Cultural bridge between Estonia and Georgia – Tartu Annelinna Gymnasium`s experience of Erasmus+ Hiie Asser & Jelena Bitova Tartu Annelinna Gymnasium Estonia

About our projects: general features Tartu Annelinna Gymnasium has participated in two Erasmus+ projects: -„The common values of different cultures“ in 2014 (actions in Tartu) -„Architecture as a culture carrier“ in 2015 (actions in Tbilisi) Tbilisi Public school Nº 98 (Georgia) was our partner in both projects. First project: 26 students and 4 teachers / ,40 € Second Project: 27 students and 5 teachers / ,00 € The costs were divided: travel allowance 45%, management support 55% of the total amount.

The benefit of the project that pupils receive Participating in youth projects enables students to acquire a range of competences that broaden their horizons and shape their competence through non-formal education. Throughout the projects students: -were guided to see themselves as a carrier driver and an intermediary of culture; -to be tolerant and respectful of other cultures' representatives, their values, traditions and creation; -to deplore discrimination; -to get to know and value their own and other's cultural heritage and peculiarities; -to have cultural contacts and behave respectfully to other cultures' representatives and their cultural heritage.

Creation of beneficial conditions to develop different competences Students have written in their Youth Passes that participating in these projects developed the following competences: communication in mother tongue (Russian); communication in foreign languages (English); mathematical competence in science and technology; digital competence; learning to learn; social and civic competences; sense on initiative and entrepreneurship; cultural awareness and expression.

The results of the project looking form pupils perspective The participants of the projects got information about each others culture, history, democratic values. The projects activities helped to introduce education options to Estonian minorities and culture to Georgian minorities' representatives and vice versa. The projects activities were directed to Estonian / Georgian culture, history and to study European Union's democratic values. After participating in the first project, two students used the received information and contacts to write the second project „Architecture as a cultural medium“. The projects gave students the opportunity of studying a new culture, the opportunity of travelling and learning about themselves and the world.

The experience of implementation, difficulties, human resource of project administration Tartu Annelinna Gymnasium's three teachers, 2 students of 11 th grade and the project leader of Tbilisi school Nº 98 participated in writing the projects of „The common values of different cultures“ and „Architecture as a culture carrier“. The difficulties writing the project were not impassable. The experience, new contacts, the things seen and heard were worth it. Some of the difficulties were: Different understanding of timing; The language barrier; Some ICT area difficulties; Lack of knowledge of customs and traditions

Reached results and how they will be used in the future Participating in Erasmus+ projects helps the youth shape and develop their competences which are in the Estonian curriculum. Project team has obtained better understanding of international cooperation in education. Therefore, we are also interested in the youth projects in the future. We would especially be interested in joint projects with our neighbouring countries like the Nordic countries, Latvia and Lithuania in order to expand our cultural contacts.