More information
Description
The aim of the project is to counteract discrimination in primary schools in Różyca and Długie in the Koluszki municipality, and to strengthen attitudes of tolerance and respect for human rights among the school community. The project has been prepared in response to students'' attitudes and discriminatory actions towards weaker people (due to: social status, external appearance, different religion or origin), which have gained in strength during the pandemic. The intervention task includes carrying out a series of workshops for teachers ‘How to conduct anti-discrimination activities’?, lectures for 400 students on their rights, integration workshops for students ‘Self-acceptance - the key to self-confidence’, a series of online classes for parents ‘School of Tolerance’, 2 anti-discrimination campaigns under the slogan ‘The Equal-Important’, 2 art contests ‘Different but equal’, workshops "My volunteer work" and grassroots activities of student councils. As a result of the project, teachers will learn how to support parents and pupils in their striving for exemplary attitudes, parents will gain knowledge on how to support their children, and pupils will change their attitudes. All beneficiaries of the activities will increase their awareness and knowledge of anti-discriminatory behaviour.
Summary of project results
Context
Acts of discrimination occurred in both primary schools in Różyca and Długie in the Koluszki municipality. Studies at both schools show that in spring 2020, approximately 30% admitted that distance learning had a negative impact on their mental and/or physical condition, while in autumn 2020, this group already comprised approximately 50% of students in both schools.
Returning to school in September 2021 was stressful for both teaching staff and students.
Unfortunately, discrimination between peers began to appear more often. In-depth interviews showed that nearly 39% of students had experienced discrimination. The problem was reported to the Foundation due to its close cooperation with the Psychological and Pedagogical Counselling Centre in Koluszki.
The intervention task included a series of workshops for 56 teachers and workshops/lectures for 400 students with an anti-discrimination character, integration workshops for 40 students with self-acceptance, a series of e-workshops for 200 parents on shaping tolerance, an anti-discrimination campaign and grassroots activities of student governments. As a result of the project, teachers will become guides for parents and students in striving for attitudes worthy of imitation, parents will gain knowledge in the field of supporting their children, and students will take a giant step towards changing their attitudes. All recipients of the activities will raise awareness and knowledge about anti-discrimination behaviors.
Intention
The project "Unity in Diversity" aimed to eliminate the phenomenon of discrimination in Primary Schools in Różyca and Długie, as well as strengthen/shape attitudes of tolerance and respect for human rights among the student community and parents. In addition, the activities were to increase teachers'' knowledge in the field of counteracting discrimination.
Activities:
In connection with the implementation of the project, the following were carried out:
•Workshops for teachers "How to conduct anti-discrimination activities?"
•Lectures for students “My rights”
•Integration workshops for students “Self-acceptance is the key to self-confidence”
•Workshops for parents “School of Tolerance”
•2 anti-discrimination campaigns “Equal”
•2 art competitions “Different but equal”
•Workshops “My volunteering” (grades IV-VIII)
In connection with the implementation of the project, all products assumed in the application were created:
• 16h of workshops for teachers "How to conduct anti-discrimination activities?"
• 16h of lectures for students "My rights"
• 48h of integration workshop for students "Self-acceptance"
• 12h of e-workshops for parents "School of Tolerance"
• 2 anti-discrimination campaigns "Equal"
• 2 art competitions "Different but equal"
• 16h of workshop "My volunteering" (grades IV-VIII)
• 2 work plans of the student government - final versions in September 2022
Achievements
The project was attended by most students and teachers, as well as a large group of parents. The evaluation results indicate that the knowledge of students, parents and teachers in the field of equality has increased (Evaluation report – examples: 89% of participants in workshops on self-acceptance gave an affirmative answer to the question: “Do you feel valuable and important?”; 87% of surveyed teachers increased their knowledge on the subject; 99% of surveyed parents believe that they have increased their knowledge on positive attitudes of parents and on communication with children; 63% of students of the “My Volunteering” workshops declare participation in volunteering in the future; ). The opportunity was undoubtedly the cooperation with the Psychological and Pedagogical Counseling Center in Koluszki, which multiplied the effect of the project''s reach and reached the local media (report in the Tydzień w Koluszki newspaper).
Significance of the project
The project achieved a greater than expected local reach. School communities actively and committedly joined the activities. The entire school environment in both locations showed great responsibility for the success of the project. The participants of the activities responded positively to the participation in the workshops and it can be concluded that they had an impact on their further activities.
Beneficiaries
The direct recipients of the project were:
• students from grades I-VIII of the Primary Schools in Różyca and Długie
• parents of students from grades I-VIII of both schools
• teaching staff of both schools;
The indirect recipients were all the people who received information about the project – families of students, offices, other school facilities, potential recipients of the anti-discrimination campaign.