Cultural Heritage Animates Lifelong Learning and Entrepreneurship for New Generations of Europeans

The project C.H.A.L.L.E.N.G.E stems from current demands of the market and challenges that the youth face and the need of making students aware of the value of cultural heritage as means of triggering their willingness to take initiative. Its aim is to overcome their timidity on entering the job market, to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and to empower them through non-formal and informal learning. In this project we want to promote cultural participation, personal development, creativity, innovation, understanding and respect for national and European values.We want to encourage the youth to be involved in decision-making and their involvement in volunteering as well as contributing to social inclusion. We also bear in mind that skills, competences (f.e entreprenuership, interpersonal, language, cultural,civic and social) as well as qualifications cannot be achieved once and for all and must be upgraded in line with the changing needs and time, which can be best gained through digital literacy (ICT) In this project schools from 5 partner countries will be cooperating. Students, parents and teachers are invited to take participation in the ways they find appropriate. Each school is free to decide the target group they want to work the project activities with, but main activities will be done by students aged +15, who will also be taken to international project workshops and long term mobilities . Each LTT is planned for 5 students and 2 teachers per country per meeting, LTMs for 6 students from each country involved (Spain, Finland, Poland). Each activity is planned to be completed in two phases: national and international. Our Key action 2 project is developed to be involved in both curricular and extracurricular activities. We want to modernize our teaching practice through the preparation, testing and promotion of innovative methods and techniques, using innovative, strategic approach (modern tools to assess the skills, using multimedia technology and ICT, foreign language training, ect) Some activities need the participation of a wider target group. In those activities, students community in general, the rest of teachers in the school, students´ parents, other members of the community and members of other participating organizations (NGOs, centers for teachers, town halls, staff from national agencies and relevant people from the local and regional authorities and members of other schools),will be invited to participate,f.e: leading workshops for students or giving presentations on participatory budgets. Main activites and tasks in this project enclose: a game about how to get a job, making a VR story, a workshop on how to prepare a job interview and how to communicate effectively in the business world, Geocaching street game, writing a letter with suggestions of participatory budget to the local authorities, workshops on creating websites for e-commerce, the production of a prototype designed by students, artistic interpretation of social and civic problems, researching and creating a brochure on cultural heritage importance. Students and teachers will enhance their digital skills and analytical abilities. They will raise their awareness of cultural heritage impact on entrepreneurship and career opportunities. Moreover, they will be encouraged to work on their self-development through informal and individualised learning. Youth activeness of students will have been supported with the clear benefit to the local community. During the project students will acquire the oral and written communication skills in a foreign language and the mother tongue. The students will learn about the importance of validation of skills and qualifications as well as non-formal learning. The project will also sensitize them to the ongoing social problems. The project is going to have long-term effects as the materials created and skills gained both by teachers and students will be included in everyday school practices. The outline and outcome of the project are going to be stored and shared on TwinSpace, Facebook in this way it will have an international impact. Other participating organisations, like charity organisations, NGOs, town halls will have their European experience with this project. The cooperation with schools beyond the local ones, will bring them the benefits of working for Europe with Europe. Parents (especially those hosting Long Term Mobility students) and other members of Community will have a chance to take active part in intercultural cooperation, thoughts and ideas exchange. They will participate in meetings and help us to disseminate objectives, results and individual experiences by means of presentations, exhibitions, and publications. The tangilbe results available at TwinSpace will be used by other teachers within the daily teaching practice as is our practice with the results of the previous projects.