2015. Partners from this network will join partners in this project in a series of planned events thus broadening access to wider base of expertise. The first planned project meeting will coincide with an event in Cardiff aimed at bringing professionals from a extensive number of European countries together to discuss a wide number of essential themes, this being one of them. Our objective is to develop materials for use in primary schools following extensive and detailed teacher training. We recognise that due to the sensitive nature of this project all participating staff need to be highly trained prior to introducing any of these themes in the classroom. Once trained these individuals will work with experts to begin designing lesson plans utilising the collaborative and extensive knowledge and experience available in all countries. All teaching materials will be supported by a series of short films created for and designed by experts, teachers and the wider community. These films will be used as part of the resources developed during the life of this project. The materials will be thoroughly piloted in participating schools before publication and extensive teacher training opportunities for other professionals not involved in this project will be available throughout to widen participation in all regions. Cardiff Council has invited The European Local Authority Network (ELAN) partners from across Europe to the first multiplier event highlighted in this application. This network was established by Cardiff Council in 2015 to bring local authorities together in partnership and collaboration.
In 2017 the EU document 'The European Union and the Challenge of Extremism and Populism', raised the challenges across Europe by the spread of right-wing politics. Across Europe, elections had shown a rise of 25% of votes going to right-wing parties. The partners involved in this programme believe that these problems need to be tackled early and engaging young people in education, in discussion and critical thinking, and in a safe environment, is essential. The focus for this project was on young people transitioning between primary and secondary age and taking into account the issues being discussed in the media, within communities and at home, impacting directly on the views and opinions of children of this age. We wanted to develop materials suitable for education on critical thinking and positive counter messages. We recognised at the start, and continue to recognise, how sensitively the themes discussed in this project needed to be handled and so the planning for, and the on-going management of, this project was detailed throughout. We involved experts in this field and involved young people and teachers throughout taking into account their opinions and feedback, making amendments where necessary. However, equally important was the involvement of parents and members of the wider community and partners in all regions actively engaged as many stakeholders as possible. We do not believe this project could be conducted by one country in isolation. We need a collaborative approach bringing in expertise from across Europe to inform and contribute to this complex issue. Issues such as these, cannot be tackled in isolation. Local authorities, schools and other experts from Spain, Wales and Poland worked together throughout the programme. However, the participating education departments are members of ELAN a European Local Authority Network, and members from across Europe have benefitted from training and events relating to the outcomes of this project over the 3-year period, thus widening participation throughout. We completed a number of planned phases in this project: 1. Effective, thorough preparation and training of teaching staff 2. Collaborative development of 6 lesson plans for delivery in all regions. These were amended to reflect local culture and sensitivities. 3. Pilot lesson plans 4. Thorough evaluation by experts 5. Modification of lesson plans, as necessary, and making of films to support in-class materials Our aim was to meet the following Erasmus+ objectives: - to improve the level of key competences and skills, in particular through increased opportunities for learning mobility and through strengthened cooperation between the world of education and training - to foster quality improvements, innovation excellence and internationalisation at the level of education and training institutions - in particular through increased opportunities for learning mobility and through strengthened cooperation between the world of education and training - to enhance the international dimension of education and training