European and Environmental Culture in the School Environment

Summary

The project stood out for embedding democratic values at every stage, from design to implementation, while actively promoting inclusion for students with migrant backgrounds and special needs. It introduced the Erasmus+ programme to a previously unaware school community and used ancient Greek heritage to explore the origins and evolution of democracy. Through this innovative teaching approach, the project encouraged active citizenship, intercultural learning, and meaningful European networking.

"Participating in this program transformed the way I teach as I became more creative. It opened new horizons for me and my students and showed us the power of cooperation, integration and European solidarity."     

Topic(s) addressed

• Good practices
• Strengthened partnerships and educational skills
• Promoting students' participation in democratic life
• Common European values

Target group(s)  

34 students and 19 staff from diverse social and educational backgrounds who participated in mobility actions.

Methodologies used

Focusing on the real needs of our students, we identified subjects where learning difficulties were most prominent and organised targeted teacher training—for example, in STEM/STEAM education. Teachers applied innovative, experiential, and interdisciplinary methods, strengthening connections between different fields of knowledge and making learning more engaging. Students took an active role in research projects, developing skills by linking formal, non-formal, and informal learning. The project fostered inclusion, collaboration, active participation, and engagement with the wider community through partnerships with external agencies. Many student projects are now showcased in the school, having been used to decorate the courtyard and halls.

Innovation environment

I will illustrate this answer with an example. During the implementation of the project, students and teachers collaborated in an atmosphere of joy and creativity, warmly welcoming our international partners. They organised hands-on workshops, experiments, games, and cultural activities within the school, enhancing foreign language skills, intercultural understanding, and interpersonal relationships. The school became a hub of innovation, making full use of laboratories, equipment, and technological tools. Interdisciplinary cooperation - both across subjects and with external organisations - was strengthened. The teaching approach was engaging, experiential, and truly innovative, empowering the active participation of everyone involved.

Teachers’ role

At our school, the multidisciplinary nature of the teaching staff has provided a valuable opportunity to synthesise innovative approaches. Teachers from different subject areas collaborated with a shared vision of creating engaging, multi-dimensional lessons that foster students’ creativity and critical thinking. Through joint seminars and activities, they combined their expertise into integrated teaching practices, often with a research-based focus, that have been recognised at both national and European levels. This exchange of knowledge and collaboration among colleagues has strengthened peer learning and helped build an educational community that promotes innovation and well-being for all.

Impact and output

Our school faces daily inclusion challenges, supporting students from migrant backgrounds, those with special needs, and others facing health or social integration issues. As part of the project, we prioritised equipping teachers with democratic and inclusive teaching approaches to promote respect for diversity and encourage active student participation. Through experiential activities involving art, music, and dialogue, we fostered greater empathy and strengthened inclusion for all. At the end of the project, we created a “Value of Inclusion” mural at the school entrance and established the “European Courtyard - a welcoming, accessible space for all children. Both of these serve as lasting symbols of a democratic, open, and peaceful school community.

Learn more about the project

Video