With the project, we wanted, first of all, to provide an unforgettable life experience for young people, students with intellectual disabilities, autism and associated disorders. For many of them, this was their first trip abroad, without parents or guardians, many Serbian participants, e.g. saw the sea for the first time. The experience strengthened them, empowered them, gave them confirmation that they can do it themselves. In addition to carrying out numerous student exchanges, with the project we also wanted to enable teachers to experience visiting a partner institution, visit specific workshops, classrooms and get to know the partner system, work practices, as well as the challenges they face when implementing inclusive education. We wanted to compare both systems, find out their positive and negative sides, and get ideas for our own work improvement. With the project, which often coincided with inclusive events in both countries, we also wanted to raise awareness in Serbian and Slovenian society about the importance of inclusion, to contribute our part to reducing stereotypes and fears.
The project responds to the needs of students with special needs, who are educated by both schools in the project. It concerns students with intellectual disabilities, autism and associated dissabilities. They, too, want and deserve international experience, which would strengthen their own independence, communication and social skills, and many other skills. We also applied for the project due to the teachers' need for ongoing professional training, enabling also a comparison of the two systems of inclusive education, work methods, as well as the challenges faced by professionals from both schools. Last but not least, with the project we wanted to further raise awareness in Serbian and Slovenian society about the importance of inclusion and the benefits it brings for everyone.