������Ƶ

This project combines two topics which are highly relevant for second level school students. Students from Germany and Ireland will work together to investigate topics, develop their awareness and expand their knowledge in these areas. They will use both German and English throughout and experience cultural aspects of each country. Following the pandemic, there has been a huge emphasis on the well-being and mental health of our young people. As part of this project, students will participate in a self-care workshop in Dublin which will support young people to develop an awareness of how they care for their physical and mental health. They will learn about the psychology behind stress response and how to support the teen brain to regulate. Tools for managing emotions will be introduced with a focus on present moment awareness. Meditation, self-reflection through journal prompts, intention setting and letting go through art will also be included. Supporting young people to create mindful moments in their day will help them to manage stress, build resilience and foster better relationships. This workshop aims to get creative in finding ways to be mindful which are accessible to young people. Mindful connection which involves laughter for example, decreases heart rate, improves immune responses, reduces pain, increases mood, relieves stress and releases endorphins. The workshop will end with a guided meditation and sound bath. Technology and the environment are at the forefront of our daily lives. During the second part of this project in Jülich, students will learn about digital manufacturing and the vast opportunities digital engineering has to offer. Digital manufacturing is being used in many disciplines, such as building prostheses, the replication of art and of course in the environmental sector. Students will learn how to build and program an automatic irrigation system. In the process they will learn about coding and 3D printing. The irrigation system will then be used for a Green Wall - a vertical design of plants attached to a wall said to boost well being and thus learning in the classroom. They will start planning this wall via TwinSpace before they meet in Germany where they will put theory into practice. This project is also a cultural and language exchange. All discourse will be bilingual in English and German. Part of the encounter will also be an approach to Irish culture and history via Irish language, Irish music and sports, and a guided tour of Dublin about the 1916 Rising and the foundation of the Irish Republic. In Germany, the students will visit Aachen and learn about its history and about the prosecution of Jewish people there during the Second World War.