From 13 to 17 May 2024, our Erasmus+ project IDEALS (Intercultural Democratic Education and Soft Skills) carried out its first Learning, Teaching, Training Activity (LTTA) in the Netherlands. This event aimed to develop democratic citizenship through various cooperation activities, in line with the fourth Work Package (WP4) of the IDEALS project. The event facilitated cooperation between educational institutions in Europe, shared best practices and promoted democratic citizenship among young people.
The main objectives of the LTTA were multi-faceted. Firstly, it aimed to provide students with knowledge of democratic values such as human rights, equality and social justice and to encourage their active participation in democratic processes at local, national and European levels. Secondly, it was designed to promote intercultural understanding and respect for diversity in students. Thirdly, it was a fundamental goal to provide students with a sense of common values and common goals and to enable them to cooperate across cultural and national boundaries.
Alongside these objectives, LTTA aimed to develop students’ communication, collaboration and leadership skills and offered opportunities to practice these skills in a multicultural and multilingual environment. Empowering young people to become active and engaged citizens committed to working for positive social change in their communities and beyond was also an important goal. Finally, it aimed to promote the values of the Erasmus+ programme and to raise awareness among participants and stakeholders about the intercultural learning and collaboration opportunities offered by the programme.
LTTA kicked off with a visit to the European Commission and European Parliament Visit Centre in Brussels on 13 May 2024. This visit provided students with valuable insight into the functioning of the European Union and the promotion of democratic values and citizenship among its member states. It also provided an in-depth understanding of European democracy by exploring the city of Brussels.
The second day began with a Model EU workshop led by European Commission speaker Fons Janssens. This interactive session gave students a practical understanding of European governance by simulating the EU’s decision-making process. In the afternoon, students participated in group work and a collaborative action game exploring the city of Maastricht. This activity increased their teamwork skills and deepened their appreciation of European history and cooperation.
On the third day, a workshop was held by Global Exploration, focusing on global legislative processes based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This session provided students with a global perspective on legislative practices and the importance of sustainability. In the afternoon, students participated in sports activities, encouraging teamwork and intercultural interaction in an informal setting.
The fourth day was dedicated to group work where students from Turkey, the Netherlands, Romania, Italy and Bulgaria collaborated to solve challenges and come up with new projects and creative solutions. The day emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation, with students working together to address real-world problems. LTTA concluded on the fifth day with students presenting their projects and showcasing the results of their collaborative efforts. The day concluded with a farewell session reflecting on the experiences of the week and the bonds that were formed.
LTTA enabled students to learn about democratic processes and engage directly with European institutions and simulations. Activities developed intercultural competence and respect for diversity, while collaborative projects encouraged innovation and problem solving across cultural and national boundaries. Students also developed important skills such as communication, collaboration and leadership, and were empowered to become active citizens committed to working for social change.
Reflecting on this successful event, we are excited about the future stages of the IDEALS project. The experiences and knowledge gained from this LTTA will contribute significantly to the continued success of our initiatives and help us create more inclusive and participatory educational environments across Europe. We thank all participants and partners for their dedication and contributions and look forward to continuing our collaboration to promote democratic citizenship and intercultural understanding.
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