G. Despott JL in Comenius school project

Following a preliminary visit to Gyor, Hungary, in January 2003, by Emmanuel Schembri and me, two members of staff of Guzeppi Despott Boys' Junior Lyceum, Cospicua, the enthusiasm during the first year of our Comenius experience caught quickly throughout this scholastic year.

The theme of our Comenius school project is "Fighting Stereotypes in European Nations". Our partner schools are Gimnazjum im Jana Pawla II of Poland, Petz Lajos Egescsegugyi Kozepiskola of Gyor, Hungary, and Sekundarschule Zoberberg of Dessau, Germany.

The students directly involved in the project are fourth form students who in a brainstorming session jotted down what they knew about the countries of our partner schools. At the end of the project the students will compare their accumulated knowhow with their former situation when they first came to know about the partner schools.

In October and December the students prepared models, charts and projects based on research work regarding the participating countries. An exhibition was then put up, including a caricature gallery which depicted the stereotypes of various nationalities. Models on display included dammed rivers, common in Northern Europe where rainfall is much higher than in Malta, and a hydro-electric power station.

The students created farms typical of our rural areas and the stalagmites at Ghar Hasan. Several charts showed the players of the various national football teams. Others indicated places of interest in Poland, Hungary, Germany and Malta. Students also found information about the typical dishes cooked in the various countries.

However the highlight of the first term was the project meeting held in Malta in December. The Comenius Organising Team, made up of Mr Schembri, Ms A. Gulic, Mr E. Lufi, Ms M. Gatt and myself, welcomed to our school three Polish teachers and six students, including a male student. From the Hungarian school the principal, vice-principal and three teachers came over together with two female and two male students, while two teachers and two male students came from Dessau. Our guests had the opportunity to visit our school, which is rich in history, as it is part of the retrenchment of the British fortress of Verdala. They viewed our Comenius exhibition and visited several classes.

Then each partner school gave a presentation in the school hall. Warren Busuttil of Form IV B explained why Comenius should inspire us all. Then we had several sketches by Ms N. Oliviero, who teaches German, one entitled "The individual - not the stereotype refugee" acted by the members of the Geoclub I organised, a scene within a typical English pub organised by Ms Gulic, teacher of English and finally the play organised by the teacher of Maltese, Ms D. Muscat, based on Maltese stereotypes. Then I spoke about the special quiz, organised by the Environmental Department on world conflicts and peace movements. For this activity a big world map was drawn in the school yard by the art teacher, Mr K. Balzan, and his students. The photo gallery of this activity was shown on the big screen.

The Polish team gave a powerpoint presentation about the partner schools and then through music, song and dance took us on a tour round Europe. The German group gave us a detailed tour of Dessau and the students presented a list of questions on further details they wanted to know about our countries. The Hungarian group spoke about their country and ended by giving us a taste of their delicacies.

Thanks to the transport service covered by the EUPU, we were able to take our foreign guests to visit various sites, including Valletta, Mdina, the Crafts Village of Ta' Qali, Wied iz-Zurrieq, Ghajn Tuffieha, Paradise Bay, Bugibba and Cirkewwa. The group had time to watch the Malta Experience and visit the Maritime Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, St John's Co-Cathedral and Mdina Cathedral. They also experienced a Maltese festa when we visited Cospicua for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Polish group also attended the game played at the National Stadium by their national football team, to which they gave vociferous support.

During this meeting in Malta the co-ordinators and contact persons of the four schools discussed the plans for the second year of this project and reported about their experiences so far. Mr Joe Huber, headmaster of Guzeppi Despott JL hosted a farewell dinner for the group.

Since then, contact has been kept alive by e-mail. We are now choosing the best representatives who will join the teachers for the second project meeting to be held in Poland in September. The various teams who have submitted their names are now busy working on the various tasks that have been allotted to them.

This year the Annual Geo Exhibition has been linked to our Comenius school project. In fact the title chosen is "European differences and Similarities". The best items handed in by the students will be put on display at the Polish school during the second project meeting.

Ms DeBattista is co-ordinator of the Comenius school project