“Shaping Advocates” is a field research that explores the role and potential of elementary education especially in empowering students and future adult citizens in participating more creatively in Commons.
COMM’ON is leading one of the 4 prototype local projects, implemented in the framework of Tandem Regions.
These prototypes aim to support local peripheral communities in issues that are relevant for local development and at the same time work as prototypes of translocal collaboration and exchange among the organizations – members of the Tandem network and the local communities around them.
*Read more about Tandem Regions Program here
“Shaping Advocates” is a field research that explores the role and potential of elementary education in empowering students and future adult citizens in participating more creatively in Commons. The project is developing in 2 phases and targets elementary education teachers. .
Phase 1 aims to map (a) the reality of Civic Education in Greek elementary schools and (b) the difficulties teachers face in their (potential) role as “mediators” between students and local administration.
Phase 2 aims to support teachers in this mediation role by co-developing educational material and courses that will support their capacities and knowledge on civic participation.
RESULTS:
Phase 1 of the project was completed with the publication of the research results. Included in the results is a series of the participating teachers’ interviews (in greek).
You can download the booklet here
In this phase we worked with 5 out of the 6 elementary schools of the city of Messolonghi, Greece. The research focused on one to one interviews with 14 teachers.
Five of the participating teachers also implemented, in their classrooms, with their students, a small workshop on participation and advocacy practices towards local administration.
This first phase also included an extended workshop-meeting with members of the local municipal board of the Messolonghi, where we discussed (a) the results gathered from local schools & (b) administration‘s needs and practices on how to collect and respond to citizens feedback on policies.
Phase 2 will be developed and presented by the end of 2023.
Where: Messologhi, Greece
When: May 2022-March 2023