The multiplier event of the project "I Have Rights", entitled Human Rights at School, was held on June 9, 2018. The event took place in Martim de Freitas school-group and it was organized with the support of the Minerva Teachers Training Centre. There were 30 participants, teachers from secondary and primary schools and preschools. The Minerva Teachers Training Centre soon became interested in the contents that the event intended to deal with so it was of great help in the event’s dissemination.
The classes were given by lecturers/trainers with experience in the topics and the contents were as follows.
- Introduction to human rights / Rights of the child
- Integration of refugees through education
- Education for human rights
- Non-formal education and human rights education
The teachers attended the classes, becoming involved in them, participating in the dynamics and showing some knowledge in the area, but also demonstrating the need to include more and more themes on Human Rights in the education system.
The project was presented with an extensive description of its purpose and several phases. Particularly interesting was the presentation of case studies where teachers were enthusiastic about what is being done in the field of Human Rights Education, having participated and shared some situations that are happening in schools. Above all, the relaxed environment was helpful in allowing for a greater sense of sharing and cooperation. The participants understood and valued the importance of the future publication, considering it to be quite pertinent.
In conclusion, the multiplier event proved the urgency of continuing to explore human rights issues in school contexts. The receptivity of the teachers was very positive, showing great interest, especially in the framework of the "I Have Rights" project, where the integration of students belonging to other cultures is a very popular issue, due to the arrival and integration of refugees in Portugal. It is realised the importance of addressing these issues, involving students in non-formal education activities. The event turned out to be a knowledge sharing event, where everyone participated, giving their opinions and sharing experiences, paving the way for other collaborations.