The Erasmus projects have offered countless young people the opportunity to travel, meet new people and cultures while at the same time they make good use of their skills. We have tried to pinpoint the current needs of our society and reach out to the students in a way that they will find both educative and pleasant. Some of the countries that are involved in the project, have been affected by financial stress and social turmoil during the past years. Others have been involved in discussions concerning their future in the European Union and of course, the refugee crisis has put a strain on the ideas of tolerance, acceptance and understanding. Our teenage students are not immune to negative voices calling them to take a stand, as far as their attitude towards a united Europe is concerned. We, as educators, have noticed that our students are more often than not affected by stereotypes and biases towards other cultures. Sometimes, during class discussions and other activities, we notice a negative attitude towards the European spirit and the need to work together towards a unified Europe.
Taking into consideration the above, we decided to apply for an Erasmus+ project that will be focusing on cultural elements that make each country special and unique. In doing so, we are going to take it a step further by making this also a project that will establish an understanding as far as a common European identity is concerned.
Moreover, a serious effort will be made to incorporate innovative ideas so as to create a unique experience for our students and local communities. Our aim is to approach the topic of national cultures and multicultural Europe from the point of view of the youth. We do not wish this to be a project focused on folklore and customs. We wish it to be the starting point from which our students and the local institutions (like neighbouring schools, Municipalities etc.) will expand their horizons and acknowledge the diversity and beauty of the community we call Europe. We also intend to help students with their computer literacy skills because we believe they are both essential in today’s world and they provide an attractive way of learning. Consequently, we will incorporate the new technologies in order to make this project appealing to young people. This Erasmus+ team has worked on other projects before and there is excellent collaboration among the members. As a result, we have agreed to work towards a common goal, the enhancement of a common European identity for our students, the local community (parents, organisations, municipalities, neighbouring schools) and the teachers themselves. Thus, we decided to work for our project around 4 basic axes, each of which is to be undertaken by one of the 4 schools involved. We intend to focus on common historical memories and experiences, art and dance, languages and the past that shaped our future.