Escuelas Amigas is an Internet-based cultural exchange project that seeks to bring together students from Spain and Latin America; the latter from schools where direct and indirect Proniño beneficiaries study.
There are three main characters in this project: the students, the teachers and Telefónica Volunteers who act as facilitators of the activities. The basis of the Escuelas Amigas initiative is the use of ICTs in learning processes, as an element that helps to bring down geographical and cultural barriers. Today (2nd Edition of the project), 11 Latin American countries and Spain, and about 80 schools, are taking part in the initiative, bringing together more than 3,000 children with the support of nearly 200 volunteers.
The project is based on four pillars:
- The respect and knowledge of other cultures by exchange and direct contact with people from other countries.
- Onsite and offsite work aimed at discovering different realities and tackling common challenges, assuming diversity in a constructive manner.
- The use of Internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as tools for collaborative learning.
- The collaboration of Telefónica Volunteers in Spain and Latin America, as facilitators of the activities.
Participants in the project
Escuelas Amigas is actively supported by Telefónica volunteers in Spain and Latin America, the teachers and students of the Latin American schools with Fundación Telefónica Classrooms, and the Spanish schools contacted through Telefónica's Corporate Volunteering Program or collaboration agreements with different administrations.
- Telefónica Volunteers play the role of activators of the communication and work processes of friendly schools. They take part in the project by integrating into teams and working together with other volunteers. They receive training, assistance and continuous advice on both teaching and technical matters.
- Teachers guide their students during the twinning process between schools participating in the project. They also receive training, in addition to the continuous support of the volunteer program during the process, the advice of professionals in digital dynamization and socio-educational intervention and promote the use of new technologies and blogs, as well as the interaction between Spanish and Latin American schools.
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