Learning@Europe is not an experiment anymore: it can become a permanent service for European youngsters, helping to create a European identity and a European citizenship.

In order to reach this goal, a number of facts are needed:

• Recognition at European level (Commission, Parliament, Agencies, ..) of the validity of the service.
• Promotion among the interested parties (youngsters, teachers, administrations, ministries, …) in order to widen the participation in the 18 countries involved so far, and even beyond that.
• Financing the cost of participation, which can be estimated around 20 euros per participating youngster (i.e. 440 euros per a class of 20 youngsters).

The benefits of the above actions can be summarized as: putting the basis, with the European youth, for a European identity and also (not to be underestimated) putting the basis for a European approach to teaching History and, in a more general sense, putting the basis for a real (not episodically active) cooperation among the different school systems, also building a community of European teachers.

All the above is more difficult than it may be expected, considering the results achieved so far. The costs of physical contacts for example, are incredibly high in Europe: a round trip from Italy to Latvia, for example, costs twice as much as a round trip from Italy to New York. This makes it very difficult to organize physical meetings to meet people, to reach agreements, etc.
Also, strangely enough, in Europe it is easier to find financial resources for “new developments” of experimental actions, than for running a service that has proved to be valid and effective.

The above said, we have set the following goals for the year 2007-2008:

• 18 countries
• 200 classes
• More than 4,000 students participating and more than 300 teachers involved

If you think that you may help us to achieve this, do not hesitate to contact us: we need the help of whoever may help.