This is my Europe
This web-page presents the work of our Erasmus+ project 2020-2023. It will be developed throughout the project and finally be finished autumn 2023.
What does it mean to be a citizen of a European country these days? How much aware are young Europeans of European politics, values and institutions that influence their lives? What kind of Europe do they dream of? These are some questions that need to be asked at a time when populists are gaining ground in Europe and in the world, at a time where many, especially young people, express their dissatisfaction with European decisions.
We want our students to get to know the Union, which remains abstract to many of them. We want them to learn about the history and how our European identity has evolved, how regions and cities have benefited from the fact of being a part of the Union, how our countries are connected through education, trade, work and leisure.
Our project contains a partnership of six schools in Europe, from Naples (Italy) in the South via Sibiu (Romania) in the East and Eisenstadt (Austria), Penzberg (Germany) and Langon (France) in the West to Sandnes (Norway) in the North. See each school's presentations and location here: Italy, Romania, Austria, Germany, France and Norway.
Students and teachers outside Bran Castle
Meeting in Sibiu 2023
The final meeting of the project "This is My Europe" was held in Sibiu, Romania at the beginning of May 2023. The main theme for this meeting was Food - a very popular topic among our students. We presented both traditional recipes and investigated nutritious components in our food, and the differences in prices and places of origin. The meeting ended in an informal competition on national deserts with mixed groups having to prepare and present one of the traditional deserts from one of the partner countries.
Final evening in Penzberg
Meeting in Penzberg 2023
In January/February 2023 all the partners met again with a new group of students and teachers in Penzberg, Germany. The theme for this meeting was Education and Work in a foreign European country. The students worked on finding information about what it means to study or work in another country - about language, economy, certificates, different school systems, and how to live in another country.
The students had first-hand experience living in host families and staying in the host school.
Presentations in Eisenstadt
Meeting in Eisenstadt
In September 2022 all the partners met with students and teachers in Eisenstadt, Austria. The main theme for this meeting was Mobility and Transportation in Europe.
The aim of the meeting was to focus on the aspects of travelling and transport. Since the establishment of the European Union, European countries have become closer in many aspects. So we looked at the European idea of the four fundamental freedoms, particularly focusing on the freedom of movement of people and goods. We wanted our students to become aware of the fact that travelling easily and without border controls (with some exceptions) is only possible due to a common effort of the countries involved. Besides, the concept of open borders can no longer be regarded as a matter of fact by young people living in the European Union, which has become obvious during the migrant movement in 2015. We also had a look at the future of the European Union in this context.
Outside the school in Naples
Meeting in Napoli
All the partners met with students and teachers during the second week of May in Napoli, Italy. This week's theme was Migration and Tradition, where the object was to research how one of the oldest cities with continuous urbanisation has been influenced by different people and dominions, from the Greeks more than 2500 years ago to modern-day Napoli. Through presentations, research and excursions in the old quarter of the town the students who worked in mixed groups studied and took photos for the final presentations on the last day.
On the beach
Meeting in Sandnes
During a cold but sunny week in Norway students and teachers from Romania, Italy, Austria and France joined their Norwegian hosts in the second project meeting with a focus on Arts and Traditions in Europe. Apart from workshops and presentations, we had excursions to Stavanger, climbed a mountain top, and the host families took all the students to the beach. The German students and teachers were not able to join us physically because of Covid-19 restrictions, but we managed to organise meetings and presentations online where the Germans did join. On the final day the students presented their work in an exhibition that is on display for the other students at the school in Sandnes.
See some of the presentations and artwork from the workshops on these pages.
New project logo
We had a competition to make the project logo. All the partner schools participated and selected one representative for each partner. On Thursday the 18th. of November we had a vote using a digital tool for all participating students at all the partner schools. The winner was ahead of all the other alternatives with 47% of the votes. The winner was Larisa Pantiru from Sibiu, Romania. Congratulations!!!
Outside the school in Langon
First meeting in Langon
Our first meeting with students and teachers took place in November 2021 in Langon, France. 4 students and 2 teachers from every partner worked together for a week with the focus on the Environment and what is being done for the future in every partner country and in the EU.
Pictures, presentations and videos are shared under the heading "Project activies" and "Environment"
Finally a physical meeting
Coordinators meeting 2021
Our first physical meeting with the coordinators and supporting teachers were held in Eisenstadt, Austria in September 2021. The purpose of the meeting was to get the original Erasmus+ project back on track with updating the plan for activities and get the physical activities started. We are looking forward to start our first meeting with students in Langon, France in November 2021.
Europe in lockdown
In November 2020 25 students from all the partners met digitally with the help of Google Meet to collaborate across borders during a period of full lockdown in Europe. The students were divided into four groups - one from each partner - to work together and produce a presentation on different aspects of life during lockdown in Europe - from our student's perspectives, and from their different towns. The students had never met each other before, but this did not limit our students who in spite of distance and sometimes having to face technical difficulties managed to produce four very different ways of presenting Europe in lockdown.
Each country was also asked to prepare material/presentations about the pandemic from a historical perspective.
All these materials are presented here in our "Corona Museum".
Since the Covid19 restrictions remained throughout the spring of 2021 we decided to hold another virtual meeting in April 2021. During that meeting the students planned a trip around Europe with their European friends. The main goals of that meeting were to keep in contact, to keep the project going and for the students to learn about the attractions and regional destinctions of the European countries.