About the project
Provide young people with a space for reflection and dialogue between theater and the reality about democracy in their countries, using school theater clubs to share and disseminate the values, principles, concerns and fears of young people about the future of democracy in Europe. Create plays for exhibition in school communities and hold a European school theater meeting dedicated to the celebration of democracy.
Target Audience
Portuguese and Spanish students aged 15 to 18 involved in the programme “Ambassador School of the European Parliament”.
Aims
-To develop and strengthen the value of the school theatre clubs through different activities of the project;
-To promote the social and personal development of young people in terms of interaction and critical thinking;
-To use school theater to deepen and consolidate democratic experiences and practices;
-To make young people more dynamic, protagonists of change and more active citizens;
-To hold a European school theater meeting with an impact on the local community.
Work Process
The teachers coordinating this project in the various European schools will participate in the event “European Week of languages” in Serpa – Portugal, to design the project «Celebrating Democracy» with partners. Then the coordinators implement the activities in their schools with the school theater clubs and promote extensive online meetings between all students and teachers involved in the project. Then, the participants (teachers and students) will meet in March, in Sintra, to participate in the event “Celebrating Democracy- II Cross-border Theater Meeting of Ambassador Schools of the European Parliament” where students meet face-to-face and work together. Finally, students and teachers participate in the “Celebrating Democracy- III Cross-border Theater Meeting of Ambassador Schools of the European Parliament” in Mérida, where they receive training on theater and promote activities in the city of Mérida, spreading the values of democracy.
Expected Results
-Participants will understand the concept of democracy, experience and live it; They will examine the similarities and differences in democratic principles of the European countries involved in the project and find their common democratic heritage.
-Participants will develop their social skills and increase dialogue between people of different nationalities, improving multicultural knowledge Within Europe.
-the theater clubs will encourage the rapprochement between participants from different countries, favoring the increase of the European sense of belonging and contributing to the humanization of social relations in an increasingly technological and distant world in human warmth.
-Participants will acquire and deepen their technical knowledge of theater throughout the project activities and the final theater meeting.
-We innovate teaching, thus increasing the quality of teaching and the project’s ability to improve the intercultural dimension.
Further information
15th July 2022 – 9th September 2022– Dissemination of the project and establishment of partner schools
26th to 28th September 2022 – 1st Meeting with the teachers coordinators of the project. These teachers will participate in the European Week of Languages and get training on theatre subjects; They will build up together the activity plan for the whole project.
The coordinators will only have to pay for the trip. The Municipality of Serpa will provide transport between Lisbon and Serpa (and return) if flying, accommodation and food during the days of the meeting. (Detailed information after 16th September).
26th September 2022 to 10th May 2023– Activities of the project settled in the first meeting.
2nd and 3rd March 2023 (Sintra)– “Celebrating Democracy– II Cross-border Theater Meeting of Ambassador Schools of the European Parliament”– In the 2 days event, the students will meet face-to-face for the first time. The teachers and the students participating in the project will share their products (plays) created and performed according to the plan set by the coordinators in September. There will be a moment to discuss and think about the values of Democracy. Participants will take on several activities related to theatre.
8th to 10th May 2023 (Mérida)– “Celebrating Democracy– III Cross-border Theater Meeting of Ambassador Schools of the European Parliament”– Students and teachers will get training in school theatre which includes workshops with professionals of the area, will perform plays for the community in the city; activities will take place during the day and at night. Participants will also have trips to broaden their knowledge on the historical and natural heritage surrounding Mérida. During the training, democracy will be discussed, and plays will focus several topics related to it. The last day will be dedicated to the evaluation of the project and findings will be widely disclosed.
Partnerships
The project has, for now, the support of the Municipality of Serpa. Throughout the project, the schools involved will mobilize efforts to allocate other external partners to contribute, at various levels, to the realization of the activities provided for in the project.