Meeting in Lithuania 6. - 14. February 2015
Project „Differences unite us“ started in September, 2013. There are 5 schools from different countries in this project: Lithuania (Skriaudžiai Basic School), Cyprus (The Grammar School, Nicosia), Slovakia (Stredna odborna škola, Svit), Czech Republic (Obchodní akademie, Lysá nad Labem), Turkey (Lüleburgaz Lisesi, Kirklareli).
The main goal of the first year of the project was collecting information about multiculturalism in these countries. A main goal for the second year of the project was tolerance and tasks „How to become more tolerant?“, „What are our differences and similarities?”
Project participants met in the mobilities in these countries: Cyprus (22-27 of October, 2013), Slovakia (10-16 of February, 2014), the Czech Republic (2-7 of June, 2014), Turkey (18-24 of October, 2014), Lithuania (9-13 of February, 2015).
While preparing for the mobility in Lithuania the following tasks were fulfilled: a record of the interview with a psychologist “What is tolerance?”, a booklet of students’ stories “What have I done bad in the past and what can I do to improve?”, a research “What do people feel hatred to?”, a film about traditional Lithuanian festivals.
At the beginning of the project participants‘ meeting in Lithuania some activities that helped to get know our country were organised. A lot of discussions arose after the visit to the Houses of Parliament, because the Czecks and the Slovaks found out a lot of similarities that are common while reaching the independence. The guests were delighted with the story of people‘s chain the Baltic road amd Singing revolution. After visiting the Houses of Parliament and a trip around the capital project participants continued on doing the survey in the city centre „What do people feel hatred to?“ Later on students analysed the results and prepared a summary of the research of every country.
On the second meeting day project participants remembered the first project year and the situation of national minorities living in our country. For this reason we visited the Institution of National Minorities, where all project participants took part in the discussion about the life conditions of national minorities living in Lithuania. Other activities were devoted to get know Karaimes (a national minority living in Lithuania) national heritage. Everyone tried traditional Karaimes‘ dish Kibinai. After a long day, all students were going to the host families where they spent the rest of the week.
The third project day started with the official opening ceremony in Skriaudziai Basic School. The coordinators of the project and the headmistress of the school congratulated all project participants. Students congratulated guests with their musicial performances. The headman of the village gave a speech about tolerance situation in our living place.
Our school teachers organised the Lithuanian language lesson to the guests. The guests were introduced with the pronunciation of Lithuanian words. Teachers gave such tasks as learning to introduce yourself, learning to read a short poem, etc. Music teachers organised the performance of the song Those were the days in six different languages that are spoken by all project participants.
All project participants not only were working on the topic of tolerance, but also everyone had an opportunity to know better our village and its traditions. All guests were invited to the educational lesson The bread way to table in the Museum of Prienai Region. On the same day, all project participants took part in the discussion of the Municipality of Prienai District.
This project is a great opportunity to learn different things: to understand the tolerance among different people better, to learn new languages or improve English, to see how people from different countries live.
OUTCOMES:
1. Questionnaires titled "What do people feel hatred to? Why?" A number of questionnaires titled "What do people feel hatred to? Why?" were answered by students, teachers and other members of the community to identify the reasons of intolerance in the partners countries and propose methods to reduce intolerance.
2. Interview with psychologists Presentation of interviews carried with psychologists at each partner country about the issues of "hatred" and "intolerance".
3. Meeting with the Mayor and the Director of Educational Department of Prienai Discussion between the Mayor and the Director of Educational Department of Prienai and all participants about the situation of national minorities in the Prienai District
4. Lithuanian national heritage - Bread Way to the Table Attend the process of producing traditional bread in Lithuania at the Museum of Prienai Region.
5. National Festivals Presentation of important national festivals in each partner country, focusing on culture and religion.