OSD 3^rd implementation workshop had a twofold aim:

• On the one hand present the training framework of the project at its current status, highlighting the importance of the 1^st, reflective phase, so as to map the needs of the learning environment and of the educator’s preconceptions and attitude and decide on the process, milestones and adaptations of framework implementation.
• On the other elaborate on the activities each educator wishes to implement, realize the spectrum of those available in the framework and adapt those already used, so as to meet the needs of migrant/ refugee parents.

To this end participants of several schools and NGOs targeting migrants and refugees were invited to a 4 hours workshop; some of them were newly comers, some others had participated in focus group workshop and some others to the 1^st implementation phase workshop.

In parallel with OSD training framework the basic outline and certain activities of two thematically close projects were presented; PISEA project (www.pisea.ea) aiming at strengthening educators’ intercultural competences and TEC project (http://www.enquiring-project.eu) focusing on the support of teachers and students, when engaging in difficult ethical conversations about identity, religions and beliefs, democratic values, diversity, in order to establish a firm foundation for inclusive and tolerant schools and classrooms.

Workshop participants split in group activities; institutional changes and personal redefinitions, as critical parts of schools’ and educators’ journey to parental engagement.

Participants’ feedback was very positive, they found both the reflective and the hands on activities’ part well designed and fit for purpose and expressed their intention to follow up with their schools within the next weeks.

Under this perspective it was handed to them, and then sent with all power point presentations, the simplified version of their school’s action plan, which were asked to fill in and update accordingly.

Within the next weeks an activity template will be circulated asking to record the activities they have implemented at school, with the view to assigning to migrant / refugee parents a more meaningful and active role in school life and at the same time assessing the training framework impact per se at a long term basis.

A step forward: an activity particularly relevant to making links between the different generations of rights (civil/political and social/economic/cultural rights), the access/ non access to them, the idea of empathy and putting yourself to the shoes of another person.

The first part of the workshop was a brief description of the project and presentation of the results of literature review and focus groups across Europe. Mrs Evangelia Boufardea, from CTI “Diophantus”, introduced participants in the OSD philosophy and aims presenting the project and the recommendations for the schools/school leaders/teachers according to user needs’ analysis report. Afterwards, Mrs Anna Zoakou, from Ellinogermaniki Agogi, presented the online Open School Doors Training Programme. She explained the content of each section and how could they could go through it; the main idea was to provide an overview of the training materials, in a brief but yet quite detailed manner, with the view to familiarizing participants with its rationale and didactic potential.

The next step was to engage participants to make an artifact which represented how they perceive the parental engagement with newly arrived people in their school. The participants desired to be in one team and cooperated and made a really interesting construction. They presented their artifact and the idea was very intriguing and inspiring despite the simplicity of the construction.

The second part of the workshop was totally hands on and for this reason very interesting for the participants. Mrs Aliki Giannakopoulou, from Ellinogermaniki Agogi, involved participants in a series of activities in order to show them, that there are several ways to approach people who do not speak the same language with you. Two activities took place a) Puzzle and b) Multisensory experience. Both activities intrigued participants and they felt excited.

Participants’ feedback was very positive for the workshop and they are looking forward more inspiring activities from us for applying them in the next school year in their school.

Indicative pictures from the workshop follow:

Here you can see the video where participants explain their construction (the video is temporarily available only in Greek).