The project aimed to achieve the following concrete objectives: Digital Readiness Development (O1): Develop the digital readiness of educational institutions through practical and meaningful activities. Target: At least 80% of the students to develop their digital skills. Promotion of Culture, Geography, and Touristic Potential (O2): Promote the culture, geography, and touristic potential of all six regions. Target: Ensure at least 90% of trained students actively contribute to the creation of digital materials. Social Responsibility and Community Development (O3): Develop the social responsibility of actors in educational institutions by direct contributions to community development. Target: Initiate at least one additional community-based project in each country. Strengthening Collaboration Between Schools and NGOs (O4): Strengthen collaboration between schools and NGOs to lay the foundation for future joint projects. Exchange of Experiences and Good Practice (O5): Enable the exchange of experiences and good practices related to approaches in online education.
The initiation of this project was prompted by the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically addressing the difficulties faced by educational systems. The project aimed to tackle declining student interest in online learning and resource gaps, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions of Europe. The participating schools, including two formally part of the project, grappled with issues of student engagement and struggled to keep students active during this period. Online education, while advantageous for some, revealed disparities in digital readiness and access to equipment, especially in countries like Romania, Turkey, and North Macedonia. Recognizing these obstacles, the project coordinators sought to create a partnership that would enable mutual learning and support institutions in adapting to the new educational landscape. Beyond educational challenges, the project served a dual purpose. The pandemic had severe repercussions on the tourism industry in the participating countries due to restrictions and lockdowns. To address this, the project aimed to make the regions and tourism as career more visible and promote them at both the partnership and international levels.