More than 500 children from Satu Mare County and dozens of teachers from Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine took part in workshops, performances and campaigns aimed at building an inclusive and tolerant educational environ-ment in border area schools.
Between May and June 2025, the Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association implemented a series of educational activities promoting tolerance, empathy and inclusion in local schools, as part of the INCLUSIV.EDU – Towards an Inclusive Intercultural Educational System in the Cross-Border Area project, funded by the Interreg VI-A Next Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine Programme.
From May 9 to 11, a cross-border workshop brought together 30 teachers from the Satu Mare, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Zakarpattia regions. The discussions focused on key topics such as intercultural education, overcoming stereotypes, and using interactive teaching methods. Open dialogue and practical exercises provided a space for the exchange of good practices among participants from all three countries. In June, the project partner schools in Satu Mare County hosted puppet theatre performances for over 200 children aged 6 to 11. These lively, playful performances conveyed essential messages about acceptance, cooperation and cultural diversity, contributing to a more empathetic and open school environment. At the same time, 300 middle school students took part in interactive workshops organized as part of a public campaign promoting tolerance and diversity. Through role-playing, debates and sessions moderated by an external expert, teenagers were encouraged to reflect on their attitudes and behaviours and to learn how to build relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. At the end of the summer, 120 children from Satu Mare County will take part in the “Diversity Camp”, an event designed to promote mutual understanding and tolerance among the different ethnic communities living in the region.
The six partner schools in Satu Mare County involved in the project are: “Csury Balint” School in Agriș, “Gellert Sandor” School in Micula, “Vasile Lucaciu” School in Apa, Poiana Codrului Primary School, “Fenyi Istvan” School in Căpleni, and the Terebești School.
The INCLUSIV.EDU project is led by the Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association, in partnership with the Multisectoral Intercommunity Association of the Bereg Microregion (Hungary) and the “Edelweiss” Charity Association (Ukraine). Its main goal is to promote inclusive intercultural education in the cross-border area through joint institutional cooperation. The activities focus on six schools in Satu Mare County, involving teacher workshops, youth camps, and experience exchanges.
The project has a total budget of €299,944.26, of which €269,949.83 is funded by the European Union. It is being implemented over a 12-month period, starting from January 20, 2025.
This article was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
