Understanding and embracing of different cultures and traditions, can bring a positive effect and is vital for the future development as individuals. This process can start from an early age with a cultivation of a common culture, traditions, values and behavior of certain groups of people. Yet, cultures and customs vary from country to country and from region to region, and as such they represent the rich cultural heritage and diversity in Europe. The project aims to foster an early childhood approach to diversity and embrace the cultural awareness skills of participants. LEOC corresponds to the need to develop key competences and build basic skills in students to help their understanding and adaptation through raising their creativity and awareness of the different cultures in Europe. LEOC will explore local cultural heritage and traditions, the similarities and the differences between them, in five European countries: Bulgaria, Latvia, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. LEOC promotes creative teaching and learning, the exchange of good practices, the development of intercultural competences - basic, soft and cultural awareness skills. The main objective of LEOC is for students to become aware of different cultures, traditions and customs, to teach students how similar celebrations are held in different countries across Europe, to stimulate students to explore diversity and intercultural learning and encourage intercultural dialogue among partner schools. LEOC targets students from primary schools (8 – 11 years old) and their teachers. Through formal, non-formal and informal learning (NFIL) methods, participatory approaches and short-term exchanges (LTTA), the project will foster a greater understanding and responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity across Europe. LEOC will integrate art and creativity sessions into the school curricula. Students will participate in five logo competitions, creation of a European Cultural Heritage Map, creation of a student’s project anthem “The Voices of Our Generation”, four Christmas concerts and one New Year’s Eve concert, ten plays “Our Diverse Traditions”, one collaborative play “Let’s Explore Our Cultures”, five musical concerts “My Friends from Europe”, one music album “The Songs of Our Continent”, a travel e-guide “The Flying Carpet”, miniature models for photo exhibition “My Small Europe” developing a dictionary “The European Languages” and ten story-tellings with parents. Teacher education resources will be developed and collected in an e-manual “Good Practices on Non-formal Educational Methods”. The manual will include NFIL methods for creative teaching of cultural awareness, diversity and intercultural dialogue. Students will display their skills through writing of plays, songs, creating posters and flyers. Teachers will learn new ways of creative teaching through workshops during the LTTAs and the exchange of good practices. The foreseen activities will stimulate participants to explore the particularities of the different cultures and customs of each participating country and in doing so the project will raise awareness of the importance of preserving Europe’s cultural heritage and foster the development of inclusive educational systems across Europe. LEOC will broaden student's understanding of their cultural similarities, linguistic and ethnic varieties in Europe. Students will learn about national holidays and heroes, create a dictionary in 6 languages - Bulgarian, Spanish, Portuguese, Latvian, Turkish and English. Six LTTAs will be held in partner countries. This will create a sense of cultural diversity and enhance the knowledge and quality of education and training in schools on European level. LTTAs with pupils will involve 5 students and 3 teachers and the short-term staff training will involve 4 teachers. Students from all partner schools will create ten plays related to diversity and perform them on stage in international teams. Students will learn traditional songs and dances and through performances present them before an audience. A final report with all project materials will be published on the project’s website, the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform and the eTwinning project platform. The implementation of LEOC aims at establishing new knowledge, competences and practical skills of the participants enhancing their awareness about European cultures and traditions. This is in compliance with the horizontal priorities for 2020 social inclusion and the educational value of European cultural heritage, as well as with supporting opportunities in acquiring and developing key competences. We reckon that this will be accomplished through LTTAs and direct participation in cultural events, which are needed for a successful personal development of students and professional development of teachers. The project will make use of the eTwinning project platform space in order to share the progress and sustainability of the project.

"<< Objectives >>Mental health and well-being influence children cognitive development and learning. The key objectives of the SMILES project is to contribute to making schools environments where the emotional and mental health of pupils is promoted and protected. The project will work to make schools healthy and inclusive environments in which children learn critical skills to strengthen their emotional and mental well-being, involving three pillars TEACHERS, PUPILS, PARENTS in the promotion of mental health.<< Implementation >>WP2.Activity1.Measurement tools to know the real needs in MH.Act2.Focus groups with experts to select 12 key skills in MH.Act3.Training system for teachers.WP3. Act1. Toolkit to teach pupils key mental health skills and knowledge in MH.Act2.Resource guide for parents to support their children's Mental Health.WP4.Act1.Allyship at School programme to create alliances that trains TEACHERS -STUDENTS-PARENTS to take real action and build a school that promotes MH.Act2.Practicing Alliances in MH<< Results >>The project results are linked to the SMILES methodology described as""LEARNING IT"" (WP2)""TEACHING IT""(WP3),""LIVE IT UP""and""EMBED IT""(WP4). WP2 The main results are; Measurement tools and a Training system for teachers on the key skills and competences to support MH at school.WP3 will result in a didactic toolkit and a Guide to support parents WP4 The result will be an Alliance program in the school that will enable teachers, students and parents to take real action on mental health and wellbeing"