According to Greek Mythology, the first volunteer was Prometheus, the Titan who stole the fire from Gods and gave it to humans, bringing knowledge and art to the world. Volunteering is the skeleton that can serve as an antidote to the crisis and social inclusion. Also, as a factor in creating active European citizens. Greek school recognizing the need to improve the quality of education in active citizenship and supporting pupils'involvement in volunteering, joined a Volunteering Greek Thematic Network, trying to give a holistic approach and cover this gap.STAND BY ME project, will work in making it worldwide and sustainable by forming a European networking group of passionate teachers and pupils.Volunteering is defined as volitional provision of services without being paid or rewarded. Thus, people are called volunteers when unselfishly offer time, knowledge or services. STAND by ME project empowers these values focusing in creating active volunteer citizens. This can be accomplished not only by organizing TARGETED actions, but mainly by EDUCATING pupils- teachers and community.Our project seeks with a simple way to act as a starting point for reflection around volunteering, encouragement for action and motivationPROJECT'S OBJECTIVES:1-familiarize students and teachers with the concepts, values and principles of volunteering and active citizenship2-acquire knowledge about the ways of volunteering3-encourage pupils - communities to be engaged in volunteer actions, providing them the necessary tools.4-strengthen teachers’ profession, providing them with non formal methodologies, regarding activities that will make them able to convey the values of volunteering, equality and non-discrimination 5-form a NETWORK of European schools/associations promoting European identity 6-develop the digital, linguistic and social skills of our students7-reduce the early school leavers Just as Prometheus brought the fire to the humans, our project aims to bring the FLAME of Volunteerism across 6 countries, through 6 schools and local communities from Arctic Ocean to Mediterranean Sea.The “Volunteer’s FLAME” will focus on 6 aspects of volunteering that contribute to Culture, People, Sports, Education, Nature and Science.The FLAME will spark in Iceland in Oct 2019 and will run all over Europe inspiring volunteering in many fields and conclude in May 2021 in Romania. Within these 2 years, the FLAME's team, will experience 6 cultures, languages, ways of thinking and acting. In the end of the travel, target groups will have a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the ideals of mutual solidarity and active citizenship.This project, lies at the roots of Inclusion, Solidarity and Active Citizenship, aims to mainstream volunteering and support disadvantaged pupils/ immigrants or with health problems to be involved in order to take over responsibility, get socialized and improve self -esteem.Target groups will be: 4560 students and 585 teachers from 6 schools, parents, institutions and youth clubs.The project will be developed through a variety of subjects: Maths, Language, History, Science, ICT, Social, Cultural, Environmental Studies, Art, Music and Physical Education in order to maximize impact.A wide range of formal, non formal and extra curricular activities will be used in order to get more inclusive schools and stimulate tolerance. Workshops, STEM laboratories, seminars, presentations, simulations, field trips, workshops, eco-games, role-play, brainstorming, Group discussion, world café, image-making, films, drama, sports. Pupils will be able to interact, having fun! Activities will be disseminated through our website, the Erasmus + Results Platform, EURODESK, social groups and media. Moreover, eTwinning platform will be used in all phases of the project. Through raising awareness of the importance of volunteering and sensitization of pupils to civil society support activities, we expect long term benefits as: extended knowledge of English, improvement of the linguistic and ICT skills, development of key competences, reduction of the early school leavers, changes in the curricula, introduce Europass in schools, prevention of social exclusion, discrimination and racism, encourage of critical thinking, integration of people with poverty in the social and school environment, direct contact and communication of pupils with similar social groups. Our project, will be a basis for sustainability, developing a strategic approach to strengthening the links between the six schools and its local environment, deepening concepts of local and European identity.VOLUNTEERING is a Vision and life style, aims to underline deep involvement and commitment.Gives inspiration and motivation to millions of volunteers worldwide. STAND by ME project, will support this vision to set the scene to enable the movement to grow, so the future generations will be able to live a better life!

"Geomythology is the scientific field which interprets mythology in relation to natural environment and climate during the mythological period. During the long pre-historical times geo-environmental changes were numerous and dramatic.Eight primary and low secondary schools from Greece (coordinator), Latvia, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Portugal, Turkey and Hungary followed the adventures of a meteorite, a ROLLING STONE, which fall from space in Latvia in October 2016 and rolled all over Europe, searching for GEO-myths and climate changes. Finally in May 2019 fall in the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal. Over the 3 years pupils, teachers and local communities experienced cultures,languages and ecosystems The ROLLING STONE was a vehicle to motivate and inspire pupils in language - spoken and written - and also be involved in all the activities. Pupils interacted with the RO*STO and shared their experiences on the Project Blog and Pupil's Discussion Board THE MAIN OBJECTIVES were:1)the study of nature and environmental changes, their interpretation with the assistance from mythology.2)the multi disciplinary approach of the subject through various scientific fields, exploring the relation between Myths and geological /climate changes of the past3)the research of the past or contemporary relations in different parts of Europe, such as common river names, city names, local customs similar in many parts of Europe4)the migration and ethnic diversity, answering the question why people were migrating from one place to another and environmental changes that forced them to migrate 5)to improve the practice of foreign languages and ICT for students and teachers and strengthen teachers' profession6)to reduce the early school leavers Through the activities the project:- brought students in contact with nature, found solutions and realized that is constantly changing - familiarized students with Myths, legends, traditions and interpreted the phenomena they were describing in times when natural sciences were unknown- helped exhibit cultural values, cultivated eco-knowledge and increased attractiveness of local and European monuments - designed THEMATIC GEO-mythological parks in eight countries, connecting mythological places where intense environmental changes have left their marks, for sustainable development and Alternative Educational Tourism,- worked in making the Greek Thematic Network world wide and sustainable The project had a Language/Literature theme throughout and encompassed themes like Entrepreneurship, Supporting Disadvantaged Pupils, using ICT across all work.This project was addressed to mainstream and disadvantage learners, teachers, parents, stakeholders/ leaders in local communities, tourism organizations, school heads and youth.The target groups learnt about other nations in the long time history and to realize more deeply the principal idea of mutual rapport and understanding.Students planned and carried out eight project events during three years for the general public and invited guests. The impact was very big for all target groups and local communitiesFollowing RO*STO’s adventures we improved teachers' and pupils' language and digital skills. Management, leadership, planning and organizational skills also improved.Teachers reconnected teaching and learning activities to the natural environment and transferred this to their daily school actions.The project was developed through a variety of subjects: Maths, Language, Geology, Geography, History, Technology, Cultural, Environmental Studies, Art and Physical EducationEight countries introduced STONE from Space and developed concepts of active citizenship (national and European), sustainability and social coherence through engagement with the myths and the history of the sites, their place in the local environment, as markers and continuers of cultural identity.Also produced tangible results as: ""The amazing trip on Earth"" book and e-book, The ""Myth book"", Geomythological paths and maps in eight countries, Calendar, Mini-Geodictionary, activity e-book and local eco-clubs The project used the existence of GEO-myths of different areas of Europe and Asia as a basis for sustainability, developing a strategic approach to strengthening the links between the 8 schools and its local environment. Encouraged communication between schools, historical sites and social/economic partners at local level in order to develop the knowledge of learners.Future generations will have the opportunity to visit, study and discover the places where myths took place as a tool for Alternative Educational Tourism. As a result of close and and fruitful collaborations between partner schools and local communities, plans have been initiated for twin-city schemes, as well as exchange student programs, in order to support language learning and cultural development.All results are uploaded in Twinspace and project's Blog:http://blogs.sch.gr/4dimlamias/"