Gender Equality: Women in Progress

<< Background >>The first step was the desire of the French and Turkish schools to work together again and to give the French partners the opportunity to visit the Turkish school, since they had already been twice to France but never an exchange back. The Bulgarian partner had this project ready and was looking for partners, so we decided to apply together because the topic was interesting and challenging. The needs were to make girls conscious of their power, give them trust and confidence and to help them grow as responsible women. << Objectives >>We wanted all the students to be aware of the gender gap issues in European countries and the long way already done to emancipate women, but also of what was left to do, so that their generation would be able to go on. We also wanted them to be aware that all this was not granted, but that people had to fight to get these rights. For example, sometimes girls lack ambition or motivation, so we aimed to make them understand how lucky they are to be allowed to go to school and that they should take this opportunity in their hands. << Implementation >>We made activities to learn about the history of women’s rights, such as an infographic showing the different steps and important dates in women empowerment in the partner countries. These were also a way to point out the differences. The numerous speaking activities were a good opportunity to enhance the communication skills of the students, especially the online debate about the necessity to keep a women’s rights day or not and the closing online meeting during which the students read aloud texts about women’s rights and explained them in English to the partners . These were moments when they could express themselves. We organized recorded interviews and discussions and most of the written works were followed by an oral presentation to the group . We also wanted to enhance their creativity and asked them to make up stories, to create clothes, to draw etc.. They were exposed to women’s creativity and art craft and created mosaics, glass painting, bracelets etc…The students developed their entrepreneurship skills with an NGO called ‘Entreprendre pour Apprendre’. They had one day to create and promote( with logos, posters etc…) a company and defend it in front of a jury of professionals.<< Results >>The concrete outputs were several collaborative and interactive products such as videos, e books, virtual and real life exhibitions. The results were especially linked to getting life skills and positive thinking. We had the great chance to work during one day in a classroom lab of the future and work with the best digital tools and technologies available in schools.