Davitt College

DAVITT COLLEGE COMENIUS PROJECT

"We are all citizens of one world, we are all of one blood".
(Jan Amos Comenius (1592-1670))

Background

Jan Amos Comenius, a Czech teacher, scientist and writer, is known as the 'teacher of nations'. Born in 1592, he is often considered the father of modern education.
'Comenius' is a European Union school partnership programme, named after the man who worked tirelessly for education across Europe in the 1600s. His birthday, March 28th, is celebrated as Teachers' Day in many parts of Eastern Europe.

The Comenius programme was set up to develop knowledge and understanding, among young people and teachers, of the diversity of European cultures, languages and values.
It offers students opportunities to travel throughout the European Union, creating links with pupils in their international partnerships.
Students are able to broaden their horizons,develop interests in other countries and improve their own social skills, self-confidence and motivation for learning at the same time.

Davitt College & Comenius Project

Last year Davitt College signed a two-year multilateral partnership agreement with Holly Lodge Girls' College in Liverpool, and with Istituto D'Istruzione Superiore 'V Moretti' in Roseto, Italy.
The three schools established contact through their European Studies group, and exchange information throughout the year in the form of personal and school profiles, postcards, powerpoint presentations and Europe Day activities.
Last year each school began work on their part of the Comenius project.
Davitt College students researched conflict generated by a painful part of Ireland's history and its present day legacy. Students worked in groups and created a visual display through the form of posters. Transition Year students travelled to Ballycastle, Co. Antrim to the Corrymeela Centre for Reconciliation. They met with people affected by the Troubles, learned about Ireland's past and took part in workshops and team-building exercises for the weekend.

Last year another element of the project involved travelling to Liverpool, to take part in the Human Rights Youth Arts Festival.
Each school contributed to the week-long festival, and took part in a sponsored relay race along the Liverpool Docklands. Students from the three schools designed and created peace-themed mosaic tiles and took part in a model UN General Assembly. The week tied in with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Liverpool's European Capital of Culture Year.

Student visit to Davitt College

Last March, students from Roseto and Holly Lodge travelled to Castlebar.
The visiting students were hosted by Davitt College families and spent time in Westport, Galway, Ballintubber, Foxford and Dublin.
They took part in a climb of the Reek and sampled Irish dancing during their stay. They also enjoyed the spectacle of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Galway City.
The three schools laid the foundation stones of their mosaic tile 'Peace Path' which will form part of the new Castlebar River Walk. The ceremony in the grounds of Marsh House was attended by the Mayor of Castlebar, Kevin Guthrie,along with members of the urban council, and teachers from the three schools involved.

Davitt College students' planned trip to Italy

Next April, Davitt College and Holly Lodge students will travel to Italy, for the final part of the project.
15 Davitt College students will represent our school in various activities, including an environmentally-friendly fashion show, wearing costumes made of recycled materials. The students are currently working on these costumes, and a large amount of recycled material has been collected .

The students will also produce a dvd on local history, which will be shown in Italy.
The trip to Italy will be a wonderful cultural experience, and the group are really looking forward to the week long trip.
Earlier this year they updated their personal profiles, created new school profiles and continue to maintain communication links with the students from their EU partnership schools.

One of the most important benefits of the Comenius partnership is that it helps combat social exclusion, racism and xenophobia, as well as promoting intercultural education.