Erasmus+ Project
U2 Have a Voice
Project number: 2019-CZ01-KA229_061179_1

The Erasmus+ project "U2 Have a Voice" is focused on increasing student competencies and skills in the area of civil engagement, responsible and active citizenship, democratic values, and more, in the context of their community, country and EU. Young people have an important role to play in maintaining and building a better democratic European society and culture. This project aims to motivate them to be more involved in their local communities, democratic processes and activities at different levels of society, starting from their towns/cities, to national and European level.

The project is divided int four topics:

1) Actions speak louder than words. Focusing on responsible and active citizenship, volunteering and elections. Students will learn how they can have a voice and use it in their community, nation and EU.

2) Living together as equals in culturally diverse societies. The main focus is on different aspects of HR, and cultural diversity. Students will learn to be tolerant of differences in nationality, culture, physical appearance, origin, sex, beliefs, etc. Stressing that all people are created equal with specific unalienable rights. Special focus on bullying.

3) Hit the Books - freedom of speech. Students will read books, get to know forbidden writers, read speeches that inspired nations, learn about fake news, censorship, propaganda and media manipulation (elections).

4) If streets could talk - culture of democracy. Focus will be on why people take to the streets (protest, demonstrations, etc.) Different forms of rule. Students will map streets , street names in their town and examine what happened in these streets.

The activities within the 4 topics of the project were aimed at acquiring and increasing key competencies of the participants. The areas of competence development were, values, skills, attitudes and knowledge. Tangible results connected to the 4 topics of the project were questionnaires, videos, posters, photographs, student diaries, timelines maps and more. Working on these tasks students developed ICT, language and communication skills.

Intangible results, were observed by teachers in that students improved critical thinking skills, open mindedness, tolerance, participated in discussions, read more, learned to express their opinion and more. The results of the project were presented at schools (open days, Erasmus Days), in local, reagional and national media, on the school and project website and eTwinning Platform.

All project activities were organised on the school, national and international level so that a wide range of students could be involved and experience and learn about the topics of the project. A specific group of students participated in the learning and teaching activities, but a wider group of participants was involved in various project work that was carried out in specific lessons and also outside the classroom through workshops, excursions to NGOs, political institutions and meetings with interesting people. Parents of hosting students, visitors to the school and relevant stakeholders were also effected indirectly by the project through various dissemination activities.

We adopted a holistic approach in the project which involved cognitive, practical and attitudinal dimension of learning. Practical application of what had been learnt will be applied with an aim to positively influence attitudes, behaviour, world views of the participants. We also applied an open-ended learning method, which allowed for multiple solutions and answers to problems and issues, where students learned to accept and respect other views. This helped promote self-confidence of participants in debates and discussions of topics that were bound to result in different opinions and understandings. The school setting provided a safe environment for debates and discussions. Further methods of work included blended learning, group work in international teams, competitions, discussions, and debates. Learning through experience and discovery, developing critical thinking skills, communication, tolerance and more.

An integral objective of this project was to realise international mobilities as working in an international team influences individuals positive perception of the world around them. This project fulfils the vision of the internationalisation strategy of the participating schools, especially improving the quality of educational outputs, sustainable development of cooperation with current social and international partners, sharing of examples of good practice thanks to visits to partner organisations, development of professional competences of students and staff. We believe that learning mobilities brings competencies and skills that will benefit individual participants in their future.