| Cultural
Exchange
Context
This
is an exchange between the Santa Maria degli Angeli Institute (upper
secondary school) in Rome and Kalay High School, Giv'ataim – Tel
Aviv
Learning
objectives
i.
Provide direct, meaningful experience of dialogue between young people
in order to lay the foundations for mutual respect and understanding.
ii. Embed a culture of peace in everyday life.
iii. Develop knowledge and understanding of the culture of young Israelis.
iv. Develop knowledge and understanding of the culture of young Italian
Christians.
Teaching
strategies
| Preparatory
period in the two schools: |
1 |
Preparatory
classes |
2 |
Preparation
of written texts and/or PowerPoint presentations |
3 |
Introductory
exchange of e-mails between pupils participating in the scheme |
4 |
Photographic
exhibitions "Sources" (Hanan Isachar) and "Pope John
Paul II’s pilgrimage to Israel” (photographs by Dan
Nataf, in our Institute). |
| |
| During
the exchange itself: |
1 |
Formation
of the working group (22 young Italians and 18 young Israelis). |
2 |
Daily
presentations to the group of work prepared in advance, followed
by time for asking questions and sharing impressions and experiences. |
3 |
Meetings
with the officials who backed the project (S. E. Mons. Giuseppe
Pittau and Mons. Vincenzo Zani, Secretary and Under-Secretary of
the Congregation for Catholic Education, respectively; S. E. Yosef
Neville Lamdan, Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Zvi Tal,
cultural adviser at the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See). |
4 |
Meeting
with the Chairman of Rome City Council, Mr Giuseppe Mannino, and
Dr Franca Eckert Coen, Multiethnic Policy adviser to the Mayor of
Rome. |
5 |
Meetings
with experts involved in promoting inter-faith dialogue (Prof. Joseph
Sievers, professor of Jewish History and Literature of the Hellenistic
Period at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome; Ms Usa Palmieri,
representative in Italy for the Anti-Defamation League). |
6 |
Meeting/celebration
at the Jewish Lycée, Via della Penitenza – Rome, in
the presence of the Director, staff and pupils of the school, Ambassador
Lamdan and prominent members of Rome’s Jewish community. |
7 |
In
the evening, 5-aside football match between Italy and Israel, with
the participation of pupils from the Jewish School. |
8 |
Guided
tours. |
|
a.
Archaeological zone (the Roman Forum), Coliseum, San Pietro in Vincoli
(St Peter in Chains). |
|
b.
Synagogue and Museum, Church of St. Bartholomew (Isola Tiberina),
Trastevere. |
|
c.
Baroque areas of Rome (Piazza Navona, San Luigi dei Francesi, Piazza
del Popolo, Caravaggio). |
|
d.
Capitoline museum, Trevi fountain, Piazza di Spagna. |
|
e.
Borghese Gallery. |
|
f.
National Gallery of Modern Art (XIXth century) and the Villa Borghese. |
|
g.
Vatican museums and St Peter’ |
9 |
Visit
to the Institute’s Chapel. |
10 |
Participation
in Hanukkah and Shabbat celebrations. |
11 |
Roma-Juventus
match at Rome’s Olympic Stadium. |
Partnership
| i. |
Israeli Embassy to the Holy See - Rome |
| ii. |
ii. Congregation for Catholic Education – Vatican |
| iii. |
Kalay High School – Tel Aviv, Israel |
| iv. |
Focolari Movement – Via Valnerina 51 – 00199 Rome |
| v. |
Rencontres Romaines – Via Crescenzio 43/A/13 – 00193
Rome |
| vi. |
"Suore
della Carità del Santo Bambino Gesù" |
Themes
addressed
| i. |
Life
of a young person in Israel/Italy today (with special emphasis on
dealing with conflict situations – compulsory military service/conscientious
objection). |
| ii. |
Being
descendants of families who personally experienced the Holocaust |
| iii. |
Being
a student in Israel/Italy |
| iv. |
Being
Jewish (identity-traditions) / being Jewish in Israel |
| v. |
Being
Christian / non-practising Christian |
| vi. |
The
international news media as seen by young Israelis |
Number
of participants in the group
Israel:
18; Italy: 22. Aged: between 16 and 18 years.
Persons
directly involved:
| i. |
Staff
from the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See (Mr Zvi Tal, Ms Barbara
Bianchi, Ms Sabrina Fadlun). |
| ii. |
Professor
Daniela Rossi, Head of the Institute |
| iii. |
Professor
Marina Zola, head of international co-ordination and relations with
the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See and with the Israeli School |
| iv. |
Professor
Eta Fabin, teacher co-ordinating the project for Kalay High School |
| v. |
Teachers
of the Italian pupils taking part in the working group, in particular
Professor Riccardo Bollati, director and teacher of history and
philosophy, Ms Marina Motta, teacher of Catholic religious education,
Professor Giovanni Cipri, teacher of English, Professor Simona Angelillo,
teacher of English. |
| vi. |
The
pupils participating in the working group |
| vii. |
Outside
experts (see above). |
| viii. |
The
community of the "Suore della Carità del Santo Bambino
Gesù" (the Congregation which runs our Institute). |
| ix. |
The
parents of the pupils who acted as host families. |
| x. |
The
families from the Focolari Movement who, even though they have no
pupils, offered to provide accommodation and/or prepare meals. |
Description
of Activity
Time
needed for preparation
i.
Initial contact: 12 July 1990.
ii. Start of exchanges with the Israeli school: September 2001.
1.
Two hours per day for co-ordinating and planning.
2. One hour per week for teaching and research.
Time
needed for implementation
| i. |
1-8
December 2002 (one week of activities at the school, with accommodation
provided by Italian host families). |
| ii. |
Full-time
for the Director of the Institute and the co-ordinating teacher,
with accommodation provided on the school premises. |
| iii. |
Three/four
hours per day for the teachers. |
Unfolding
of the activity
WEEK
PLANNING
| Sun
1 |
9.20: |
Airport |
| |
10.40: |
At
school: Welcome from the host families |
| |
12.30: |
(In
our Institute) Lunch |
| |
14.30 |
Archaeological
zone (Foro Romano), Coliseum, San Pietro in Vincoli |
| |
Evening |
Soccer
game Roma-Juventus |
| Mon
2 |
8.30 |
At
school: visit to the different classes of the school |
| |
10.30 |
In
our Institute: official welcome and greetings from S. E. Mons. Giuseppe
Pittau and S. E. Yosef Neville Lamdan, Ambasciatore di Israele c/o
Santa Sede |
| |
15.00 |
Sinagoga,
Museum, surrounding area, San Bartolomeo all'Isola Tiberina, Trastevere.
|
| |
|
Dinner
with the families. |
| Tue
3 |
8.30 |
At
school: cultural exchange -- first part |
| |
13.30 |
At
Jewish school in Via della Penitenza – Roma. Hanukkah celebration
in the presence of the Israeli Ambassador. |
| |
15.00 |
Baroque
areas of the city (Piazza Navona, San Luigi dei Francesi,
Pantheon, Piazza del Popolo, Caravaggio, etc) |
| |
|
Dinner
with the families |
| Wed
4 |
8.30 |
School:
cultural exchange - second part |
| |
16.00 |
Campidoglio:
welcome from Presidente del Consiglio Comunale on. Giuseppe Mannino
and from Dr Franca Eckert Coen (Consigliera delegata del Sindaco
alle Politiche della Multietnicità) |
| |
17.00 |
Musei
Capitolini, followed by Fontana di Trevi - Piazza di Spagna |
| |
|
Dinner
in a pizzeria |
| Thu
5 |
8.30 |
School |
| |
11.00 |
Galleria
Borghese |
| |
|
Dinner
with the families |
| Fri
6 |
8.30 |
School:
meeting with Prof. Joseph Sievers, teacher of Biblical Studies at
Gregorian University; Lisa Palmieri, representative in Italy for
the Anti-Defamation League |
| |
11.00 |
Galleria
Nazionale d'Arte Moderna ('800) Villa Borghese |
| |
18.00 |
School
– Shabbat celebration |
| |
|
Dinner
with the families |
| Sat
7 |
8.30 |
School |
| |
9.30 |
Musei
Vaticani/San Pietro |
| |
18.00 |
School:
Official greetings and farewell party |
| Sun
8 |
8.00 |
School |
| |
9.00 |
Airport |
Material and equipment used (pedagogical and other)
- Texts
- Internet
research
- Personal
written material (on paper or multimedia)
- Conference
room
- Videos
Appriasal
The
experience helped to improve the pupils’ interpersonal skills
and to make them more accepting of people different from themselves.
There was opportunity to step outside their everyday environment and
to transcend prejudice. The exchange served to broaden the pupils’
mental horizons and to make them more curious about the geography and
culture of other countries.
The
activity was initially regarded with some trepidation by pupils and
their families yet in the event, it proved to be an exciting experience,
both intellectually and emotionally speaking. New relationships were
formed, some of which have proved lasting.
The
Italian students’ lack of knowledge of English was a major problem.
The
programme, the details of which were agreed with the Israeli co-ordinating
teacher, was too densely packed. Next time, more time should be set
aside for unscheduled discussion.
Contact
person
Daniela
Rossi
c/o Istituto Santa Maria degli Angeli – Via Lattanzio 27, 00136
Roma
Tél. 06.39729278 – Fax 06.39729331 smariaangeli@tiscalinet.it
Commentary
This
is a thorough example of planning and implementing a powerful form of
intercultural education and its religious dimension.
It
can be replicated by other educational institutions using their own
priorities and contacts.
|
