The Inclusion and Diversity in Education (INDIE) project unites policy makers in the field of Education and Inclusion with head teachers, teachers and ‘young leaders’ – (pupils drawn from participating schools) from nine European countries: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Between April 2007 and January 2008, every participating country organised training sessions in ‘leadership in culturally diverse schools’ for 50 pupils aged 13 to 16 from selected schools. All pupils had the opportunity to debate on the subject of inclusion and diversity and to develop their skills in communication and team working. Under the guidance of professional trainers, they also learnt to develop ideas and express them to others through a three-day training session. At the end of the training session, pupils voted for one delegate from their school to go to the Brussels Conference (see below) as their representative. A second training session involving new Young Leaders has been organised in all countries this autumn. Each participating school has now 20 trained Young Leaders ready to promote INDIE in their schools. That is now more than 850 Young Leaders across Europe!
The British Council conducted research across 47 schools in Europe; over 3,500 children have been surveyed and the results were presented at the Brussels Conference on Inclusion and Diversity in Education.
Read the complete survey
Students, teachers and decision makers from all participating countries came together in Brussels from 26 until 29 February 2008 and agreed on a European Youth Charter on Inclusion and Diversity in Education, based on their experiences within schools throughout Europe. This Youth Charter will form the basis of future initiatives and programmes aimed at establishing best practice in managing culturally inclusive schools. All partners will have vital parts to play in ensuring that the Youth Charter on Inclusion and Diversity in Education is fundamental to starting the process of development and change.
During the presentation of the European Charter on Inclusion and Diversity in Education in Brussels, the Young Leaders performed a poem expressing their feelings and opinions on the subject. The poem was composed by the young people during a workshop with British poet Levi Tafari (click here to read the interview ). Read the Intercultural Poem
Throughout this academic year Levi Tafari will be leading workshops in all participating schools with a view to publishing an anthology of poetry which reflects European youth experience on inclusion and diversity. The following cluster groups will collaborate on the INDIE project:
- Germany – Netherlands – Wales
- Spain – Portugal – Greece – Scotland
- Italy – Belgium – England – Malta
Head teachers, school coordinators and partners of the different cluster groups met in April and May 2008 to finalise the school projects they feel will best put the European Youth Charter on Inclusion and Diversity into practice. Between September 2008 and June 2009, the 50 INDIE schools will each work on two projects within their country cluster group.
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