EUROPEAN NETWORK OF TESTIMONY-BASED DIGITAL EDUCATION
An ERASMUS+ project
06/2021 - 05/2023
Civic Education in the Netherlands
The new Civic Education law in the Netherlands, which went into effect on the 1st of August 2021, requires schools to work towards civic engagement and social cohesion in a more systematic way than before. Specifically, schools are expected to focus on human rights and freedoms, work towards civic competences and develop knowledge of and respect towards all groups in society. Our project was called into life to help educators across Europe work towards these competences in an engaging way.
European Network of Testimony-based Digital Education
The European Network of Testimony-based Digital Education is an ERASMUS+ strategic partnership between the Zachor Foundation, based in Hungary, Human-ed, in the Netherlands.
OpenEye, in the Czech Republic and the Jewish History Association of South Wales (JHASW), in Wales, UK.
The partnership was inspired by the need for sustainable digital materials that offer a firm methodology rooted in democratic values. This civic education programme equips teachers across Europe with locally relevant content, based on the Shoah Foundation’s unique archive of digital survivor testimonies. With the help of the testimonies, students reflect on human rights and freedoms, and develop civic competences.
Within the Dutch context, a series of 10 lessons will be developed, focusing on topics that are relevant for the Dutch context, but often carry a wider, more international perspective as well.
Tackling topics such as discrimination, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, identity, resistance and solidarity, the lessons will aim to help students reflect on the society they live in, challenges that they and others face, and their role as citizens to uphold human rights and freedoms.
Throughout the duration of the project, a sounding board of teachers and other educators will be consulted, in order to ensure the lessons are well-aligned with teachers’ needs. As part of the project, a training programme will also be developed, in order to support participants of the sounding board, and other educators in effectively using the teaching and learning materials.
ERASMUS+
The European Network of Testimony-based Digital Education: Development of Key Competences and Civic Engagement (ENTDE) project is supported by ERASMUS+ program of the European Commission (Call 2020 Round 1 KA2 - Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices; KA226 - Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness).