Erasmus+ activities presented in Portugal (March 24-29, 2019)

Activity one – decorating a room

•	Content 
In Cyprus we often get to have a wave of migrants and refugees from Syria and we know that Italy and Portugal have to deal with the same challenges too. Under these circumstances we volunteered to help underprivileged people in our community. We chose to smarten up the image of Europe by contributing to volunteerism.
We thought of renovating a room of a house that hosts adults with special needs. By doing so, we felt that we help a category of  people but at the same time we contributed to the community and society in general. First we painted the room and as a follow-up activity we needed to decorate it. 
•	Methodology
How to make hanging crafts made from natural material
The teacher asked students to come up with ideas of how to decorate the room and they decided to  make hanging crafts with natural material. Students brought with them in the classroom small pebbles, canvas, twigs, string and glue. Students used their imagination and creativity skills to create pictures. For example, little birds sitting on wires. The pebbles were then stuck on the canvas which was later on framed, painted and  hanged on a wall of the room students are renovating.
•	Outcomes of the activity
Students claim the following: “We feel that this particular activity helped us to improve our manual skills, use equipment safely, enhance out creativity and imagination skills and above all, we learned to cooperate and be good team players”.
(See ppt presented by students)

•	Participants: Students from Paralimni Lyceum in Cyprus
Names of participants: Nefeli Filipou, Anastasia Georgiou and Christia Rousou
•	How the activity relates to normal activities in our school
Our school is currently involved in numerous activities linked to volunteerism. Our mission is to engage our community in the education of youth to enrich the lives of both.
•	Benefits for the participants
Not only did students make a difference in someone else’s life but they also had the opportunity to try something new, gain experience, develop skills, improve their career prospects, build confidence and meet new people. Through volunteering they took on a challenge  as they got involved in something new.

Activity two – Questionnaire evaluating skills gained by students throughout the project
•	Content 
The activity focuses on evaluating skills in order to determine whether the project activities throughout the year were effectively carried out and the extent to which the stated objectives were met. (see Questionnaire)
QUESTIONNAIRE (ERASMUS + SMART UP EUROPE)
Dear students participating in the Erasmus+ programme titled “SmartUp Europe.” 
Thank you for taking the time to fill in this questionnaire. Your answers will provide valuable feedback for the coordinator of the programme in Germany.

•	First of all, why did you get involved in the programme? Did someone urge you to do so?
•	Which activity of the programme did you enjoy most and why?
•	Do you feel that you have acquired any new skills through the activities of this specific programme you have enganged in?

•	Have you encountered any difficulties so far during the activities of the programme?
•	Do you feel that you have got involved or should have got involved more efficiently in the activities of the programme?

•	Do you feel there is something that should change?  
The following questions need to be answered by placing a check mark in the appropriate box. Please note 1=poor and 5=excellent.

•	How much does this particular program emphasize in

•	furthering education or training beyond high school?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	building positive relationships?

             1       2       3        4        5

•	improving your communication skills?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	giving presentation and speeches?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	participating in school events e.g. volunteerism?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	developing creative ideas?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	using computer technology?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	acquiring skills for a job after completing high school?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	working with others to complete a task?

                    1       2       3        4        5

•	developing personal beliefs and values?

1       2       3        4        5

•	To what extent your participation in the programme has met your expectations?

1       2       3        4        5

•	To what extent has this participation encouraged or motivated your interaction with your schoolmates and teachers?

                          1       2       3        4        5

•	Are you satisfied with your overall participation in the programme? 

                          1       2       3        4        5

•	Methodology
Our project “SmartUp Europe for an optimistic Future” is all about gathering intelligence on current and future skills needed to support better matching of training and jobs which is of paramount importance for every country.
Students wanted to design a questionnaire to generate the key information and, therefore,  evaluate their contribution to the project. The questionnaire allowed them to self-assess a range of skills and to identify those that they many need to develop. It focused on different skills such as communication, interpersonal, and skills that assist learning. The questionnaire was given out to the seventeen (17) students  involved in the project.
•	Outcomes
The results of the skill evaluation questionnaire revealed the fact that students developed transferable skills. These skills include the ability to communicate effectively, to work in multidisciplinary teams and to be aware of the need for life-long learning. 
(see ppt presented by students)
•	Participants: Students from Paralimni Lyceum in Cyprus
Names of participants: Elena Andreou, Constantinos Stylianou and Maximos Leontiou

•	How this activity relates to our school curriculum
Questionnaire answers of all respondents can be evaluated using an Excel spreadsheet. This is a tool used in statistics and in computer courses taught in our school curriculum. It is a method that can be applied in many projects that students need to work during their university life. Students learn how to provide a data interpretation through which data is reviewed so that they can draw inferences from the collected facts. In fact, it is an essential process for research findings.
•	Benefits for the participants
The questionnaire was a tool for us in order to extract information on whether the Erasmus activities currently carried out have contributed to enhancing skills needed at school or after school and also see skill areas that need improving.