Seas of Peace

"<< Background >>The project was aimed at involving the boys and girls of the two schools in the analysis of the cultural diversity existing in the two countries, aimed however at enhancing the enrichment factor that derives from it. We started from a historical episode, the Salerno landing in 1943, which had consequences in Italy and Greece to demonstrate the concatenation that events can have in places very distant from each other. In particular, two nations overlooking the Mediterranean Sea experienced the war in alternating phases on opposite fronts but with similar consequences on populations and also on soldiers. This event, inserted in the broader perimeter of the Second World War, gave us the opportunity to talk about the need for mutual understanding and sharing of ideals of peace, respect and inclusion, those same founding values ​​of the European Union which drew precisely from the experience Of the war. The title of the project, Seas of Peace, thus summarizes the approach of our training action << Objectives >>The main objective of the project was to show children how an approach of understanding and inclusion is absolutely necessary to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. From this perspective, it was fundamental to explain to the children that conflicts between peoples are often ""induced"" by people who, to pursue their own ends, spread false information and fake news. we have shown that only the careful analysis of a message we receive or read can allow us to distinguish the truth from the plausible. It was therefore essential to visit large archives that preserve historical documents that allow us to study the facts as they really happened. Another objective was to give children a unique digital experience like that of Heritage Lab. The other lessons on digital transformation had the task of making the experience a skill to be acquired.<< Implementation >>Experiences related to the research and conservation of cultural heritage intended as a source of information for understanding the future were carried out. This resulted in the creation of lessons and workshops both on the specific historical period and its impact on Italy and Greece, and on the methodologies for preserving the memory of those events and why all this is doneTraining sessions were then held on the digital transformation of this heritage to illustrate the process that encourages its diffusion. In fact, publishing on the web is a democratic principle of knowledge sharing and helps everyone's personal growthThe experience at the Heritage Lab in Turin was very significant, where the students of the two schools got to know closely the technologies of document digitization and the power of archival documents. Much appreciated by the kids to the point that the ""Thank you so much Daniela"" addressed to the archive manager became a sort of meme throughout the project.The visit to the archive at the Shoah memorial gave concreteness to the effects of racial prejudice on the population<< Results >>The impact of the project on students, families and citizens was greater than expected as the seas of peace project not only completed all the planned activities but it was possible to connect the project to other partners initiatives which allowed the construction of a wider network, the creation of more qualifying experiences and favored the dissemination of results.The result in favor of the children was certainly the start of a phase of understanding of the European Union, no longer perceived as an abstract, purely administrative entity but as a union of different peoples but linked by a common destiny. In particular, Italy and Greece have seen their paths intertwine from ancient times to more recent times, as in the case of the consequences of the landing on the two countries, with even the Greek government in exile settling for a few months in the province of Salerno.However, the network of relationships and partners is a further result that the project has achieved and which will permanently influence (with benefit) the two educational institutions.finally, the collected and digitized documents stored in the digital archive will constitute a further concrete output of the project"