An estimated 362,000 refugees risked their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea in 2016,theyare now facing challenges such as discrimination and manifestations of racism and xenophobia which continue to threaten security in the increasingly diverse societies of many European countries.Euro- Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor) According to the concrete data obtained in different situations in our schools,Ss are socially and culturally avoiding refugees,they don’t trust them and see the them as risk. Segregation is increasing and the Ss no longer have an understanding for each other. To raise future European citizens, we need to focus more on human rights, the psychology of war victims, socio-cultural integration, equity, diversity, inclusion and democracy. Our Priorities are: Social inclusion;Social and educational value of European cultural heritage,its contribution to job creation,economic growth and social cohesion; Strengthening the profiles of the teaching professions Topics addressed by our Project are: Civic engagement / responsible citizenship Cultural heritage EU Citizenship,EU awareness and Democracy Goal of "POMEGRANATE EUROPE" is to contribute to socio-cultural integration by preventing prejudices, discrimination and xenophobia between refugees and local communities. Our objectives are: 1-To avoid perceiving the humanitarian facilities provided to refugees as concession by our school family 2-To create awareness through working collaboratively with partners to get youngsters to familiarize with various democratic practices, learn about human rights and their role as responsible EU citizens and be informed about ways to actively participate in the civic process(2019eTwinningYear) 3-To contribute to prevention of xenophobia, stereotyping,discrimination and bullying in partner schools and to create socio-cultural interaction and integration between our students (Ss) and refugees using traditional performing arts as a tool 4-To contribute to the formation of the professional basic qualifications of our Ss by handling the issues of prevention of discrimination in internship places, future business and everyday life 5-To train and create materials for teachers Ts to deal with equity,diversity and inclusion challenges through cultural heritage and performing arts Activities to reach our objectives and goal are: LTTs: 4 transnational teacher trainings in partner countries to strengthen Ts skills in line with project objectives.They are planned in such a way that we benefit from the strengths of the hosting partners.Various techniques and methods will be used to address the needs and learning styles of all participants such as reaserch,seminar, face-to-face interaction,learning by doing,on-site-observation,Project development,etc. Exchanges: 4 St exchanges which will be realised with 72 gender balanced students of 14-18 ages to create socio-cultural interaction both in local and transnational environments for our students Ss will interact with refugees in different activities such as interviews,learning songs,dances, cultural &sports activities,etc .These will lead to contribution to prevention of xenophobia in partner schools and create socio-cultural interaction & integration between our Ss and refugees using traditional performing arts as a tool. Awareness and dissemination: Parents’ meetings, inviting experts to give lectures; 4 stagings, an open day,local demonstrations with refugees. With eTwinning and the website,we will reach a wider network. Our tangible result are: an international chorus an international traditional folk dances group an international tragedya/comedy 4 stagings in partner countries 4 open days a collective TwinsSpace a Project website informative digital and printed brochure tools & materials for Ts to work against xenophobia in their school more effective teaching methods and nonformal learning and teaching tasks IMPACT & BENEFITS Better understand of people of impelled migration,focus more on human rights Number of young refugees out of education will decrease Affinity for refugees with the local community will increase Youngsters take more part as active citizens in society Using of newly developed teaching methods to prevent xenophobia, social exclusion and alienation,bullying,etc. Developed skills in project management, monitoring, reporting action plans and strategies,definition and implementation,communication evaluation, joint staff trainings,etc. Network creation will allow to keep building professonal cooperations and activities in the future. Raise in digital,linguistic and communication capabilities of the participants Service quality in the workplace and in business life in the future The internalisation of schools in the EU will increase Interest in Erasmus+ will arise in other schools Increase in the use of European reference tools for the recognition, validation and transparency of skills and qualifications Interest in eTwinning will grow
In 2016 an estimated number of 362,000 people crossed the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge. Since then they have been facing challenges such as discrimination, manifestations of racism, and xenophobia in the recipient countries. At the time of application, students (Ss) were avoiding refugees and experiencing feelings of distrust due to the increase in segregation in all participant countries. As part of our educational responsibility of raising future EU citizens, the project aims to raise awareness of human rights, the psychology of war victims, socio-cultural integration, equity, diversity, inclusion and democracy in the partner schools and local communities. The priorities of the project are social inclusion, the social and educational value of European cultural heritage, its contribution to job creation, economic growth and social cohesion, as well as strengthening teachers’ (Ts) awareness and ability to include these themes in their profession. Topics addressed are civic engagement, responsible citizenship, cultural heritage, and EU citizenship. The goals of “POMEGRANATE EUROPE” has been to contribute to socio-cultural integration by raising student awareness and preventing prejudices, discrimination and xenophobia between refugees and local communities. The following objectives of the project have been established: To avoid perceiving the humanitarian facilities provided to refugees as concessions by our school family; To create awareness through working collaboratively with partners to get youngsters to familiarize themselves with various democratic practices, learn about human rights and their role as active participants in the civic process as responsible EU citizens. To contribute to prevention of xenophobia, discrimination and bullying in partner schools and to create socio-cultural interaction and integration using traditional performing arts as a tool; To contribute to the formation of the professional basic qualifications of our Ss and prevention of discrimination in internship places, future business and everyday life; To train and create materials for Ts to deal with equity, diversity and inclusion challenges through cultural heritage and performing arts. During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2022, the number of transnational activities used to implement these objectives had to be reduced, resulting in: Two transnational teacher trainings (LTTs) in partner countries to strengthen Ts skills in line with the project objectives. All participant Ts have benefitted from the individual strengths of the hosting partners and received various techniques to address the learning needs of all participants. The LTTs included research, seminars, face-to-face interaction, learning by doing, on-site observations, and project development. Two student exchanges with 44 gender balanced Ss between the ages of 14-19 who were given the opportunity to create socio-cultural interaction both in local and transnational environments. The activities had the Ss learning and participating in songs, dances, cultural and sports activities from both hosting and participant countries. These led to a Ss' understanding of other cultures and a decrease in xenophobia in partner schools; establishing socio-cultural interaction and integration using performing arts as a tool. eTwinning activities where Ss interacted with refugees through interviews. Lectures and workshops with invited experts from different NGOs and institutions open to all students. Parents’ meetings to inform parents of the project’s objectives. A grand show where Ss performed traditional songs and dances as well as student-made documentaries on the project objectives. The results of the project can be summarized as the produced materials, such as the collective TwinSpace, project website, digital and printed brochures, the grand show, and international chorus; and the impact of the project as a whole. Teaching tools, methods and materials to work against xenophobia in schools have been developed and shared transnationally. The project has resulted in Ss' better understanding of refugee lives as well as awareness of local efforts to prevent xenophobia. Ss and Ts have been given tools to implement in their local communities to further local integration and interaction. The partner schools have also been able to raise awareness of Erasmus+ and EU citizenship within the schools and local communities. Ts have developed skills in project management, monitoring, reporting action plans and strategies, definitions and implementation, and communication evaluation. Transnational communication tools have been established to keep building professional cooperation and activities in the future. Ss have established relationships with classmates from other countries that will increase their chances of intercultural relationships in the future as well as having equipped Ss with tools of social inclusion which will benefit them as active and responsible EU citizens.