Abstract
Student Voice Conference, Cambridge 2014
The ArctiChildren project - a good example of giving voice and
space to students in an international cross-border network
Catrine Kostenius & Ulrika Bergmark
ArctiChildren projects co-ordinated by the University of Lapland have had a goal since 2002 to develop a cross-border network model and create new working methods for improving the psychosocial well-being, social environment and security of school-aged children in the Barents region. In Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia universities and colleges, as well as schools with cultural and environmental differences (rural/urban, sami/compulsory schools) have participated in the project. During 2006-2008, the project network constructed and published a book with cross-border training material for schools, a book called Crystals of schoolchildren’s well-being. Cross-boarder training material for
promoting well-being through school education. Teaching methods of the book are related to
social interaction and health promotion as well as utilizing the opportunities provided by art and culture in teaching. Download a free copy of the book:
http://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/67453/Crystals%20of%20Schoolchildren's.pdf. The recent phase of the project is called ArctiChildren InNet (2012-2014) – Empowering
School e-Health Model in the Barents region. It is based on the cross-border ArctiChildren
development and research activities implemented during 2003-2008. The overall objective of this phase of the project has been to improve the common challenges of the
schoolchildren ́s psychical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual health and well-being, security and cultural identity through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) applications in the Barents Region. New empowering e-Health and e-Learning approaches has been developed in the schools together with teachers, students, parents, and health care staff in the four countries of the Barents region. Some examples of this will be discussed focusing on how research and development goes hand in hand.
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