On the 19th-20th of January we kicked-off in Brussels a new project called BRIGHTS “Boosting Global Citizenship Education using digital storytelling” aimed to foster social cohesion and promote intercultural dialogue and democratic values in Europe. This is in response to the social division, increased migration flows and acts of radical violence lurking into European society.
Our aims and objectives
BRIGHTS will promote Global Citizenship Education (GCE) in formal and non-formal education with the help of digital storytelling (DS) techniques.
The current global scenario requires education and training institutions and practitioners to assume greater responsibility than ever in helping learners of all ages and backgrounds to develop into informed, critical, socially-connected, ethical and engaged global citizens.
Global Citizenship Education employs concepts and methodologies already implemented in different fields and subjects, including human rights education, peace education, education to achieve sustainable development and education for intercultural understanding. Addressing subjects through GCE can contribute to promote social inclusion and challenge racism and stereotypes. We will combine it with digital storytelling because it has proven to be a powerful learning tool, improving creativity, digital literacy and critical thinking.
How are we going to do it?
We will train secondary school teachers and trainers working with young people (including youth workers, e-facilitators, cultural mediators etc.) on the principles of Global Citizenship Education and its application through digital storytelling. We will develop a blended training course for them with a MOOC and face-to-face workshops. As part of the training, selected teachers and trainers will directly test the methodology with young people (aged 13-19) in schools and in non-formal educational contexts. We expect a great number of interesting and reflective digital stories produced by youngsters on global challenges and subjects including human rights, peace and democratic values, intercultural dialogue, active citizenship etc.
On the policy level, we will promote and raise awareness on BRIGHTS values, objectives and activities among policy-makers and the civil society.
The project will last two years and will be implemented in 4 European countries: Belgium, Croatia, Greece and Italy.
We are proud to say that we have the best team to make BRIGHTS successful. We have four of our member organizations – the Belgian non-formal adult education centre Maks vzw, the Italian training agency Centro Studi Città di Foligno, the Centre of Technical Culture Rijeka from Croatia and the Hellenic Professionals Informatics Society from Greece, plus two recognized Open Universities: the Italian Università degli Studi Guglielmo Marconi and the Hellenic Open University from Greece. All of them have carried out different initiatives in Global Citizenship Education and Digital storytelling.
What’s next
After the kick-off meeting held in Brussels, the first stage of the project is to carry out a training need analysis to get a better understanding of the target groups’ needs to implement GCE using digital storytelling. We will interview teachers and trainers working with young people, as well as experts in GCE and other related areas. Moreover, we will launch an open call for contribution, so stay tuned if you are willing to give your opinion and provide ideas!
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