Practices

Teenagers in the 21st century: between difficulties and hopes
Comenius Multilateral School Partnership
Countries involved:
BE, SE, PL, FR, HU, PT
Key words: Disadvantages groups, Motivation
Description:
Thematic Field: ESL
This was an inclusive project involving children and youths from disadvantaged
contexts from heavily depressed rural areas who did not view school as an
alternative future. The project intended to provide them with an opportunity to
broaden their personal horizons. It dealt with teenagers' problems associated with
adolescence, the different experiences they encounter and the issues related to their
everyday life.
In a difficult transitional period between childhood and adulthood, the teenagers
usually reject authorities, rebel, and are in conflict with others. Lacking confidence
in themselves, they often use violence, aggressive behaviour and fighting as tools
to assert themselves. Thanks to the project the teenagers realised that they can
build their future through hope, optimism, cooperation and creativity because they are
the citizens of a constantly evolving world and of a new century too. Even if they meet
problems and difficulties on their way, they can fight against them and find the way
towards solutions and overcome the problems, they can handle their future,
broaden their minds, and be sensitive, deal with civic and humanistic issues.
As concrete results, the partners produced pedagogical material/lesson plans with
different activities related to educational issues prepared by teachers of all partner
schools; during the projects, citizenship campaigns and meetings with experts
(psychologists, pedagogists, nutritionists, priests, local government, social welfare and
advisors) were organized for students in local schools to discuss the difficulties and
hopes in teenage life.
Meeting other European teenagers in various countries helped them to become aware
of sharing and facing the same problems, which motivated them to work together
and think about their role in our society.
Duration:
2008-2010
Website:
http://www.europeansharedtreasure.eu/detail.php?id_project_base=2008-1-PL1-
COM06-00886
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