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Our blueprints for Europe

  • This page sums up the eTwinning project "Blueprints for BFF in Europe" carried out by Kaufmannsschule II, Hagen, Germany, II Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Czesława Miłosza, Jaworzno, Poland and 3rd Geniko Lykeio of Ano Liosia, Athens, Greece.  The project is led by Sandra Hansen, Anna Pławecka and Ioanna Giannopoulou. They teach 52 pupils together.

    This project is part of the 67th European Competition with the topic: "EUnited - Europe connects". The task that we have chosen is:

    4-2 The common European house

    The "European house" of the future needs to be redesigned. What future demands (e.g. inclusion, integration, ecology, peace and togetherness) do the politics and architecture have to satisfy? Create a design.

    The pupils found the topic interesting and motivating and working together in a virtual environment a great challenge. Before students could create their own visions of Europe in international group work these steps were taken:

    1. Introduction of pupils and their interests and hobbies
    2. Some impressions of their hometowns
    3. Some impressions of their schools
    4. Working on the metaphor of the house

    The metaphor

    1. Foundation is there to hold the structure above it.
    2. Doors allow people to enter and exit the house.
    3. Windows give you a safe view of the outside. They also allow air and light to enter the house.
    4. Roof protects you from the bad weather 
    5. Walls keep the warming feeling and protect you from the weather.

    Pupils looked at Europe to find out in how far the EU is a house. Here are some results:

    1. Foundation The foundation of the European Union is the trade market that opened up the posibility to found the EU.
    2. Doors are open for every European citizen. We can visit other European countries, work or even study there. 
    3. Windows even if we do not go to the country, we have an idea of the situation there.
    4. Roof stands for the safety of the EU.
    5. Walls stand for the structure of the European Union that holds the whole system within the countries together (in bad times,when the Euro isn't worth much or in the reefugees crisis.)

     

    FLOOR: European Parliament  because its legislative function adopts laws together with the EU Council based on European Commission's legislative proposals. Decides on international agreements. Decides on the enlargement of the EU.
    WALL: Court of Justice of the European Union because ensuring EU law is interpreted and applied the same in every EU country ensuring countries and EU  institiutions abide by EU law.
    WINDOW: European Council because it appoints the general policy of the European Union.
    DOOR: Council of the European Union because it represents the voice of EU governments, legal acts EU and coordinates the EU.
    ROOF: The European Commission, because it oversees the work of all agencies  and manages funds. Responsible for current Union policy. It issues implementing regulations.

     

    The foundation symbolizes that Europe is the base of a worldwide culture. The door shows that in Europe everyone is welcomed to live here. The walls are used on the borders of the entire EU in order to make the residents feel safe and secure. As it goes for the windows, they give the people hopes for further opportunities. The roof symbolizes a box that includes all the ideas of the European citizens.

     

    The roof should be cracked in order to show what Europe has been through over the long lasting difficult situations that Europeans have faced.
    The walls have to be old and dirty symbolizing the inveteracy of the European Union as well as the wisdom and the experience that it has gained over the years. Graffiti would also be a nice touch marking all the trials Europe has experienced.
    The door should always be open showing the hospitality of Europe.
    The floor should be shiny so that it shines all over the globe so that everyone is able to see all Europe’s remarkable achievements.
    One window has to be broken in order to show once more what Europe has gone through over all of these years.
     

     

    International Group Work

     

    The next step was to create their own ideas of Europe in international teams. When the pupils were asked what they would change about Europe, these were their answers:

    acceptance   11

    attention to our enviroment  10

    politics  4

    Religious tolerance  3

    political tensions   1

    migration  1

    finances   1

    cooperation of countries  1

    Here are the pupils' blueprints of their European house:

    "Make Europe great again"

    "Everybody is okay"

    "Unity in diversity"

    "Europe for future"

    "Politics is sexy"