Project

Our project picks up on a current topic that has occupied and polarized the EU states and their citizens for years. In 2017, 4.4 million people immigrated to the EU countries, of which around 2.4 million immigrants from non-EU countries came to the EU-28. This development is leading to a revival of nationalist tendencies and mutual isolation in many EU countries. Populist actions by politicians and parties in connection with stereotypes also among young people mean that European societies are beginning to distance themselves from the main vision of an open and united Europe and openness and tolerance towards one another. There is also increasing anti-Semitism. After Turkey opened its border with the EU at the end of February 2020, thousands of migrants are trying to get to Western Europe via the Greek external border. Our students are also concerned about this topic and are controversial. A migration movement such as 2015, when millions of people fled from the crisis areas in Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq and sought refuge and protection in Europe, created many fears and reservations for the “foreigner”, for an “Islamization”, an overwhelming challenge for schools, society and business. These fears and reservations are returning today. For this reason students from Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland are dealing with this topic.

The main goals of the project are: - Integration of people with a migrant background (school, occupation, private sector) - Exchange of experiences made in all partner countries in the area of school, cultural and economic integration of immigrants - Promoting young people’s intercultural dialogue and engagement for an open, tolerant and united Europe, questioning stereotypes, breaking up xenophobic attitudes - Promotion of common values, civic engagement and participation. Other goals include improving foreign language skills and expanding intercultural, communicative and digital skills.

The students first examine past migration using the example of immigration from Jews to Poland. Poland used to be a very liberal country and home to a large Jewish community. End of the 18th century 80% of all Jews worldwide lived there. They came to Poland for centuries, distributed from all over Europe. The students deal with religious-cultural stereotypes and with the question, where they come from and why they are so persistent. They will learn about the Jewish religion and the consequences of anti-Judaism / anti-Semitism. In Germany, Italy and Spain, the students examine the aspect of migration in the present. In Germany, they study classroom interviews, interviews with school representatives, integration centers, and local companies with their concepts for integrating immigrants. In Italy they get insights into refugee stories and the everyday life of immigrants there, conduct interviews and discussions with politicians. They also deal with examples of civic engagement to care for and integrate immigrants. In Spain, they use surveys, interviews and discussions with representatives of the economy to investigate the long-term social, economic, tax and demographic effects of immigration on the Spanish economy. In the last week of exchange, they draft a vision of the future EU and create it in cooperation with the District Museum Wewelsburg near Paderborn a multimedia exhibition that documents the results of the project. In the rooms of the district museum it will be made accessible to the general public over a longer period of time. It is also shown in the partner countries