Coordinator of the project İstanbul Ataturk Anadolu Lisesi
Istanbul Atatürk Anatolian High School, which is one of the long-established schools in Turkey, was established in 1937 in its present building which was formerly the building of French Jean Baptiste Primary School. Since then, our school has been keeping up with the changes in the modern world and tried to fulfill the necessities of modern and scientific education using its physical and technological facilities. Today, it educates its students for university entrance exam and has the goal to make them socially and academically equipped.
The school is situated in Beyoğlu, one of the most popular and historical districts of Istanbul and is very easy to reach by all means of transportation. Our school is a state school that accepts students by a nation-wide test. It has about 350 students between the ages of 14 and 18 and most of the students are from different parts of Istanbul and from different ethnic and religious backgrounds which already reflects the diversity of the cosmopolitan city. Our school has a very important place in educational institutions not only because of its graduates’ contributions but also because it’s in Beyoğlu, which is the culture and art centre of Istanbul.
With the socio-cultural activities it leads, our school has managed to have a strong relationship with schools of minorities and foreign schools in the region and thus helped students learn about different cultures and be respectful to these differences. Our school takes part in the interactive trainings and activities that are organized as part of the culture and art projects such as concerts, theatre plays, sports events, panels, debates and many more organizations.
Our students work and produce in various fields, such as music, art, sculpture, cinema and literature. Every year, they perform concerts, act famous plays and open different kinds of exhibitions. Apart from extra-curricular activities our students has been participating in various scientific competitions which are organized by national foundations, such as TUBİTAK. As clear from the above mentioned history and features of our school, we believe taking part in projects together with schools in European Union will provide every school-including ours- with invaluable experiences.
Istanbul Atatürk Anatolian High School, which is one of the long-established schools in Turkey, was established in 1937 in its present building which was formerly the building of French Jean Baptiste Primary School. Since then, our school has been keeping up with the changes in the modern world and tried to fulfill the necessities of modern and scientific education using its physical and technological facilities. Today, it educates its students for university entrance exam and has the goal to make them socially and academically equipped.
The school is situated in Beyoğlu, one of the most popular and historical districts of Istanbul and is very easy to reach by all means of transportation. Our school is a state school that accepts students by a nation-wide test. It has about 350 students between the ages of 14 and 18 and most of the students are from different parts of Istanbul and from different ethnic and religious backgrounds which already reflects the diversity of the cosmopolitan city. Our school has a very important place in educational institutions not only because of its graduates’ contributions but also because it’s in Beyoğlu, which is the culture and art centre of Istanbul.
With the socio-cultural activities it leads, our school has managed to have a strong relationship with schools of minorities and foreign schools in the region and thus helped students learn about different cultures and be respectful to these differences. Our school takes part in the interactive trainings and activities that are organized as part of the culture and art projects such as concerts, theatre plays, sports events, panels, debates and many more organizations.
Our students work and produce in various fields, such as music, art, sculpture, cinema and literature. Every year, they perform concerts, act famous plays and open different kinds of exhibitions. Apart from extra-curricular activities our students has been participating in various scientific competitions which are organized by national foundations, such as TUBİTAK. As clear from the above mentioned history and features of our school, we believe taking part in projects together with schools in European Union will provide every school-including ours- with invaluable experiences.
Partner 2: Slovakia Stredna Zdravotnicka skola
Stredná zdravotnícka škola is situated in Eastern Slovakia in Košice, which is the second biggest city of the country. Our school is a vocational school which prepares students for professions in the field of medicine. Students, who are recruited from the whole region of Eastern Slovakia, can be admitted through entrance examinations. The school is mainly directed towards natural sciences, but at the same time it aims at reaching the highest possible standard in specific fields of humanities, especially in foreign language teaching. Our students - future pharmacists, laboratory staff, nutrition specialists and opticians are highly motivated to improve their communication skills, since the knowledge of a foreign language, especially English, is a must expected from most of the emloyers and customers both in Slovakia and abroad.
Many of them wish to widen their horizons working in other countries. These are the main reasons why contact with people from different countries with which they might communicate in English and exchange views of life and opinions would be highly beneficial. By participating in the project we would not only like to increase our students’ motivation to study English, but also to widen their horizons and support the ideas of tolerance and humanity by a personal contact with other peoples’ ways of thought, values and attitudes.
The main disadvantage of the location of the school is the lack of possibilities of the contact with the foreign language in extra curricular activities, especially in communication with native speakers. Economically, Easten Slovakia is the least prosperous region of Slovakia, with high unemployment rates. The unfavorable economical situation grossly prevents students from travelling abroad. This fact strongly decreases their necessity of using English in real-life situations and experiencing different cultures.
Our participation in the project would certainly include hosting members of participating countries involved in the project, sharing ideas, coming up with new solutions, taking an active part in organising, contributing to project work, issuing the project products and spreading its outcomes. We would also be delighted to intorduce the other parties to the cultural specifics of Slovakia and Slovak educucational system. One of the main aims of participating in the project is to develop contacts with various countries and cultures and learn about their customs and traditions.
Stredná zdravotnícka škola is situated in Eastern Slovakia in Košice, which is the second biggest city of the country. Our school is a vocational school which prepares students for professions in the field of medicine. Students, who are recruited from the whole region of Eastern Slovakia, can be admitted through entrance examinations. The school is mainly directed towards natural sciences, but at the same time it aims at reaching the highest possible standard in specific fields of humanities, especially in foreign language teaching. Our students - future pharmacists, laboratory staff, nutrition specialists and opticians are highly motivated to improve their communication skills, since the knowledge of a foreign language, especially English, is a must expected from most of the emloyers and customers both in Slovakia and abroad.
Many of them wish to widen their horizons working in other countries. These are the main reasons why contact with people from different countries with which they might communicate in English and exchange views of life and opinions would be highly beneficial. By participating in the project we would not only like to increase our students’ motivation to study English, but also to widen their horizons and support the ideas of tolerance and humanity by a personal contact with other peoples’ ways of thought, values and attitudes.
The main disadvantage of the location of the school is the lack of possibilities of the contact with the foreign language in extra curricular activities, especially in communication with native speakers. Economically, Easten Slovakia is the least prosperous region of Slovakia, with high unemployment rates. The unfavorable economical situation grossly prevents students from travelling abroad. This fact strongly decreases their necessity of using English in real-life situations and experiencing different cultures.
Our participation in the project would certainly include hosting members of participating countries involved in the project, sharing ideas, coming up with new solutions, taking an active part in organising, contributing to project work, issuing the project products and spreading its outcomes. We would also be delighted to intorduce the other parties to the cultural specifics of Slovakia and Slovak educucational system. One of the main aims of participating in the project is to develop contacts with various countries and cultures and learn about their customs and traditions.
Partner 3: Hungary Bela Gimnazium, Informatikai Szakközepiskola, Kollegium, Altalanos Iskola es Ovoda
Our town – Szekszárd– is situated in southern Hungary. It is the seat of Tolna county which is the smallest one in our country. The hills surrounding the towns are full of vineyards. It was the Romans who started growing grapes here, at that time this area was called ‘Alisca’. It is mainly an agricultural area. The town tries to attract foreign visitors with its world – famous wine, with a nature reserve area called Gemenc, with our annual wine-harvest festival. Only few branches of industry represent themselves in the town because the infrastructural network is underdeveloped.
This region is economically disadvantaged because there are few important factories and there are few vacant jobs in the area. A lot of white-collar workers move to the western industrialized part of the country or to the capital. Because of the reasons above many parents face financial problems, especially those ones who earn very little money or there are many of them who are unemployed. Many students get financial grants from the state but it improves their situation only slightly.
In our school there are a few students who suffer from long-lasting illness it also makes our situation difficult. The aim of the partnership is to allow pupils to communicate with other countries, discover and build respect to other cultures, system of education unknown languages and new technologies through Internet dialogue and collaboration in education , to increase teachers and students’ self-confidence as active European citizens who are able to use innovative technologies and are leading figures in the educational process and to encourage interaction and cooperation among pupils and teachers from participating countries and build
friendship through education.
Our town – Szekszárd– is situated in southern Hungary. It is the seat of Tolna county which is the smallest one in our country. The hills surrounding the towns are full of vineyards. It was the Romans who started growing grapes here, at that time this area was called ‘Alisca’. It is mainly an agricultural area. The town tries to attract foreign visitors with its world – famous wine, with a nature reserve area called Gemenc, with our annual wine-harvest festival. Only few branches of industry represent themselves in the town because the infrastructural network is underdeveloped.
This region is economically disadvantaged because there are few important factories and there are few vacant jobs in the area. A lot of white-collar workers move to the western industrialized part of the country or to the capital. Because of the reasons above many parents face financial problems, especially those ones who earn very little money or there are many of them who are unemployed. Many students get financial grants from the state but it improves their situation only slightly.
In our school there are a few students who suffer from long-lasting illness it also makes our situation difficult. The aim of the partnership is to allow pupils to communicate with other countries, discover and build respect to other cultures, system of education unknown languages and new technologies through Internet dialogue and collaboration in education , to increase teachers and students’ self-confidence as active European citizens who are able to use innovative technologies and are leading figures in the educational process and to encourage interaction and cooperation among pupils and teachers from participating countries and build
friendship through education.
Partner 4: France LTP - LPP CAUCADIS
Caucadis vocational and technical private secondary school belongs to a larger non-profit educational organisation called Provence Formation comprising eight secondary schools. The organisation was initially created by Charlotte Grawitz in 1932 and it developped from there. At that time, Mrs Grawitz’s aim was to provide young destituted girls with a qualification in order to help them thrive in life. Her motto was: “There is a way for everyone”. Thus, Caucadis is a school with a mission.
Caucadis is located in an industrial area on the Etang de Berre – the biggest salt lake in Europe – near Marseille and Aix en Provence in France. On the one hand, the school prepares for vocational qualifications such as transports, Logistics, Accounts, Hygiene and social careers. On the other hand, it prepares for technical qualifications: Electrotechnics and Management assistance.
Multiculturalism shows in its student population reflecting the cosmopolitan city of Marseille. Caucadis welcomes about 380 students between 15 and 20 years old. They usually come from modest or disadvantaged social backgrounds. Some have been rejected from the traditional school system and come to us in order to find a teaching and administration staff that will look after them, work in small class-groups and regain self-confidence to prepare and pass their secondary school final exam.
Besides, Caucadis sees extra-curriculum activities as a means to acquire further basic life-skills and competences necessary for their personal development as well as a way to strengthen the ties between the students and the staff. Our students are involved in sports, dance, singing, video films and photos production, cinema and theater outings, museum visits, which results in the active participation in cultural and sports events.
Professionally speaking, the students are in constant touch with the working world via training periods, visits to job and careers exhibitions, external consultants intervening about their future jobs or studies.
As a result of the above mentioned, we believe that taking part in a European project, based on different cultures and similarities, which involves several member states, will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to know and understand the diversity and unity of the European cultures and languages, to learn the values of respect and tolerance while fully acknowledging their European citizenship in their future life.
Caucadis vocational and technical private secondary school belongs to a larger non-profit educational organisation called Provence Formation comprising eight secondary schools. The organisation was initially created by Charlotte Grawitz in 1932 and it developped from there. At that time, Mrs Grawitz’s aim was to provide young destituted girls with a qualification in order to help them thrive in life. Her motto was: “There is a way for everyone”. Thus, Caucadis is a school with a mission.
Caucadis is located in an industrial area on the Etang de Berre – the biggest salt lake in Europe – near Marseille and Aix en Provence in France. On the one hand, the school prepares for vocational qualifications such as transports, Logistics, Accounts, Hygiene and social careers. On the other hand, it prepares for technical qualifications: Electrotechnics and Management assistance.
Multiculturalism shows in its student population reflecting the cosmopolitan city of Marseille. Caucadis welcomes about 380 students between 15 and 20 years old. They usually come from modest or disadvantaged social backgrounds. Some have been rejected from the traditional school system and come to us in order to find a teaching and administration staff that will look after them, work in small class-groups and regain self-confidence to prepare and pass their secondary school final exam.
Besides, Caucadis sees extra-curriculum activities as a means to acquire further basic life-skills and competences necessary for their personal development as well as a way to strengthen the ties between the students and the staff. Our students are involved in sports, dance, singing, video films and photos production, cinema and theater outings, museum visits, which results in the active participation in cultural and sports events.
Professionally speaking, the students are in constant touch with the working world via training periods, visits to job and careers exhibitions, external consultants intervening about their future jobs or studies.
As a result of the above mentioned, we believe that taking part in a European project, based on different cultures and similarities, which involves several member states, will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to know and understand the diversity and unity of the European cultures and languages, to learn the values of respect and tolerance while fully acknowledging their European citizenship in their future life.
Estonia Kohtla-Järve Ühisgumnaasium
Our school, Kohtla-Järve Ühisgumnaasium, (Co- Educational), is in the north eastern part of Estonia, in Kohtla-Järve town. It is unusual; it has two departments, the first one is for the students who study in Russian and the seconds one is for the students who study in Estonian language. Representatives of many nationalities study in our school, our children are both from the town and from the countryside. We have children from immigrant families. In spite of all these problems, our school takes active part in different projects and wins in regional and state competitions.
We take part in the projects having the connections with European Union and different ambassadors.
Our school wants to share our experience in organising multi- cultural society. Our students and teachers would like to practice foreign languages. We would like to share the knowledge in history as we have a lot of historical places of different eras. We educate our students in tolerance, understanding of people of different cultures and religions. Meeting young people from different countries in every day life situations will help all participants of this project to reach the aims.
Our school, Kohtla-Järve Ühisgumnaasium, (Co- Educational), is in the north eastern part of Estonia, in Kohtla-Järve town. It is unusual; it has two departments, the first one is for the students who study in Russian and the seconds one is for the students who study in Estonian language. Representatives of many nationalities study in our school, our children are both from the town and from the countryside. We have children from immigrant families. In spite of all these problems, our school takes active part in different projects and wins in regional and state competitions.
We take part in the projects having the connections with European Union and different ambassadors.
Our school wants to share our experience in organising multi- cultural society. Our students and teachers would like to practice foreign languages. We would like to share the knowledge in history as we have a lot of historical places of different eras. We educate our students in tolerance, understanding of people of different cultures and religions. Meeting young people from different countries in every day life situations will help all participants of this project to reach the aims.
Partner 6: Italy Liceo Scientifico Statele "Galilei"
The Liceo Galilei is located in a medium town (Bitonto-Bari) in region Puglia. This area is mainly rural though there are small and medium industries.
The school have about 940 students in the ages 14-19. The LIceo is scientific based on Mathematics, Phisics, Chemistry and Biology. In the school years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 the Liceo Galilei established a relationship with the Portugal for a Comenius project"La scuola in Italia e in Europa tra tradizione e innovazione" to offer the students the possibility to compare other cultures and share experiences to acquire an European consciousness.
The Liceo Galilei is located in a medium town (Bitonto-Bari) in region Puglia. This area is mainly rural though there are small and medium industries.
The school have about 940 students in the ages 14-19. The LIceo is scientific based on Mathematics, Phisics, Chemistry and Biology. In the school years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 the Liceo Galilei established a relationship with the Portugal for a Comenius project"La scuola in Italia e in Europa tra tradizione e innovazione" to offer the students the possibility to compare other cultures and share experiences to acquire an European consciousness.
Partner 7: Spain San Viator
In 1952 the Centro San Viator started working in a rural area (Sopuerta) aiming to employ ability to the local farmers. We actually offer a wide range of different studies to more than 1000 students from Kinder Garden to Middle Degree (level 2) and High Degree (level 4) in VET or Secondary School and bachelorship (pre-university). We also offer courses to unemployees and workers. As we collaborate with different local authorities, we sometimes offer other kind of courses for inmigrants or other people in risk of exclusion, as mentally disable youngsters (16-21 year old).
This project will enable our students and teachers to improve international learning and provide students with better chances in working life and inter-cultural communication skills. It will also increase our students' motivation to learn English and to use it and will provide them with a better knowledge of their own history and cultural customs and we firmly believe that it will help us fight against racism.
In 1952 the Centro San Viator started working in a rural area (Sopuerta) aiming to employ ability to the local farmers. We actually offer a wide range of different studies to more than 1000 students from Kinder Garden to Middle Degree (level 2) and High Degree (level 4) in VET or Secondary School and bachelorship (pre-university). We also offer courses to unemployees and workers. As we collaborate with different local authorities, we sometimes offer other kind of courses for inmigrants or other people in risk of exclusion, as mentally disable youngsters (16-21 year old).
This project will enable our students and teachers to improve international learning and provide students with better chances in working life and inter-cultural communication skills. It will also increase our students' motivation to learn English and to use it and will provide them with a better knowledge of their own history and cultural customs and we firmly believe that it will help us fight against racism.
Partner 8: Germany
Gymnasium Kenzingen
Gymnasium Kenzingen is a public school with approximately 1265 students, grade 5 -13 (from 2012 up to grade 12). The school has given itself a social profile: "School with courage, school without racism". There are 2 big departments of equal importance: natural sciences and languages. The foreign languages taught are: English, French, Spanish and Latin. Each year, some students are award-winners in language competitions on the national level. The school has different students exchange activities and school partnerships with France, Italy, Croatia and Mexico and is open-minded about international contacts.
At the school, there is a very strong arts section with highly qualified and ambitious teachers. Every year there are several arts exhibitions on different levels which get a lot of attention. Ethics is also a subject which is taught up to the school's final exam. Both sections would have an important profit of this Comenius project and have qualified and interested persons to contribute to it.
Although Kenzingen is a small town and the area of our school is rural, there is a considerable mixture of nationalities and different social and cultural backgrounds represented. The idea of cultural diversity in a big community matches perfectly with our school profile of courage and anti-racism in the domain of which our students show many initiatives and have strong competences. In this way, the project would not only have an impact on the participating students, but on the whole school community and its reputation for social and emancipatory strenght in the region. Our role in the project will be the one of an active partner, who takes responsability for certain activities and products of the project and who - due to the experience made in former projects - could also help with advice or solutions in case of difficulties on the level of organisation or personal cooperation.
Gymnasium Kenzingen is a public school with approximately 1265 students, grade 5 -13 (from 2012 up to grade 12). The school has given itself a social profile: "School with courage, school without racism". There are 2 big departments of equal importance: natural sciences and languages. The foreign languages taught are: English, French, Spanish and Latin. Each year, some students are award-winners in language competitions on the national level. The school has different students exchange activities and school partnerships with France, Italy, Croatia and Mexico and is open-minded about international contacts.
At the school, there is a very strong arts section with highly qualified and ambitious teachers. Every year there are several arts exhibitions on different levels which get a lot of attention. Ethics is also a subject which is taught up to the school's final exam. Both sections would have an important profit of this Comenius project and have qualified and interested persons to contribute to it.
Although Kenzingen is a small town and the area of our school is rural, there is a considerable mixture of nationalities and different social and cultural backgrounds represented. The idea of cultural diversity in a big community matches perfectly with our school profile of courage and anti-racism in the domain of which our students show many initiatives and have strong competences. In this way, the project would not only have an impact on the participating students, but on the whole school community and its reputation for social and emancipatory strenght in the region. Our role in the project will be the one of an active partner, who takes responsability for certain activities and products of the project and who - due to the experience made in former projects - could also help with advice or solutions in case of difficulties on the level of organisation or personal cooperation.
Partner 9: Greece
GENERAL LYCEUM OF VELESTINO
Our school, Velestinos’ Lyceum, founded in 1898 and is therefore one of the oldest schools in Greece. It accepts students from a wider rural area comprising several villages. Our students are between 15 and 18 years old. Students of our school participate every year in activities of national programs such as environmental, health education and career education. Most of our students have as a goal to study in areas like health, environment, law, greek literature, special education, industry, renewable energy and agricultural crops.
The city of Velestino is near a large industrial area and 25 km away lies the city of Volos, one of the largest ports in the country and the only one in Central Greece. Velestino is the home land of a great Greek philosopher, writer and revolutionary, an eminent figure of the Greek Enlightenment, Rigas Velestinlis, who envisioned a supranational confederation of Balkan States.
It is also close to lake “Karla”, a very important wetland with large populations of rare endemic and migratory birds. In the same area of lake “Karla” it is scheduled to take place the sport of rowing in the Mediterranean Games of 2013 which are to be hosted by the city of Volos.
We believe that involving our students in European programs would mitigate the differences between European nations. It is obvious that it will help also in knowing and understanding the culture of other peoples and it will give our young students their first “European” experiences.
Our school, Velestinos’ Lyceum, founded in 1898 and is therefore one of the oldest schools in Greece. It accepts students from a wider rural area comprising several villages. Our students are between 15 and 18 years old. Students of our school participate every year in activities of national programs such as environmental, health education and career education. Most of our students have as a goal to study in areas like health, environment, law, greek literature, special education, industry, renewable energy and agricultural crops.
The city of Velestino is near a large industrial area and 25 km away lies the city of Volos, one of the largest ports in the country and the only one in Central Greece. Velestino is the home land of a great Greek philosopher, writer and revolutionary, an eminent figure of the Greek Enlightenment, Rigas Velestinlis, who envisioned a supranational confederation of Balkan States.
It is also close to lake “Karla”, a very important wetland with large populations of rare endemic and migratory birds. In the same area of lake “Karla” it is scheduled to take place the sport of rowing in the Mediterranean Games of 2013 which are to be hosted by the city of Volos.
We believe that involving our students in European programs would mitigate the differences between European nations. It is obvious that it will help also in knowing and understanding the culture of other peoples and it will give our young students their first “European” experiences.
Partner 10: Poland
III Liceum Ogólnokształcace im. Bolesława Prusa
Our school is located in Sosnowiec, the south of Poland, in the area called the Upper Silesia. It is an average-sized school in the area characterized by its urban dynamics, economic activity, its cultural hertiage and natural environment. There are some environmental problems like air and water pollution because of mines and factories which are mostly closed now. We are a spacious, purpose built school for pupils aged 16-19. In our school are some students with special educational /physical needs. Our school has got some facilities which help our students e.g. a therapy room, an elevator, spacious corridors. Currently, we have about 30 teaching staff members who are researching and developing innovative teaching methods. Our students come from all kind of families with different social and economical problems. We try to focus their attention on different subjects and to show them different ways in becoming better people.
Our school's visions are focused on healthy-lifestyle, cultural heritage, charities and to-be-a-good-person values. The aim of the partnership is to facilitate educational and public awareness about values such as honesty, respect and of the cultural differences amongst young and old people around Europe. We want our students to learn more about cultures and traditions of partners countries, teach others about our heritage and lifestyle, give our students the opportunity to develop their language skills by travelling and communicating with other children.
Our school is located in Sosnowiec, the south of Poland, in the area called the Upper Silesia. It is an average-sized school in the area characterized by its urban dynamics, economic activity, its cultural hertiage and natural environment. There are some environmental problems like air and water pollution because of mines and factories which are mostly closed now. We are a spacious, purpose built school for pupils aged 16-19. In our school are some students with special educational /physical needs. Our school has got some facilities which help our students e.g. a therapy room, an elevator, spacious corridors. Currently, we have about 30 teaching staff members who are researching and developing innovative teaching methods. Our students come from all kind of families with different social and economical problems. We try to focus their attention on different subjects and to show them different ways in becoming better people.
Our school's visions are focused on healthy-lifestyle, cultural heritage, charities and to-be-a-good-person values. The aim of the partnership is to facilitate educational and public awareness about values such as honesty, respect and of the cultural differences amongst young and old people around Europe. We want our students to learn more about cultures and traditions of partners countries, teach others about our heritage and lifestyle, give our students the opportunity to develop their language skills by travelling and communicating with other children.