The ERASMUS+ project had a positive impact on both teachers and students as well as the local community,which was willing to provide all possible help forits implementation.The first mobility took place at the headquarters of the coordinating country, in Viterbo, Italy, with the participation of 7 students and 2 teachers. Its subject matter was “social inclusion and disability” through sports. In Viterbo, the students participated in different activities every day, talked to people with disabilities about the struggle they fight daily in order to improve their lives. In this way and by putting themselves in their shoes, the children realized that the particularity of the disability is no longer a social distinction but a right to difference and that the difficulties they face are not only a consequence of their own functional limitations, but mostly a consequence of society’s failure to embrace their needs and particularities, while at the same time the respect to be different is the obligation of every organized and democratic society. This, particularly excited us, because the respect to diversity was one of the goals of the program. In fact, special emphasis was given to this axes with events organized by students on December 3rd2022 and during the yearas it was one of the axesfor the evaluation of our school. Moreover, our students learned the Italian educational system, as they joined the respective classes and thus had the opportunity to talk with foreign students the issues of school life and exchange opinions improving their oral skills in English. Finally, both teachers and students were very pleased concerning the offeredhospitality.
Our return to Greece was marked by the peak of the pandemic resulting in the suspension of the program. Discussions began in the Fall of 2021 and the virtual continuation of the program was decided. This method, despite our initial hesitations, turned out to be particularly successful, because it allowed the active involvement of more students who contributed to the programby utilizing their talents in painting, creating figurative material of each subject, in music, a self-taught student played bouzouki, but also in cooking as local famous dishes and products of our region were presented in an introductory meeting with each school that took place earlier the mobility week.
The first virtual meeting organized by Spain (Valencia) concerned both students andteachers in order to share good practices. From Falani, we presented the project method and the use of ICT in teaching. The subject was equality. Our students highlightedthe difference between Equity and Equality in a presentation and in the produced video, they spoke with examples from contemporary current affairs about how to achieve equality. Moreover, during the mobility week snapshots of our actions were uploaded to facebook: Gymnasio Falanis, while separate presentations were made to inform students and new colleagues who were not involved in the project.
The 2ndvirtual mobility was organized by colleagues from Tarnos France and the subject was “rules to feel good”, the Greek students turned to ancient Greek philosophy and showed ways to ensure a good life, which is different from eudaimonism and utilitarianism. That is, how we will achieve the least possible internal conflicts, the most attuning ourselves to the spirit of communal responsibility, the selfless tendency to assist in the suffering of others, the acquisition of good eating habits with respect for the environment, the anxiety and the struggle for daily quality in our interpersonal relationships and the exercising that was a universal experience of the Greeks in all aspects of their cultural activity.
The last mobility organized by us, Gymnasio Falanis. It was a meeting for both students and teachers. We worked onthe motto of the EU “united in diversity”, according to the proposals of the coordinating country in which each participant showed an aspect of the EU as well as their country. Since the 9th May is Europe’s Day, we prepared a presentation concerning the steps taken to form the EU and the leaders of that movement. Also, we presented our national day, our flag and anthem, our 1E coin depiction. Then, we discussed whether the objectives of the project in general had been achieved. We agreed that this project has been successful because of our close collaboration and respect to the particularities of each school. Also, strong friendships formed, Spanish teachers are visiting us early in october. Concerning the dissemination of the project, we will update the schools website gymfalan@sch.gr, publish an article in the local newspaper in the mid October and an event for new comers students was scheduled for October26th.During the program, we have seen the need to acquire new computers and videoconference systems that will help us eliminate connection problems and participate in future projects without problems.