Based on common history and responsibility a European nationality and Identity is our challenge for the future As a two years lasting cooperative project among schools we plan to bring students from the „Gymnazium Tvrodosin (Slovakia), the Gymnazium Lovassy Laszlo (Hungary), the Gymnazium Rajec-Jestrebi (Czech Republic) and our school, Gymnasium Ricarda-Huch-Schule Braunschweig (Germany) together, in order to reflect on the theme of the European process of integration and identity. The nations of Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany unifies a common but changeful history. Therefore one might judge their relationship as burdened. To clear this and to rehabilitate dependencies merging into a common European identity shall be the project’s aim. Through a close cooperation among these schools and their students should an exchange of experiences on certain project´s topics enlighten our mutual understanding. Especially an integration of extracurricular places and personal contacts within the participating countries with their different societies and systems should give the students the opportunity of regional researches in four different specific environments. Students from grade 9 on should work in project groups in their schools on common themes relating to culture, society, politics and/or economy, framed by the concept of „nationality and identity“ as a regional and European goal. Meanwhile the students will meet in different places to bring their work and ideas together, to exchange themselves in order to prepare some kind of documentation. This could be an exhibition, a movie or video or any other product that could be used afterwards to not only present the student´s experiences to each school but also within the regional participating societies. The elements of „history, presence and future“ should be the basis of these products and a forward-looking discussion. Different aspects for their research will develop out of the student´s interests, e.g. developments in society, art and music, regional traditions, sports and so on. We are convinced that such a broad project will enrich each school´s society and the involved students will profit from their experience and research work in order to push the idea of a European identity forward.
Based on common history and responsibility a European nationality and Identity is our challenge for the future As a two years lasting cooperative project among schools we have brought students from the „Gymnazium Tvrodosin (Slovakia), the Gymnazium Lovassy Laszlo (Hungary), the Gymnazium Rajec-Jestrebi (Czech Republic) and our school, Gymnasium Ricarda-Huch-Schule Braunschweig (Germany) together, in order to reflect on the theme of the European process of integration and identity. The nations of Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany unifies a common but changeful history. Therefore one might judge their relationship as burdened. This has been cleared and reflected on in order set up a common awareness related to our joint history. To rehabilitate dependencies merging into a common European identity was the project’s successful aim. Through a close cooperation among these schools and their students an exchange of experiences on certain project´s topics enlightened our mutual understanding. Especially an integration of extracurricular places and personal contacts within the participating countries with their different societies and systems gave the students the opportunity of regional researches in four different specific environments. Students from grade 10 (due to the extension of the projects duration later in grade 11 and 12) worked in project groups in their schools on common themes relating to culture, society, politics and/or economy, framed by the concept of „nationality and identity“ as a regional and European goal. Meanwhile the students met in different places to bring their work and ideas together, to exchange themselves in order to prepare and discuss topics related to the participating. Due to the pandemic restriction two mobility had to be done online or partly online. The student´s experiences are documented in presentations and an internet site. The elements of „history, presence and future“ were the basis of these products and a forward-looking discussion. The online mobility in Slovakia focused on cultural differences and similarities. Especially traditions are to be seen differently within the different societies. The mobility in Hungary focused on minorities, in this case a German speaking minority around Veszprem. The participating students developed an awareness for different identities we have and realised to take the different attitudes into consideration. The media was the main topic in the Czech Republic. One incident was judged an seen differently whithin the media, which made the sudents realise different interests in policy and society. The mobility in Braunschweig emphasised on the terms of nation and nationality as a broader awareness of togetherness compared to what the students have found out about identities that mainly focus on personal or group related identities. We have experienced that such a broad project enriched each school´s society and the involved students profited from their experience and research work in order to push the idea of a European identity forward.