More information
Description
The Velvet revolution changed political development in our region 30 years ago and brought freedom. Generation of our current students does not have any direct experience with absence of freedom and their parents have only memories from their childhood. The bigger challenge is to show our students that we cannot take human rights for granted. Students might learn that there is always a danger of losing freedom. The Czech citizens had to face two brutal totalitarian regimes in the 20th century.
Students participating in the international project will be motivated to gain critical view on the formation and maintenance of non-democratic regimes. At the same time, they will compare the view with their colleagues from the Norway who will bring their knowledge and persuasion.
There will be 8 students and 2 mentors participating on this project - a group of Czech students visiting Norway and a group of Norwegian students visiting the Czech Republic. Students visiting the hosting country will live in hosting families, visit the partnership school and make presentations and projects about totality and freedom. Other schoolmates will be involved indirectly. They will participate in the preparations and will be in contact with guests from partnership school. The school staff accompanying students will get a chance to learn different methodology of teaching history of the 20th century, develop social competences and share experience.
Expected long-term outcomes are strengthening of the positive attitude of project participants towards partnership country and enhancing the quality of education in the subjects of democracy and modern history. Participants of the mobility will gain their first experience with educational programme in abroad. Additional outcome will be also the experience with international cooperation and establishing new contacts with foreign educational institution with a perspective of a long-term bilateral relation.
Summary of project results
We tried to show the young generation the difficult path to a democratic state. It is important for young people to understand democratic principles, civic responsibility, and to be able to spot, if necessary, the efforts of political leaders to manipulate the state in time, learning from history. We introduced the Norwegian students to key moments in the modern history of the Czech Republic, and they in turn taught us about 20th century Norwegian history. We visited the so-called Sites of Memory around Trondheim and showed the Norwegians places connected with important events in our history. We showed the way to democracy in the Czech lands to our partner school in Norway and thus raised awareness of the principles of democracy among our students. Students strengthened their personal skills, communication skills, demonstrated perseverance and self-motivation. The project helped the students to increase their self-confidence, communication skills not only in English language and improved their perception of life in a Scandinavian country. An interesting benefit was to learn about the nature of the people of Norway, whose social closedness complicates their lives, for example, in the form of the need for long commutes from home to work. The Czech students managed to show their Norwegian partner the maturity, industriousness and skill of people from Central Europe.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian coordinator carefully prepared a rich educational program for the Czech group. In Norway, more teachers from the Norwegian school were dedicated to the Czechs and tried to leave only positive impressions. The school management would be very happy to cooperate with our school in the future.