In the afternoon of June 30th, during the summer school of the European Values and Migration (EUAMI) project promoted by the University of Padua and CesUE, the five partner schools presented themselves, outlining activities, sharing experiences, and explaining the projects carried out during the year.
From June 29th to July 4th, the EUAMI summer school, led by the University of Padua, brings together a dynamic network of six educational realities: high schools from Bulgaria (Emilian Stanev SU), Italy (Enrico Fermi Institute of Mantua and Canossa Campus of Brescia), Poland (Zespół Szkół Administracyjno-Ekonomicznych), and Spain (Sant Josep Obrer), as well as Euractiv Italia, a media partner specialized in EU affairs, and the research centre CesUE as co-organizer.
Canossa Campus from Brescia opened the session by telling the story of its founder Maddalena di Canossa and the importance of education in shaping a person’s entire life. At the heart of their identity is the olive tree, symbol of peace and global harmony, nourished symbolically with soil from countries where students study abroad. Their international outlook is mirrored by their participation in Erasmus projects and Model United Nations (MUN), an internship in the Philippines, a summer school in England, and the remembrance trip “Un treno per Auschwitz”. Their commitment to peace is also shown by “Percorri la pace”, a project born in 2011 combining bike trips with human rights discussions and reflection.
The Enrico Fermi Institute of Mantua, the latter being a UNESCO heritage city, highlighted its scientific and technical courses, with particular attention to astronomy, and showed its interlink with philosophy through projects such as Filomatica, which merges mathematics with philosophical reflection. Students spoke about the dual Italian-American diploma programme, language certifications, trips to the UK, and especially the prestigious MUN in New York: “A formal and immersive experience that helped us understand how the United Nations works.”
Emilian Stanev School of Veliko Tarnovo based in Bulgaria emphasised its versatility through its four profiles: Software, Fine Arts, Music, and Graphic Design. Strong attention is given to the European dimension through Erasmus+, the project “Art is Everywhere”, and award-winning sports activities. Students highlighted the importance of volunteering and active citizenship, such as in the initiative “Be good, do good”, which provided concrete support to 500 elderly people. “We want to know new cultures, learn more about how the EU tackles environmental challenges, and promote solidarity,” they said.
Me, us… and Europe: a day of training on representation within the EUAMI project
The ZSAE school complex in Poland, comprising 473 students, presented its four economic-administrative curricula and innovative projects such as Radio Ekonomik and the student magazine Ekonomaniak. Particularly significant was their participation in the National Bank of Poland’s Golden Schools competition, which educates young people on financial literacy and security.
Finally, students from Sant Josep Obrer in Spain presented themselves through music: “We never get tired of music, so we sing you a song,” an expression of their school’s values of hospitality and respect for differences. They showed strong connections between school subjects and the European Union: from philosophy (“Freedom”) to chemistry (the Green Deal), through mathematics, history, and literature. “We learned to see Europe in everything we study.”
Debating about migration with the Europe Direct at ZSAE school
The various presentations reflected a thoughtful and meaningful moment of European dialogue that gave voice to young people, the true protagonists of the EUAMI project.
