Teachers involved in the project added their comments about the project, concerning the quality of activities, experience for pupils, objectives...

Teacher: Gudrun Karbach (Vicco von Bülow Gymnasium)

In this project students acquired a thorough insight into the history, the organisation and the functions of the European Union both by completing online tasks for our eTwinning platform and by taking part in various actibities during our mobilities.

 They learned to do online research on current issues, find solutions according to the policy guidelines of different political parties and present them in a political debate and discussion. They also got to know institutions of the EU, namely the European parliament in Straßbourg, which they visited during our stay in Colmar. The region of Alsace and the reception in the CEA provided students with knowledge about the importance of collaboration between European border regions and understanding each other's language in addition to the modern "lingua franca", English.

Students also acitively learned about democratic values and human rights, which are valued in all the countries of the EU as well as about the benefits the EU offers to all of its citizens. In the end they all saw themselves as true Europeans.

Teacher: M.A. Sánchez (Institut Joan Solà)

Mi participación en el proyecto DOVE me ha permitido llegar al fin y poder realizar una valoración global. He participado de las actividades que se han organizado en nuestro centro y también en las dos movilidades, una en Colmar y la segunda en Berlín.
La experiencia de los alumnos creo que ha sido muy provechosa a nivel académico y personal. Los alumnos han tenido la posibilidad de visitar diversas instituciones europeas y participar en charlas que han profundizado su conocimiento sobre el funcionamiento y la importancia de estas instituciones. Las visitas guiadas y las sesiones interactivas han permitido a los estudiantes entender mejor el rol del Parlamento Europeo, la Comisión Europea y otros organismos clave.
La realización de las actividades en grupo, enfocadas en temas relevantes como la política de cohesión o los derechos humanos dentro de la Unión Europea, ha fomentado la cooperación y el intercambio de ideas entre los alumnos. Esto ha favorecido un aprendizaje más práctico y aplicado.
El hecho de trabajar en actividades con grupos de alumnos de diferentes procedencias conduce a una interacción que permite ampliar los puntos de vista y fomentar una mentalidad más abierta y tolerante. Nos asegura el uso de las lenguas extranjeras y así mejorar las habilidades lingüísticas en lengua inglesa, sobre todo, puesto que es la
lengua vehicular en los distintos contextos.
Por último, creo que ha sido un proyecto muy trabajado, las actividades muy enriquecedoras y de un gran calaje al alumnado. Han aprendido, han desarrollado un rol de representantes políticos, debatido, se han posicionado ideológicamente, han ideado políticas concretas y han dirigido sus propuestas a algunas de las instituciones políticas. Después de este proyecto, su conciencia como ciudadanos y ciudadanas de Europa ha emergido con sentido.

Teacher: Valérie Schamp (Collège St André)

St André Collège, Colmar, France, not being accreditated by the Erasmus+ funding, took an active part in the DOVE project along with the Joan Sola School, Torrefarrera, Spain and the Von-Bülow Gymnasium, Spahnsdorf, Germany. During their stay in our school, the pupils from the three countries visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg with a guide. This activity enabled them to realize how the decisions are taken on a European level and how the laws are passed. On a regional level, they were guided through the CEA (Communauté Europeenne d'Alsace in Strasbourg) and had to deliver a speech about their topic in front of Miss Klinkert who has been active in the regional and national institutions for a long time. She welcomed them in French, German and Spanish, showing the importance of learning languages. In international groups the pupils had to work about the challenges facing the youth : environment, technology, active democracy, equality. They had to work together using soft skills such as communicating properly to achieve a common goal. The visits (European Parliament in Strasbourg, seat of the CEA in Colmar and town hall in Colmar)  were well-adapted to the topic of the project and that is how the pupils could understand the different levels of democratic power. The activities in international groups (Discover Colmar, Working on the challenges, handling out the documents with their work to Miss Klinkert) and living in their host family enabled them to speak other languages (English, French, Spanish, German) and to understand the importance of being involved in democracy. We worked on the topic for the whole year (timeline, 3 different stays), presentations about politics in each country and that reinforced the feeling of working together. The parent,s pupils, teachers involved all thought this project was a real success. The resultst of their work was sent to the President of the EU in Strasbourg. 

Ana L. Novoa (Institut Joan Solà)

No doubt, I believe this project has been outstanding in most aspects, far above others we have carried out along the years. Not only at an organisational level, but also at activities and participation levels, I must state that the results have been excellent: all three schools have had impeccable schedules and tasks-to-perform planning. The fact that it was not merely theoretical research work but, otherwise, that there was a direct contact with the institutions and that the students enjoyed the real democratic experience, makes the project stand out.
Regarding pupils’ participation, despite the fact that the topic was tough, we must highlight the enormous implication and dedication in the proposed tasks: it was the best part of the project!!!
We will carry on working to achieve the highest level, as high as the one this project has set.