"In today's Europe, youth education is essential. That is why, for the future of Europe, young people's education needs to be flexible, to equip young people with skills and abilities to enable them to adapt quickly to change. In this context, the project coordinator identified social inclusion as a starting point for developing these new skills.Our active and responsible citizenship project brings 5 schools from Italy, Romania, the UK, Poland and Turkey for the first time in a partnership. At present and in the near future, our pupils are in a position to coexist in a society of great cultural, religious, educational diversity, in which they must take precedence over other cultures, tolerance and solidarity. As the young students to whom the project is concerned are at the age of looking for life patterns, we believe that teachers who promote active citizenship by encouraging social inclusion can give young people their own behavioral examples as a model of active involvement in social life. The main aim of our project is to make students understand that active citizenship is the binder that keeps society together.Project's objectives are:1 - to raise awareness of active European citizenship among pupils and teachers from 5 EU schools during 2 year of project and more;2 - develop the knowledge and skills of pupils and teachers regarding the use of foreign languages, ICT and modern education tools;3 - to know directly the cultural diversity of Europe and to promote it4 - to set up a network between our schools to share examples of good practices of active citizenship5 - enhancing the links between school and local community through the existence of a European project to support pupils with special situationsThe project is intended for 250 primary school pupils (6-14 years) indirectly involved and 50 teachers directly involved in the project.Planned activities will lead to the objectives of the project through the Social and Emotional Learning Strategy (SEL) to help students get involved in project development. SEL will help participants acquire the knowledge, attitudes and abilities needed to understand and manage their emotions, personal feelings, set personal goals, develop empathy awareness and establish positive relationships.The concrete results developed through our cooperation are:- 5 presentations ""This is my school and my city!""- 5 videos: ""Cultural values in my community""- 5 multimedia presentations ""Active citizenship in Europe 2020""- 5 multimedia presentations ""Active citizens and environment""- 1 E- magazine ""European Citizens Club""- 4 photo exhibitions- International seminar with external speakers from local NGOs- Web page, blog and Facebook- Leaflets, posters, 2 calendars, 1 brochure- Project DVDDuring the implementing of the project, we will use various training strategies (group discussions, role play, simulations, debates, multimedia presentations, external partners' speeches) to raise awareness of active citizenship. By developing SEL activities (comics, stories, group activities, team building games), we aim to develop the knowledge, attitudes and abilities of our students as active citizens of their communities.To increase pupils' social awareness, self-awareness, self-evaluation, decision-making responsibility and relationship skills; we will organize 4 LTTA with 155 students and teachers - which will have a big impact in schools and local communities. There will be also a Short-term joint staff training events will take place in Italy for teachers form the project’s staff.To build active citizenship as a way of life, there will be 5 active clubs for students in all 5 schools involved in the project. These clubs seek to develop motivation and commitment to promote active participation of students in community life in the long run. One of the club's activities will be the creation of souvenirs and handicrafts for project partners. Club students will receive joint shirts created within the project and other publicity products. Teachers will use an interdisciplinary approach that will be part of the active citizenship e-toolkit that promotes active citizenship. Through this partnership, we aim to achieve co-operation between European schools, closer cooperation with local community institutions, encourage schools to incorporate social and emotional learning programs (SEL) to improve pupils' lives and professional achievement and encourage interdisciplinary teaching.Participation in this project will contribute to the development of long-term schools through institutional development and the promotion of school image in local communities."

"This strategic school partnership,based on Eco-friendly Practices At Schools( EFPAS) ,was successfully carried out with collaborative work of Turkish,Lithuanian,Italian,Portugese and Polish schools.All partner schools enriched their Eco-school curicula activities such as separating, the recycling and reuse of waste materails,getting students to gain positive behaviors against to the Environment, preparing School Eco-action Plan,etc.We got lots of opportunities to see and analyze the “Good Eco-friendly Practices” in Turkey,Lithuania,Poland,Italy and Portugal,this event contributed that the teachers improved better their own professional competences in transfering the basic Eco-friendly profits/acquisitions to their students. They gained profeciency of integrating the outdoor activities into the Eco-curricula classroom activities while teaching/telling… -Water Cycle. -Separation of Waste Habit -Reuse of the used meterails -Smart-eating habit -Global warming and its results,etc. -Keeping water/air cleanThe students were able to catch chances to got new Eco-friendly profits and to transform their previous theoritical learnings to the practical learnings within EFPAS Project work. The Eco- sensivity flourished and grew between kindergarden age students and the upper age students.The Key persons actively participated in this Project.They contributed that EFPAS Project was succesfully managed. The main target groups( students,teachers,parents) actively and stakeholders (civic and public organizations) directly/indirectly participated in Project work.The school administratives supported EFPAS Project and developed School Environment ManagementWith this transnational strategic partnership , the planned activities and the determined objectives of EFPAS Project : A-the awareness work with determined activities-by all partners1-Eco-day celebrations 2-Building Eco-points3-Eco-craft work and exhibitions/stands4-Eco-fashion Show5-Eco-trips6-Food festival for healthy future/ Food Map7-Info-seminairs-by University educator staffs / Presentations-by school studentsB-the improvement in quality and visibility of EFPAS Project1-Surveys/questionairs were applied .The results were evaluated and announced. 2-Eco-citizenship Certificate for adults who participated actively in Project work 3-Visual/concrete meterails were used C-Project dissemination activities in a Plan-by Italian school( Promotional tools( Mug,Keyring,Magnet,etc.)contributed to this process).The main dissemination tools:1- Project website(http://ecofriendly.europole.org/)-by Italian school 2-Twinspace-by Portuguese school( user name: eco.evaluation/ password:123456).3-Social media channels/local newspapers/ school facebookpages 4-Erasmus+boards and Eco-pointsD- Project sustainability in a Plan- by all partners.During final meeting, a Strategic Sustainablity Plan was prepared;1-Keeping each result and output of EFPAS Project in EFPAS Project file and in school archieves.2-The accessiblity to website and Twinspace at least five years3-Traditional celebration of Eco-day on every June 5th at schools4-Sharing Good Practices of the Project in Google Academy,National Geography when possible.5-Sharing the results in Erasmus+ Dissemination PlatformAt the end of this two-year work , from kindergarden age group to the upper age groups the ""Eco-friendly behaviors"" have flourished and grown between students.Environmental Literacy in school communities increased. The number of the students who are reluctant to participate in environmental activities got lower. The participating schools’ quality,visibility,prestige grew in regional,national and transnational levels.They got adequate experience and expertise to sustain Eco-friendly Practices for healthy environment."