Address: 2, Iorga street, Chisinau

Country: Republic of Moldova

 School website

Project: All Different - All Equal 

Working language during the project: 

• Romanian language 
   

Themes of the Council of Europe campaign “FREE to SPEAK, SAFE to LEARN - Democratic Schools for All” covered:

• Making children’s and students’ voices heard
• Tackling discrimination
   

Competences from the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (CDC) addressed and where / how they were integrated:

• Skills of listening and observing
  During the lessons
   
• Valuing cultural diversity
  During the activity in the community
   
• Conflict resolution skills
  In special cases
   

Target group age range:

• 11-15
   

Level of education:

• Lower secondary education

Short description of the project: 

This project has been running in our school for several years. This year I intend to share my experience with the community of teachers from other European countries of Europe.

In my opinion, teaching democracy should start from an early age. Pupils from the V till the VII grade learn the first concepts of democracy through games. For example, I suggest to very young students to engage in an activity in which children need to find the differences between a child from Moldova (Ionel who is 12) and Zibeke from Uganda. The conclusion to which children must come is that the only difference between the two is the colour of their skin and the place in which they live. Self-confidence is essential for children who want to become change makers within their communities. Children are encouraged towards greater self-knowledge. Children are given the space to explore values, both individually and through interaction with peers. As part of that process they are encouraged to express themselves creatively.

Another example, a game I plan on presenting to children is ‘’A man can/A woman can’’. While throwing the ball the moderator will call out an action. If the action can be done by both men and women, then it must be dropped (for instance: able to go to space/ride a tractor/treat teeth/sew clothes/repair a car/give a wonderful haircut etc.). As a result of this game the children will realize that actually, all jobs can be done equally well by both men and women, helping them identify gender-based stereotypes within society.

Aims/objectives

• To promote gender equality during the lessons and outside the school
• To offer opportunities for freedom of speech not only during the lessons.
• Reducing or preventing aggression and negativity, and creating a neutral environment in which students feel free to express their differing opinions and concerns without fear of reprisal.

Expected results/outcomes

• Active, responsible and tolerant students who promote general values

Changes

• Citizens involved in different activities

Challenges you faced

• In the traditional society of the Republic of Moldova the gender roles are preserved in the examples and values from popular culture such as old stories and sayings. Society praises men and promotes a culture of male domination

Time-frame of the project:

• 1 school year- 2019-2020

Council of Europe materials on citizenship and human rights education used while preparing or implementing your practice:

• Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture
• All Different – All Equal
• We CAN!