The project is titled "Roda" of global cultures - Capoeira as an alternative way of interacting in the age of digitization (An international student exchange project to widen the intercultural horizon and identity development of young adolescents). The main aim is to raise awareness of the rapidly increasing pace of digitization, the changing modes of communication and interaction particular to young people and to sensitize them for a balanced use thereof in providing them a practical example (the capoeira game) as analternative form of interaction in comparison to the digital tools they usually use. The project includes a theoretical and practical part which are interrelated. The theoretical part of the project deals with aspects like: • What is communication? How does successful communication work? • What does language- or culture-aware communication mean? What should I care about in everyday life? • What does nonverbal communication mean and how is it used in various cultures and interactions? • How can facial expressions and gestures be interpreted distinctly in different cultures? • What does the term "diversity awareness" include? As a starting point of the discussion: Who am I, what characterizes me as an individual in comparison to my fellow human beings? • How important are digital media in our everyday communication? An empirical comparison of media consumption related to communication and its qualitative content. • Does communication on social networks and digital media generally pose a risk? If yes, which kind? • Finding a balance between the use of digital media and personal interaction: Creation of a common guideline for the healthy handling of digital media. The practical part of the project with its weekly training sessions offers children and adolescents an alternative/ interpersonal form of interaction and communication unlike the experience provided by digital media. Thus the project participants can also discover their own (physical) abilities and improve them in various ways. Because "... Capoeira is ...art for the artist, dance for the dancer, culture for the culture lover and game for the player" (https://gingado.de/grundlagen/was-ist-capoeira-2/ Datum 8.1.2019). This amalgamation of art, dance, games, culture, music, sports, dialogue, artistry, body control, rhythm and much more encompasses a wide range of interests and is ideal for the student exchange. Capoeira (its practice now being included in the UNESCO World Heritage) has also been established as a symbol for peaceful coexistence thereby undermining it as an adequate alternative mode of interaction with others. Although Capoeira's roots go back to the colonial period of Brazil in which it was occupied by Portuguese settlers , Capoeira further changed and developed separately away from the realm of martial arts to a symbol of peaceful and social coexistence today. Thus, in addition to the promotion of "Open Education and Innovative Practices in the Digital Age", the key objectives also include the promotion of "internationalization of adolescents", "increasing access to affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care" and helping young people to participate in "[...] the social and educational value of European cultural [...] and cultural heritage". The four project meetings are designed to deal essentially with the practice of the game of Capoeira. The workshops which are mainly planned in the target countries should lead to a gradual development in the various fields of competence. Accordingly, the following division provides an overview about the countries and the primary workshops: • Germany: Capoeira - the game itself (acrobatics, dance) • Belgium: music, lyrics and songs related to Capoeira • Turkey: historical development of Capoeira: from its origins to today • Portugal: learning to play the instruments of the "roda". The well-planned program schedule and clearly defined responsibilities within the respective Erasmus + teams, consisting of (co-) coordinators, eTwinning officers, administrators and public relation officers not only ensure a smooth process but also provide benefits for their everyday work.
The project "Roda" of global cultures - Capoeira as a form of interaction in the age of digitization dealt with the effects of digitization on people's everyday lives and particularly with interpersonal interaction. In relation to that Capoeira was presented to that the participants as as an alternative interaction tool for personal exchange in contrast to digital media. The project included theoretical aspects such as: • What is communication? What are the characteristics of successful communication? • What does language or culture-sensitive communication mean? What should I pay attention to in everyday life? • What do non-verbal forms of interpersonal interaction look like? Possible interpretations of facial expressions and gestures? • What does the term “diversity awareness” include? As a starting point for the discussion: Who am I, what distinguishes me as an individual compared to my fellow human beings? • How important are digital media in our everyday communication? An empirical comparison of consumer behavior with its qualitative content. • Does communication in social networks and digital media involve risks? If yes, which? • How can a conscious and balanced use of the digital and personal ability to interact be created? (Creation of a joint guide to the healthy use of digital media) In the practical part, the students took part in the weekly training and workshops in preparation for the meetings where the intended Rodas (the joint game in which music is performed, sung and Capoeira is practiced) took place. As the Portuguese and then the Belgian partners left the project very early, the project planning had to be adjusted. The main topics assigned to the target countries were then offered as a mixed form during the meetings in Germany and Turkey so that the content fields were implemented despite the absences of the two partners. The students took part in acrobatics workshops in Istanbul and Germany, carried out group exercises on choreographies and during the Rodas (playing together) they also gained experience with the songs and made music together. During the active breaks, the students held and joined lectures and presentations about the history and development of Capoeira from the liberation and resistance movement to become a sport and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite the pandemic contact and weekly training sessions were maintained with the help of Zoom. This was the only way to keep the project alive despite the difficult circumstances. After the project completion the offer is today still given at Iserlohn Comprehensive school and continues, so that young people and families make use of it. It helped us significantly to establish our school as a meeting place, since parents, children and also recently newcomers/immigrants have found each other through the offer and have integrated through sport. The project was also presented to other schools as part of "Talent-Tage-Ruhr" and workshops were held at these school where the participants of Iserlohn Comprehensive School had he function of multiplicators. Some of these schools have also implemented the concept at their schools and are now offering the concept for their students. The Erasmus+ project was also well received in the press and media. A social media account was set up in order to present the various impressions transparently for the participants and parents and to give access for other interested people. Link: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=15274m4zbkwut&utm_content=43kk81g This was also integrated on the project results platform for visibility