Case Study One day in the shoes of “The Other” Ireland Expectations My expectations of the course revolved around being able to better integrate learners from different cultures and backgrounds into my classroom. I had hoped to learn how to create a safe, inclusive and dynamic learning space where all learners felt valued, welcomed and comfortable. I also wanted to get resources and practices that will make me a better teacher and make me more aware of what are the best practices coming out of Europe, helping me to make sure that I am delivering the best quality in my classroom possible. I also, wanted to meet like-minded people on the course and be able to network with them. What have I learned? The opportunity to look at the move from the point of view of the migrant was really interesting and it was a great focus point for my learning because I was looking at it from my own perspective. The opportunity to see things from a different viewpoint helped me open my own mind to change and to prompt me to look at changing my approach The evidence and resources were a great help as they gave me new insights into the target group and also gave the target group the opportunity and tools to develop their own thinking and approaches to learning and integration to make the training more successful for them. I also met people in a similar position to myself and we used the opportunity to discuss various approaches and ideas that have worked for us in the past and we also discussed the tools in the Handbooks for Us & Them and how they could be used to make our service better. It is good to know that people are working on making our integration into one another’s cultures easier and more simple. This ability will be of great benefit to us as a society and also a benefit to our children when we pass on what we have learned. Participant’s quote “The need in society for all people to conform to a set standard also made reluctant in the past to try new things, after this training, I am now able and willing to push the boundaries in search of the path that will lead to proper, meaningful integration…” Thought for the Other The ability of people to see “a us” and not “a them” will be the measure of how we progress as a society. I hope that this project helps us on the road to making sure that in the future, there will be no “us” or “them”… Just a “we”!
Case Study One day in the shoes of “The Other” Italy Expectations I approached this course with few hopes that it could help me to understand how I can do the best to integrate myself in Italy, the country where I live and work. I must say that the course was a surprise: it provided me with new keys to open up doors that were previously closed, it has given me new perspectives and new approaches in respect to those who have culture, language, religion and habits different than mine. Comparisons with other subjects and others really helped me a lot to get to know new things. The method of approach provided to me in the course will help me certainly. What have I learned? The course made me understand first and foremost that we all have preconceptions about everything and everyone that they are different from us. This is fueled above all by a global oriented communication. When you know new realities, other than yours, when you structure a path without pre-established barriers, you realize that diversity is really a great wealth that unites and has no reason to divide. The course provided me with new ways of communicative and mental approach, opened my mind, gave me new realities and I have appreciated this method. The practical approach of the course was the most concrete aspect: I can replicate these experiences in everyday life. Participant’s quote “"Non-knowledge of diversity creates a wrong conception of diversity" "When you know and deepen cultures, languages, and traditions other than yours, you realize that they could be things that unify and not the ones that divide.” Thought for the Other I have understood that we must first know and interact with different people for cultures, traditions and religion, with the desire to learn and experiment, by putting aside preconceptions; when this happens, we would realize that the differences might not divide us so much.
Case Study One day in the shoes of “The Other” Romania Expectations My expectations for this course were related to finding ways to understand the people around me that don’t have the same culture/ religion/ ethnicity as I have. I wanted also to find out more about the country that I live in to be able to better adapt and behave in a proper way, to be accepted and considered integrating part of the society and avoid marginalization. On the other hand, I really hoped that this course will provide me the opportunity to interact and exchange opinions with other persons facing the same situation as I do: living in a community with different people (from so many points of view) and having difficulties in making myself respected. What have I learned? The course was such a surprising experience and it cannot be compared with any other type of activities that I have attended before. A very important section of the course was dedicated to the potential challenges that a learner can meet when moving in other country. These are very important aspects for a migrant, for example, in order to obtain a new qualification for a job. The most important thing is that together with emphasizing these challenges, we have been also provided with a set of instructions on how to deal with these difficult situations. All the topics were approached in a very practical way which included all the participants in the activities. This was the starting point for an inclusive community and helped us, the participants, to better understand each other’s cultures and ethnicities, the societal diversity and the real need for tolerance. By attending this course I learned that a wrong perception regarding differences may affect or influence our coexistence and that we are all important pieces in the process of creating a peaceful, secure and pleasant coexistence space. Participant’s quote “Western European communities tend to show reluctance when talking about other ethnicities, skin color, religions. They rarely put in discussion living together or accepting to receive with open arms new people from other country, but this course really brought to light how interesting can be interacting and living in multicultural societies. I realized that despite all the differences between us, we’re not so different after all! ”