Shared values, cultural diversity and education :
What to learn and how ?

Classrooms Across Borders

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, FYROM; Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Yugolslavia and District of Kosovo.

The ethos of this programme envisages the exploration of values, attitudes and motivations through the study of languages and cultures of neighbours and ethnic communities in order to enhance tolerance, respect and empathy. Also, it aims to build a regional culture of peace through appreciation and respect for the highlights of indigenous cultures and their contribution to a regional cultural heritage and create/reinforce regional networks for the exploration and perfection of language and country studies. In the classroom, the first step, going on this year, is to build a model for "Classrooms Across Borders", with special emphasis on learning the languages of neighbouring countries. (relating to theme 4).

At the moment, the first phase has been accomplished (creation of the framework for a "Classroom Across Borders"). A network amongst educators and young people in different educational establishments in countries has been put into place. The aim of the network will be to discuss the significance of languages and cultures in order to build a culture of peace and tolerance and educational strategies for conflict-resolution through language learning and country studies.

Conflict resolution is the primary reason why this program was established. It is hoped that a better understanding of languages and cultures of others will prevent future conflicts in the region. This program was also launched for the European Year of Languages 2001.

Planned by: SAGE (School Association for Global Education)- NGO
Ms. Yordanka NENOVA
40 Mutkurova, entr. A
ROUSSE 7000
Bulgaria
359 8223 67 25
nenova@yahoo.com
and monitored by: National Committee for the European Year of Languages 2001 of Bulgaria.
Institutional Partners
With the aims and guidelines of the Council of Europe and the European Union, NGOs and governemental institutions in the 11 countries, local authorities and international network.

2001