“Tolerance as a key to social integration into European dimension for young citizens”

2011-2013

CCOMENIUSOMENIUS P PARTNERSHIPARTNERSHIP

Latvia

Portugal

Poland

Bulgaria

Italy

Romania

Description of the Project

The project has 2 sections: the 1st year -What and Why Tolerance is a Key?; the 2nd year: How To Be Tolerant in Modern Society? The problem of intolerant attitude towards persons of other religion, nation and culture, persons with special needs and Environment still remains actual among young people, sometimes it leads to vandalism. The opportunity to solve the problem is tightly connected with institutions of socialization, such as school. The project is aiming to create tolerant attitude among young people towards persons with special needs, people of other nations, cultures, and religions, Environment through various activities integrated into school Curriculum. We suppose, that Tolerant attitude is the necessary aspect of better European dimension. Schools project teams consisted of pupils and teachers will be fully engaged into all project activities through the project. It will help to reach such aims as: to teach students to plan and participate in European projects, to show how to work in international team, and main aspect, knowing each other cultures better will develop important social and civic competences, language and communication skills, cultural awareness through dialogues and opportunity to share personal points of view on Tolerance issues. The results of the project would be presented at the Areas of Tolerance and, finally, at the Conference for all interested in the problem in each partner school. The main problem we are going to address in this project is Tolerance in society. We intend to show that in spite of the fact that people have different religions, colour of the skin, etc. – they remain to be human beings with the same human needs, wishes and hopes. People can have different appearance, etc. – but they feel breath in the same way like all we do.

Social integration is becoming more and more actual nowadays when borders from Eastern and Western countries are almost open. Because of economical crisis people are forced to move to other countries trying to find jobs there. It affected both - home and host countries. People of host counties come across new aspects of different cultures as well as new comers need to create new links with foreign societies. Some parents leave their children at home with grandmothers and grandfathers making children feel themselves lost in society.

Sometimes it creates social exclusion for such children. That is the main aspect of social integration.

Sometimes we find intolerant behaviour towards people with special needs, especially, among children (it happens quite often in Latvia). Children could be cruel to such people. With the help of project we would like to show good European experience in that area. There exist schools in Europe where students with special need study in the same school under the same roof with students with mental and physical problems. The main aspect that such pupils are absolutely integrated and they are considered as being not different, but equal. Such attitude is very important to develop in new European countries (for example, in Latvia). European experience is very valuable in the area of creation tolerant European space for all. We would like to share all good practice in that aspect of European dimension with all our partners, to know how they work with that problem.

Only trying to know each other better, trying to understand that we are equal, though different, but not alien – that is the crucial point for modern European society. School is one of the most important institutes of socialization for young people, that is why one important motivation factor of the project is to show our new generation the importance of tolerant attitude to anyone who could be different, but that other is not better of worse, he/she is just different. In our age of globalisation when borders are not more separating people such attitude is quite important and valuable. Intolerant attitude leads to quarrels, strike, revolutions, wars, etc. Schools are responsible for developing all necessary social skills of young citizens for our future better world.

Our Partners:

Liceul Teoretic “Miron Costin” IaŞi (ROMANIA)

FORAVE – Associação para a Educação Profissional do Vale do Ave ( (PORTUGAL)

Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących Nr 10, XV Liceum Ogólnokształcące

(POLAND)

Хуманитарна гимназия”Дамян Дамянов” (BULGARIA)

Instituto D`Istruzione Superiore (ITALY)

Olaines Secondary School No2 (LATVIA)

Students and teachers involved in the COMENIUS project:

Students: Teachers:

Anastasiya Pavlova Ludmila Osipova

Alexander Khrisanfov Viktoriya Petļak

Andrey Skorinko Irina Siņicina

Arthur Vinogradov Marina Liskina

Lilita Alute Jelena Alute

Juliya Voronova Irina Trofimova

Alina Kozlova Jelizabeth.Stankevica

Mark Chizhov

Anastasiya Tsvetkova

Oleg Peretyagin

The first visit, the first acquaintance which took place in Latvia.

The first meeting of participants of the project took place In Olaine Secondary school No 2 in November 2011. 10 teachers from all schools – partners visited our school. Short excursion at our school was offered to our guests, they could get acquainted personally with each other and with school students which were a part of working group. Local government showed serious attention and interest to the project and to the visit of our guests. The chairman of Olaine self-

government Janis Pavlovich and Inta Purvina visited dinner arranged for our guests. I.Purvina took part in presentations of our guests, presentations offered description of our partner countries and schools.

Guests showed the presentations of schools prepared by them during the official meeting. The schedule of trips was discussed and the quantity of participants in mobilities was defined, the main actions were discussed, and the slogan and the logo of project

was also accepted. Excursions to the Rundeles castle and to the Old Riga were organized for guests. Our students from working group acted as guides in Rundale. They prepared in advance material about Latvia for the guests.

The events, which were held in our school.

Main actions and activities: tolerant games at school, lessons of Tolerance, writing of scientific work about Tolerance by pupils, creation of booklets and mosaics about Tolerance, visit of the state structures, participation in conference about Tolerance, exchange of information among participants of the project.

In our school took place tolerant games.

Not only adult pupils are involved in the project, but also the whole school. Even kids since childhood learn concept of tolerance. Participants of the project visited lessons at elementary school and gave them a task to draw what they thought about “Tolerance".

Our pupils shared the opinions how they understand a word - tolerance.

Conference of Tolerance took place in our school too. Lecturer, Victor Yolkin, came to our school and shared with us interesting thoughts about Tolerance. He advised us to discuss what we thought about Tolearnce and to to come to our own opinion and understanding of the tolerance. Students became interested in the subject, they started to express their opinions so brightly and emotionally that debate started in the hall. Everyone expressed and listened to the point of view another. Only good memories and impressions remained because we learned much interesting facts and opinions from other people, which seemed to us quite original. Colorful comparisons were postponed in our memory, we shared with stories from our experience. For us it was very interesting and we lerned a lot.

We decided to make a puzzle with illustrations on the subject of tolerance. We were interested in it. It turned out approximately 230 features. Sticking together, cutting pictures and decorating our work, we became the solid team where all the participants think almost equally. It was the first friendly work in this project and, I think, it turned out to spend time interestingly. Great adventures wait our puzzle. At the beginning, it was created in Latvia, then it departed to Poland, where many students tried to solve it, but useless! Students didn’t manage to design it completely, but they were very close to it. Then puzzle went to Portugal where students are trying to solve it – let’s wish them good luck!

Visit to Poland.

From April 17 to April 22 we, Julia Voronova and Alina Kozlova, together with teachers Ludmila Osipova and Jelena Alute visited the city of Krakow where spent wonderful six days!

We began the travel with the Riga airport. We flied with change at first to Warsaw, and then to Krakow. We lived in hotel near school. In the evening in day of arrival we met partners in the project at

restaurant on a main square of Krakow where tasted dishes of the Polish ethnic cuisine. Unfortunately, after two flights by the end of day we felt very tired.

Next day we went to school. There we got acquainted with two Polish girls who bored responsibility for us during these all days. They were called Magda and Maya. Though they were a little older than us, it was easy to communicate. Girls were sociable and friendly, showed us the school, and also acquainted with the friends and schoolmates. We visited two lessons. The school was very hospitable, pupils and teachers were carefully prepared for

arrival of guests. Each class brought the part in the project, having decorated school with the creative posters devoted to a subject of tolerance. Then, especially for guests from the various countries (12 teachers and 18 pupils) grammar-school students suited a concert. They creatively told and showed history of the city, the traditions and culture, and also taught us to the national dance "krakowiak". The concert was very pleasant to us, participants were very artistic. On the same day we had a conference where representatives of each country presented made in the project. One took historic facts, other interviews for a basis. We (as showed the work) received good responses. After conference we went on excursion across Krakow. Stories of the guide, despite cold weather, were interesting. We carried out the rest of day to Magda's and Maya’s companies and their friends.

The third day we started with campaign to school. Then we went to Velichka known for the hydrochloric mines which are used not only for carrying out excursions, but also for treatments of diseases of respiratory

system, such as asthma. We went down deeply under the earth on foot. Back rose on the lift. It was very nice In Velichka.

Next day it was very heavy for us. We visited two territories of former concentration camp, Osvyantsim compelled us to worry strongly. In these parts during the Second World War before arrival of the Soviet Army hundreds of people were lost, and a large number of people of a various nationality suffered. It was difficult for us to be there. Fascism, Nazism is nothing in common with tolerance.

The fifth day was one of the most interesting as we visited the resort of Zakopane. We were pleased with a fine mountain landscape. The only one bad thing, we were not lucky with the weather, there was a heavy rain and we... safely forgot umbrellas in hotel. But also we managed to find pluses in it. Having bought multi-colored raincoats, we cheerfully spent time in Zakopane.

The next day we spent in the trip back home. Home we returned tired, but happy!!

Visit to Portugal.

Porto!

Participating in the project "Tolerance as a key to social integration for young citizens" our group consisting of five people (three pupils Oleg Peretyagin, Anastasiya Pavlova, Lilita Alute and teachers Victoria Petlyak, Jelizaveta Stankevica), visited the second-large city of Portugal - Porto. It was the second trip within this project. Ancient Porto, with its fine architecture, left in our memory unforgettable impressions about hospitable inhabitants of Portugal.

Since the first moment of our stay in Portugal, we didn't waste time in vain and started to get acquainted with new culture. Any action was not planned for the first day. So we filled free time

with the excursion on the wonderful city of Porto. Bridges, labyrinths of small streets and lanes, picturesque facades of houses do Porto the one of the most charming cities of Europe. But all this won't be compared to the contemplation of an evening decline on the bank of the Atlantic Ocean.

We arrived in Portugal not only to have a rest, but also to work diligently. On the second day of our stay in Porto we visited the vocational school where we got acquainted with

other participants of the project. The games, which were carried out by the host, helped us to become liberated and recognize each other better. At the end of the day we had a fascinating excursion in the railway museum of Portugal. After that we returned to Porto where there our hotel was situated. In the evening of this day we again went to study culture of the city - Porto.

The next days we continued to work on the project.

Our team presented the work on the subject "Tolerance", which was highly appreciated by all participants. It is possible to declare safely that a lot of work has been done!

We visited the non-state organization "Espaco". Its employees say that "Espaco" means "space" for all and everyone. Their mission - to promote positive development of the personality and self-image rising. Each person who has lost his/her self-confidence can find support there.

Last day we visited an ancient castle and the city of Gimarayesh - the birthplace of the independent Kingdom of Portugal and the first royal dynasty. After wearisome, but interesting day we were invited to the medieval restaurant. We were offered the real medieval representation. Dancers and comedians staged a bright and unusual show using medieval melodies.

Summing up, we can say that we spent this time unforgettably. We broadened the horizons and found new friends. Everything was excellent, because every minute we spent with advantage.

Our group wants to thank the school management for the provided possibility to visit so wonderful country!

What gave us this project?

Nastya -It isn't simple to be in the project, it is something bigger. Comenius gave the chance to us not only to visit other countries, to get acquainted and make friends with children, but to become really more tolerant, at last to understand and reflect it. It is good practice in communication using other language.

Lilita-Participation in the tolerance project made me even more convinced that politeness and the tolerant relation are necessary for society. And it is necessary

to treat not only people, but also animals and the nature. Thanks to this project I had new acquaintances, possibility to get acquainted with other culture and people.

Oleg - For me this project is pleasant very much, I finally understood value of tolerance, got acquainted with students who became friends with me

and now I communicate with them. I saw the beautiful nature and got acquainted with other traditions, culture.

Juliya-We really enjoyed travelling to Poland. It was very interesting to meet new people and learn something more about their culture. During the trip we became more tolerant. The excursion to Auschwitz Concentration Camp showed us the importance of tolerance.

We wish good luck to our students on the following visit to Italy!