Erasmus Plus Project at St. Kilian’s

What is Erasmus Plus?

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. The aim of Erasmus+ is to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion, as well as the aims of ET2020, the EU’s strategic framework for education and training.

Erasmus+ also aims to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, and contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy. More information is available on the website of the European Commission.

What is the focus of our particular project?

Our particular Erasmus+ project was initiated by Friedrich-Spee-Gesamtschule in September 2019. The title of our project is Freedom needs its history and it involves four schools from different corners of Europe: Germany, Estonia and Spain. The aim is for students to research and understand national and regional cultures of commemorating historical events, especially wars and their heroes/victims/perpetrators.

At a time when peace in Europe is sometimes taken for granted and those who remember the horrors of war are coming to the end of their lives, it seems appropriate for a new generation to look at times when the nations of this continent lived through long and destructive phases of conflict. By reflecting together on these events we hope to foster the spirit of cooperation, peace and understanding that so inspired the post-war generation in their efforts to rebuild a new Europe.

It is hoped that based on their local research students might become involved in protecting/promoting a local memorial or participate in an act of remembrance. Discussions between students from different cultures should make the participating students aware of variations as well as similarities in the way nations remember and forget. Ideally the students develop an identity as Europeans who are responsible for prolonging and defending the unprecedented period of peace between our nations that should not be taken for granted.

How is the project structured?

The project includes four Mobilities which means that all participating students visit each of the other three participating schools over the course of two years. Each mobility has a different focus that feeds into the overall project title Freedom needs its History.