The 4S - Study, Support, Share, Succeed

"Project ""The 4S - Study, Support, Share, Succeed"" included five schools from Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Italy and Croatia. The project partners agreed on the idea to help students with social problems that would lead to early school leaving. The number of these students increases gradually, especially in the areas with underdeveloped economy and high unemployment. The main objective of the project was through a variety of activities, which included seminars and trainings, to show young people the importance of education for their professional and personal development and to motivate them to attend school regularly and to participate actively in the learning process.There were two target groups of the project, which were direct beneficiaries. On the one hand the activities were directed towards students at risk. On the other hand the project activities involved students who achieve good results at school and do not fall into the risk group of those who face various social problems and are at risk of dropping out of school. They formed a so-called voluntary groups to assist students at risk. Each of the students at risk was attached to a student volunteer. The students pairs worked as a team in most project activities. Students volunteers helped their partners not only in academic activities but also personally. Together with the teachers involved in the project they monitored the results achieved by their partners at school, whether they attended classes regularly and what were the reasons for their poor school attendance.The number of mobilities was almost doubled. For the school coordinating the project: The number of students attended Learning/Teaching/Training activities abroad is 24 plus 4 accompanying people. The number of students attended Learning/Teaching/Training activities at the host school 24. The number of teachers attended LTT activities abroad is 12. The number of people attended TPMs is 4 plus 8 attended TPMs as hosts. For all project partners: Students, attended LTT activities abroad - 99 (excluding the number of accompanying people). Teachers, attended LTT activities abroad - 32. People , attended TPMs in the other partners' countries (without those who acted as hosts in their own countries) - 35.The main project activities were carried out simultaneously at local level. They included various information sessions and workshops through which students learned about their rights and obligations as citizens of Europe and realized their identity as such, they learned about the similarities and differences in the educational systems of the partner countries, understood the importance of education for their growth as complete personalities and their professional development. They were trained how to prepare a business plan and to manage a training company at school which can help them create their own small business. The establishment of students training companies and participation in them presented an opportunity for professional development. There were five international training activities/events for students. Alongside them were held three training sessions for teachers. Each training activity for students included at least three students from each partner school. At least two teachers from each of the five schools took part in each of the training activities for teachers. After completing the international trainings, the participants passed on what they have learned to their classmates/colleagues locally.In addition to students from their school the project participants held informational meetings with students from other schools in their regions to disseminate the acquired during the project implementation knowledge and skills. They met representatives of various committees at local and regional level who deal with children and young people. The results of the project activities are: increased motivation of students to learn and achieve better results in the learning process, reduced number of school dropouts, increased desire among students to help their coevals who face various social problems and difficulties in understanding the study material, which in turn discourages them to complete their education. Acquired during the project implementation knowledge and experience was shared with principals and teachers from other schools, representatives of local authorities and other interested institutions at local, regional and national level. They were shared through brochures, media publications, publications on the Internet and other information and promotional matters."