Physical education and ICT to increase wellbeing and social inclusion

"The partnership has the main priority to improve the social inclusion of the vulnerable students from the partner schools, who are at the risk of dropping out of school. Very often, the vulnerable students get self-excluded because they lack confidence and motivation, they lack knowledge and skills, and they don't feel as belonging to the school community. Many of them, because they are different (some of them are overweight, some get from various ethnic minorities, some have a migrant background or get from families with social difficulties), have developed over the years, some psychological trauma. The specific objectives of this project are the following:O1. to increase the participation numbers in school community activities and projects for approx.300 students from RO, PT, IT, FI, TR and DL, by improving the learning/teaching environment and the wellbeing of the school communities (in the sense of developing a behaviour based on the understanding of values, respect and tolerance towards other people, better integrating the differences and creating a more socially-inclusive dimension).O2. to reduce the school dropout risk for approximately 300 students from RO, PT, IT, FI, TR and DL (50 by each school), by developing a positive attitude (based on a trial-error ethos) and confidence through sports and ICT activities, both face to face (during students exchanges) and online (eTwinning platform of cooperation). O3. to improve school performances (better results in school subjects) for approx. 300 students from RO, PT, IT, FI, TR and DL through digital activities which will improve their digital skills and open up further opportunities.In the preliminary communication between partners, we have identified, in the data provided by the SWOT analyzes (made by the management teams in each school) needs that can be covered throughout a medium-term period through common objectives and activities, despite the target audiences being different in each country. Thus, whether we talk about poor students in Romania, Turkey or Italy, coming from the countryside or disadvantaged families, or about migrants in Portugal, Italy, Deutschland or Finland, all of them are vulnerable and disadvantaged students who feel excluded and need help to overcome the social difficulties. Thus, in the Romanian school, 50 students out of 1250 receive government support because they come from poor families with incomes below 50 euros/month/persons. Sometimes, if their families consider they can earn more money having a seasonal job, they risk dropping out of school). In Turkey, 50% of the students, coming from the different rural parts of the country and facing economic and social obstacles, are assisted by the government to live in the school boarding. Due to the lack of financial stability, many of them show a lack of motivation in their studies as the 5% of students in Italy. In Germany, more than 40% of students have a migrant background, 25% of them are poor, and 20% feel excluded as overweight like 21% of girls and 29% of boys in Finland. Not only is social inclusion congruent with equal opportunity, but it also benefits the public by preventing young people from becoming socially excluded after finishing their high school studies.In order to address these needs, we considered both sports/physical education and ICT, as tools which can bring added value to overcome two main barriers to integration: the lack of confidence and motivation and the lack of knowledge and skills which can give them access to social and economic opportunities. Sports can be an efficient tool, a common language for all partners because sports are a means to increase the confidence of vulnerable people. Engaging in sport would enable all the people to interact positively, thus furthering integration. In the same time, technology, which is nowadays kind of environment, will help us to create a space of social inclusion by helping us to manage different aspects of our lives better. In this context, following the Latin dictum ""Mens Sana in corpore sano"" we intend to gather all the positive energy of young people from the 6 partner countries, in a project that will be a model of European cooperation. 6 students exchanges events will offer opportunities to these young people to overcome their fears and vulnerabilities by sharing emotions and knowledge with peers from other countries. Complementary, the eTwinning activities developed to support cooperation will increase the chances of success and at the end of the project, all the direct beneficiaries (approx. 300): will improve their school performances and communication abilities, thus achieving better results in school subjects (comparison before and after) and will have increased their propensity to get involved in school community activities and projects."