After two years of collaboration, creativity, and dedication, the HEDA project has successfully concluded, leaving a lasting impact on educators, students, and stakeholders across Europe. Funded by the Erasmus+ programme, HEDA brought together partners from Iceland, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Serbia, and Poland to explore how theatre, literature, and visual arts can transform the way students engage with civic and social issues.
The project achieved its ambitious goals by equipping teachers with innovative methodologies to address themes such as democracy, human rights, and social justice. Through hands-on workshops, training sessions, and an accessible e-learning platform, HEDA provided educators with tools to bring these critical topics to life in their classrooms. Over 200 teachers were trained, and the methodology reached thousands of students, inspiring dialogue and fostering critical thinking in schools across Europe. Key outputs of the HEDA project included:
Partner schools have committed to continuing the use of HEDA methodologies, and some are already working on expanding the approach through new initiatives and collaborations. In Iceland, the project has inspired an active network of educators, contributing to broader efforts to implement all schools in Reykjanes as UNESCO schools. Similarly, in Italy, participating schools are exploring new Erasmus+ proposals to build on HEDA’s foundation. So while the HEDA project has officially concluded, its influence will continue to grow. The project materials remain freely accessible on the HEDA website, ensuring that educators worldwide can integrate these techniques into their teaching. The HEDA partnership thanks all participants, educators, and stakeholders for their invaluable contributions. Together, we have reimagined citizenship education, creating a pathway for young people to engage deeply with the issues that shape our society. Though this chapter has ended, the spirit of HEDA lives on in classrooms and communities across Europe. For project results please visit our website: www.heda-project.eu On 29th August 2024, the Erasmus+ HEDA project held an engaging international online multiplier event, connecting educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore the use of theatre and art techniques in addressing social and political issues in the classroom. The two-hour Zoom session, which took place from 16:00 to 18:00 CET, attracted up to 79 participants, interested to discover how HEDA’s innovative methodology could enhance civic education across European schools.
This interactive event showcased how arts-based techniques—using elements like ancient tragedies, folk tales, paintings, and music—can be transformed through theatre to spark dialogue and reflection on complex societal themes. Presenters demonstrated the versatility of the HEDA methodology, illustrating how it could be seamlessly integrated into Citizenship Education, literature, and history courses to address topics such as democracy, social justice, and human rights. The session was filled with real-world insights, featuring testimonials and examples from educators across six participating countries: Iceland, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, and Poland. Each educator shared their experiences with implementing HEDA’s arts-based techniques, offering participants a range of practical strategies for fostering critical thinking and empathy in students. Participants were also introduced to the HEDA e-learning platform, which supports teachers in adopting the methodology at their own pace. The event agenda included a comprehensive overview of the project’s methodology, impactful testimonials from teachers, and thought-provoking discussions on how arts-based methods can deepen students’ understanding of civic issues. The success of the event not only facilitated knowledge sharing but also paved the way for future collaborations, highlighting the potential to sustain and expand HEDA’s impact throughout Europe. Hosted free of charge, the event underscored HEDA’s commitment to broadening access to innovative civic education techniques. More details about the HEDA methodology and resources for educators can be found on the project’s website, encouraging ongoing engagement and empowering educators to bring transformative, arts-based civic education to classrooms across Europe. GeoCamp Iceland coordinates and participates in the Erasmus+ funded project HEDA along with partners from Greece, Serbia, Italy, Poland and Belgium. On 28 January 2024, GeoCamp Iceland hosted a training seminar as part of the HEDA project at the Sudurnes Science and Learning Centre, with 12 teachers participating — 8 attending in person from local regional schools and additional four joining the session online. The event introduced educators to the innovative HEDA methodology, which integrates arts-based approaches like theatre, literature, and visual arts to engage students with social and civic issues, aiming to enhance democratic values and critical thinking in classrooms.
The training focused on practical applications of the methodology, including workshops led by experienced educators who demonstrated how these techniques could foster meaningful discussions on topics such as human rights, environmental issues, and social justice. The GeoCamp Iceland team that participated in the LTTA training session in Athens led sessions exploring how the HEDA method could be applied within the Icelandic educational context. Participants experienced hands-on exercises, including role-playing and interactive discussions, which showcased how these creative methods can captivate students’ interest and encourage empathy and reflective thinking. Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the relevance of arts-based techniques in making complex civic concepts accessible and engaging for students. Teachers noted that the HEDA methodology provided fresh strategies for classroom engagement, contrasting with traditional teaching methods. They also shared ideas on adapting the techniques to Icelandic curricula, particularly within subjects that address social and environmental issues. The Icelandic seminar fostered a strong network among local educators, sparking discussions about future collaborations and potential project expansions. GeoCamp Iceland’s commitment to supporting participants in implementing the HEDA approach was reinforced through plans for follow-up sessions and continuous support, ensuring the methodology’s integration into Icelandic schools and contributing to the ongoing success and sustainability of the HEDA project. For more information about the HEDA project please visit: www.heda-project.eu The third HEDA transnational meeting took place in Rome, Italy on 14 - 15 September 2023. The meeting included all project partners and was arranged by Galileo. Main focus for the meeting was on teacher training activities, impact assessment and e-learning course, as well as on general project management and dissemination activities. The HEDA Project proposes the introduction of art for the improvement of citizenship education in Europe, fact which will allow on the one hand to enhance the acquisition of social and civic competences, to foster knowledge, understanding and ownership of values and fundamental rights and on the other hand to enhance critical thinking among students and teachers. The HEDA project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
From Bertolt Brecht to Coolio and from Euripides to the Icelandic Sagas.
How we can teach citizenship education, democracy and human rights through the use of theatre and arts? A wonderful 4-day seminar organised in the framework of the HEDA project was completed in the Topos Allou Theatre in Athens with the participation of teachers and people working in the theatre from the six project partner countries (Greece, Iceland, Italy, Belgium, Poland and Serbia). In the framework of the seminar, the participants learned theatre techniques and examined ways through which social and political issues could be approached in secondary schools. Big thanks to the organising partner Action Synergy and participants from Dah Teatar, Hogeschool UCLL, Branżowa Szkoła and Galileo, as well as our Icelandic participants from Árskóli and Grunnskóli Grindavíkur primary schools. GeoCamp coordinates and participates in the Erasmus+ funded project HEDA along with partners from Greece, Serbia, Italy, Poland and Belgium.
The project will introduce art for the improvement of citizenship education in Europe, fact which will allow on the one hand to enhance the acquisition of social and civic competences, to foster knowledge, understanding and ownership of values and fundamental rights and on the other hand to enhance critical thinking among students and teachers. The first transnational project meeting took place in Iceland in August. For more information please visit https://heda-project.eu |
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