Project Name: MUTUAL UNDESTANDING THROUGH CIVIC EDUCATION ON BOTH BANKS OF DNIESTER

Project location: Republic of Moldova, incl. Transnistria
Project duration: may 2016 – february 2017

Project summary:
Project ”Mutual understanding through civic education on both banks of Dniester” is an initiative that aims to improve relations and build long-term peace in Moldova, including the regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia, through the introduction of an intercultural school course. Initiated by civil society, it brings together NGOs, teachers, government and educational officials in implementing the school course. Through this project, approx. 30 schools and 700 children spread around Moldova and its regions will be piloting the 3rd grade, strengthening tolerance and cooperation between the different groups.

Objectives:

• To launch for the first time a process of a joint development and implementation of educational subject in the school of the Republic of Moldova and its breakaway region  Transnistria, a process already enabling more than 2000 children from the two sides to acquire new social skills of intercultural communication and cooperation;
• To develop, test and introduce innovative teaching methods with diverse content and cultural heritage, and thus increase the understanding of the cultural diversity;
• To increase mutual understanding and solidarity between separated areas through meetings and collaborations, among organizations and educational institutions of different countries and regions;
• To provide the Moldovan, incl. Transnistrian educational system with knowledge, skills (trainings) and instruments (schoolbooks, manuals, guides) for professional educational activities to improve intercultural tolerance at the preschool and elementary school level;

Beneficiaries:
Direct beneficiaries are all teachers (30) and pupils (700) at the pilot schools, who will be affected by the course and its teachings. Indirect beneficiaries are parents of the pilot school children, as well their broader communities.

Activities:

• Development of teaching material by the working groups;
• Schoolbook design and printing;
• Training of Trainers, Chisinau;
• Teacher trainings, Chisinau and Tiraspol (3rd grade);
• Piloting the schoolbooks in 30 schools (3rd grade);
• Monitoring and evaluation of pilot schools (3rd grade);
• Teacher evaluation conference, project follow-up;

The project partners:

• “Center of Innovative Educational and Social Programs of Transnistria”, Tiraspol.
• “Integration and Development Center”, Ukraine
• The Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)
• Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society, Sweden

Expected Results
Outputs:

• Completed adaptation of the educational component “Culture of Good Neighbourhood”. Materials produced in both Russian and Romanian main languages, for 3rd  grade students;
• School materials informing about different traditions and cultures. At least four different cultural groups/traditions/languages appear in each schoolbook. These are presented positively and the children are engaged to participate in the various cultural expressions;
• Printed schoolbooks and teacher manuals. Books and manuals for 700 children and 30 teachers;
• Trainings in the school course and its interactive methods performed. Total of 30 teachers during 2 days;
• School course presented and its approbation has successfully started, involving approximately 700 children in 3rd grade of schooling. Approbation of one year in 30 primary schools covering a range of regions. If already measurable: positive indication of school children’s behavior/attitudes;
• Systematic meetings between creative groups, involved NGOs, teachers and government representatives;
• Future continuation formulated. Target: Agreed upon project continuation, both NGOs, educators and government representatives supportive. Formulated and planned for the following school year’s working groups with added elements of joint meetings and trainings.

Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge and positive notions about surrounding cultural groups, arts, languages and traditions among approx. 700 children in different parts of Moldova, including Transnistria and the Gagauz autonomy;
• School teachers are introduced to and trained to use interactive teaching methods in civic and multicultural education;
• NGOs on both sides of the Dniester participated in school curricula creation and cooperated with educational ministries and institutions;
• Information and experiences shared between teachers and educational specialists from different regions and countries;
• Educational representatives and project participants found common interests and agreed upon deepened cooperation.

Impact:             
To strengthen the relations between the regions and the intercultural schooling in Moldova, including Transnistria, through the development and implementation of a peaceful neighborhood course in cooperation across borders and between government agencies and civil society organizations.

Sustainability:
The involved organizations, schools and teachers are committed to creating a sustainable education for the future. The printing of materials, manuals and trainings for teacher creates resources that will last for many years to come. Most importantly – the project achievements are sustainable by their nature – even if the external partners participation would stop after this project, the course will continue to be taught at schools in Moldova-Transnistria.