Project background: The topic "L(i)ebenswert(e)" (lovable/ livable values) will be dealt with by students and teachers from four entirely different European countries in very eventful times. The consequences of the Brexit, European border control policy, key health determinants influencing the global stock exchange are just some of the current European issues which our daily life is confronted with in the one or the other way. Moreover, students are influenced by the most different values via so-called (fake) news on social media. Thereby they are not even aware or sure about their own values or expectations of life. Project aims: The aim of the project is to provide clarification for all participants firstly about themselves and later about their private and cultural environment. Furthermore, it is important to compare the values of different individuals and cultures on a common basis. We aim to discover, document, question and, above all, live and compare common European, but also national and regionally different customs and traditions. Although the Bulgarian, Finnish, Latvian and German students come from different backgrounds they will work out common lovable and livable values of life showing them how life can be organized in a lovable and livable way. On top of that the joint project deals with understanding, mutual esteem and changes of perspective while experiencing different values of the respective partners. How are these values historically and culturally enrolled? To what extent can they be transferred? Are they compatible? The answers to these questions will be documented through word and picture. Moreover, a mutual appreciation is shown due tu practices inherited which are chriching everybody's life and making it lovable. At the same time, differences and stereotypes are to be examined critically in order to further the intercultural competence of all those involved. Number and profile of participants: Each of the four participating countries will take part in every mobility with two accompanying teachers and twelve students whereas the hosting country is involved with more people respectively to offer all guests a deep insight into the private family life. The students are a colorful mixture of fifteen (beginning of the project) to nineteen year-olds (end of the project) who are highly motivadted, socially fair and trustworthy. This group-structure enables them to have a comparable and similar view on life and the individual future. Description of activities: The project focuses on the different activities during the mobilities, in particular cultural encounters with our partners, their families and their social environment in the respective host country. We are going to visit culturally or historically important sites of the respective regions that are of special importance for the hosts and an enrichment of local life in general. Likewise, we will share and reflect culturally significant events, customs and traditions at the different locations. Method to realize the project: The individual exchange and the integration (of the students) into their host families are fundamental for the development, the comparison and the enlargement of personal values. On principle, joint activities are supervised and have productive and constructive tasks. One of the underlying methods corresponds to the aesthetic research of German art educator Helga Kämpf-Jansen, dealing with working out a specific topic comprehensively by using various scientific and artistic methods. Each country contributes different methodical approaches. Bulgaria for example imparts approaches that encourage learning (success) with movement by using musical strategies and Finland, on the other hand, contributes digital approaches like digital media or online platforms, while Latvia uses a combination of music and language. Finally, Germany offers various fields of work in Nature (LandArt) and to be part of a film-production. However, the most important focus is on the students' independent and autonomous work, so that we meet the requirements of the all-over topic of the project "L(i)ebenswert(e)". Short description of the expected results: Texts, pictures, objects, installations and cultural events like cooking and songs or dances from the different regions will be published and shared in the students' personal environment, as much as interpersonal and social experiences. During the ongoing process of the project the students will have to keep a portfolio. Short description of the potentially long-term use: A long-term objective is to strengthen the sense of togetherness and unity, including mutual acceptance and border-crossing in personal and political respect. In fact, an open-mindedness to the unknown and the discovery of livable and lovable values in the own and the strange are practices. Finally, all participants will be motivated to spread an appreciative European attitude.
Context / Background of the project: The topic “Lovable Values of Life“ (LoVaLi) was developped collaboratively by participants of four completely different European countries (Bulgaria, Latvia, Finland and Germany) in (global) politically uncertain times The United Kingdom leaving the EU, the EU struggling to keep its external frontiers safe, the global influence on life by the Covid-19 pandemic and last not least the war on Ukraine have cast doubt on the so far existing image of he world. Moreover, students are permanently confronted with the most diverse moral values via social media. But at the same time they are neither even fully aware of their own foundation of values nor of any expectations in their own lives. Project Goals: This project (LoVaLi) was supposed to create clarification, which the participants should have gained about themselves, the individual and their own private and cultural setting. In addition, the project had a further focus on the comparison of important values amongst the different individuals and cultures. Each participant pursued the question of how to shape their personal life in a lovable and livable way. In fact, it was a matter of understanding and appreciating each other as well as a change of perspective while experiencing and witnessing different values in life. How were the respective values of life deeply held and to what extent were values transferable and compatible? Where could differences and similarities be found? All the answers to these fundamental questions were documented by texts and visuals and even more so a reciprocal appreciation and enrichmentis shown by adopted customs and shared cultural activities which make each others‘ lives lovable. Nevertheless, differences and stereotypes were scrutinized critically in order to strengthen everyone’s intercultural awareness. Number / Profile of Participants: Each mobility was accompanied by 12 students and two attending teachers per country. Due to Corona these numbers were partly adjusted. The host country was always more involved to cope best with all the guests not least because they offered an intensive insight into their private family life. The students were 15 to 19 years old which allowed similar perspectives on one’s present life and future. Furthermore, the group was characterized by a constructive diversity and an impressive will to participate actively in the project. This was achieved at every school by a large number of students being interested to participate Description of Activities: The main focus was on the different activities during the mobilities in the course of which cultural encounters with the partners, the families and the respective environment in the host countries took place. There were visits of places of cultural and historical heritage which were extraordinarily cherished by the hosts and thereby felt as an enrichment of their local and regional life. Moreover, everybody shared and reflected on culturally important events and customs at the different places. Everything happened in a joyful and approachable atmosphere. Project-implemented methods: Individual exchange and the integration into host families were essential for collecting, comparing and expanding personal lovable and livable values. Joint activities were principally instructed and provided with target-aimed tasks. To achieve this every country contributed its own method to the project always including the interaction of individuals as a leading part. Thus in Bulgaria the students were taught approaches based on music and dance, whereas in Finland the focus was on theatre education. Latvia presented a combination of music and language to be explored and additionally because of the current situation (war on Ukraine) the students were offered a special workshop on “Peace and Freedom“. In Germany the main issues covered everyday life, science, nature and history. To live up to the topic of “LoVaLi“ the free and self-governing acting of every individual was always at the heart of the project. Brief description of the results: Texts, pictures, posters, exhibits, installation art and adapted cultural customs from the different regions and countries were partly exhibited in an either personal or school-based and regional setting in each country. Social and interpersonal experiences were displayed in various works and portfolios. Potential long-term benefits: In the long run the project deals with a sense of unity, mutual acceptance and wilful crossing of frontiers as well as being open-minded towards the unknown and exploring livable and lovable values in your own life and in other people’s lives and cultures. An attitude which is basically esteeming and driven by common European values will be spread by all participants in a motivated way.