What is the main aim of the GAS2C project?                                                 

In March 2009, thanks to the European Commission we were able to launch "Global Action Schools2Communities". This is  a continuation of  the project "Global Action Schools" (GAS) which was implemented in the years 2006 - 2009 in partnership with organizations from Austria, Malta, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The project will end in February 2012.

In our project we are encouraging students and teachers from schools to work in their local communities towards raising awareness of the Millennium Development Goals and contributing towards resolving problems of unfair relations between the Global North (wealthy, developed countries) and the Global South. The Global South means simply “the majority of the world” as it includes nearly 157 of a total of 184 recognized states of Africa, Central and Latin America and most of Asia. Climate change, energy issues and unfair trade relations affecting those countries is something we should all work on.

The main aim of the project  is to develop networks of motivated schools in 5 European countries that, with our support, will initiate, prepare and carry out joint actions with local community partners such as charities, foundations, and local authorities in the years 2010-2011. What we understand as a joint action is e.g. a concert, conference, a fair trade picnic or any such event that will change the way we think about “the majority of the World” and contribute to environmental sustainability and fairer trade relations between developing and EU countries. This is a new, innovative approach, especially in the New Member States.

The project culminates in a big, international action, involving teachers, pupils and local community participants from the 5 partner countries in 2012!



What will happen in the GAS2C project?


The project began in 2009 with the recruitment of state schools in each of the 5 partners’ countries. Altogether approximately 600 teachers and 3000 pupils will take part in the project. During the first two years the partner organizations will hold trainings and workshops for the teachers and pupils so that they will be able to familiarise themselves with the development issues such as climate change, fair trade, energy issues. In these workshops the participants will learn about the project and how to best  approach and collaborate with local communities so that a plan of action is established for the following months.

In order to strengthen international networking and partnership working with all the project partners, including partner organisations, schools and local community participants the following innovative activities are included in the project:

1.    An international project website as a tool of communication among participants of the project, mainly pupils and teachers. Here the students and teachers can share their experiences, exchange ideas, discuss on forum and learn about issues related to the project.

2.    An international e-newsletter for teachers and pupils distributed to schools participating in the project throughout its duration. Through the newsletter they will learn what schools in other countries are doing in the project, get inspired and have access to European best practices. The newsletter features national and international case studies, useful tips, links, and recommended reading on development issues.

3.    An International Advisory Board is a group of educational experts, specialists in awareness raising campaigns from Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Malta and Czech Republic as well as teachers who can support the schools with their knowledge and experience. If you would like to meet our experts first register here and click here.

4.    An international competition for schools from the 5 partner countries will be organised in the second year of the project. The competition will promote a sense of solidarity between teachers, pupils and local communities in the five partner countries. The winners will show their works in their local communities and to other schools involved in the project. The task for the participants is to look for interdependencies between global North and South in their local community and express the nature of the relation in a creative way. It can be anything that students find in their neighborhood or in their day-to-day life and has an impact on or link with the countries of the South. The chosen issue has to be consistent with the thematic focus of the project, i.e. environmental sustainability and/or fairer North-South trade relationships.


5.    In 2011 the partners will organise an international two-day workshop comprising delegations of teachers, pupils and local community participants from the 5 partner countries. The workshop will encourage mutual learning , the exchange of experiences, networking and the preparation of the international action.





If you are interested in our project visit the website regularly for up-to-date information.

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