NEWS

From 14 to 16 October 2026, an international workshop took place on the island of Ventotene, Italy, within the framework of the Jean Monnet Project ERASMUS-JMO-2025-NETWORKS-SCHOOLS – Teachers for Youth Ambassadors (TYA), Grant Agreement No. 101238699. Technical organization and coordination provided by: Confine Mondo Association. The project is coordinated by 149 High School “Ivan Hadjiiski”, Sofia, Bulgaria.

The meeting brought together representatives of partner schools and organisations from Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Poland. They share a common commitment to promoting active European citizenship and developing innovative educational practices that prepare young people to participate responsibly in Europe’s democratic life.

The workshop focused on exchanging experiences, reviewing project progress and developing practical educational resources. Participants worked collaboratively on integrating innovative teaching methodologies, interactive activities and digital tools into citizenship education. Particular attention was given to co-teaching, lesson planning and the development of learning materials designed to encourage critical thinking, collaboration and meaningful student participation.

The choice of Ventotene as the workshop venue also carried special symbolic significance. The island is closely associated with the history of the European idea and the Ventotene Manifesto, one of the foundational texts of European federalism. Exploring the island’s historical and cultural heritage provided participants with an opportunity to reflect more deeply on the values of European unity, peace, democracy and solidarity.

The workshop reaffirmed the importance of partnerships between European schools as a platform for exchanging ideas, developing innovative pedagogical approaches and building a shared vision for the future of education. Through the TYA project, teachers are not only strengthening their professional competences but also preparing students to become informed, engaged and responsible European citizens.

The 4th international regular meeting of TYA – Teachers for Youth Ambassadors (Project No. 1012386GG, ERASMUS-JMO-2025-NETWORKS-SCHOOLS) was held on 23 May. Representatives of all partner countries—Bulgaria, Czechia, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Romania—were present.

During the meeting, the following topics were discussed:

- Analysis of the results of the Active Citizenship course as part of a shared evaluation process;

- Identification of teacher pairs who will jointly deliver lessons to students in the upcoming school year;

- Review of the schedule for the innovative methodology workshops, including possible adjustments to maximize participation;

- Update on the organization of the workshop trip to Ventotene;

- Communication of the selected students who will join the Student Social Team and planning of the first welcome meeting;

- Update on project visibility materials and dissemination activities;

- Presentation and discussion of the results of the initial questionnaire;

- Exchange of views on collaboration among partners and the overall working atmosphere;

The meeting was conducted in a friendly and cooperative atmosphere.