Comenius Project

The Comenius Projects are European projects set out every year in the attempt to bring European students, from various different countries, together. Various projects are assigned in an attempt to help the European students get a better understanding of their own country as well as the other countries involved in the project. Some previous projects include making board games about the various different countries, or a newspaper on moving borders within the countries. Students aged between 14 - 19 are welcome to join the project. In England, the project is more commonly available to 6th formers. Every year, a new project begins, and every year there are two meetings.

Funding for the project is a difficult issue, although is usually successful. In order to get funding for the project from the EU - which will mean free flights, accommodation, meals, living costs, tourist visits, transport, etc - the countries involved in the project must all submit a project proposal and three of those proposals must be accepted in order to get funding. Without funding, many issues arise, mainly due to the fact that teachers and students have to pay for everything by themselves, which can result in some countries not being able to attend the meetings.

The first meeting is specified for co ordinators - two or three students chosen from each country - are sent to the designated country of the meeting - of which the location varies every year, and usually occurs in the winter/autumn seasons of the year. This meeting allows for the confident or experienced students to meet and discuss a blueprint for the project together. The idea of this meeting is to signify the beginning of a new project and allows the co ordinators to then return home and feedback to the other students about the project and the people.

The second meeting is open for as many people as possible and is also known as the final meeting. The final meeting - like the co ordinators meeting - varies in location each year and occurs in the spring season - March or April. There is an amazing "buzz" about the final meetings, as students are able to co operate with other cultures on a large scale. This meeting usually involves the co ordinators discussing what has already happened in terms of the project and the other students work together to help get the project complete.

One particular comenius project - of which basis is in Ipswich - England - involves the countries: England, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Italy, Romania and Turkey.