Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine

How do you turn a classroom into a bullying-proof safe space?

We often talk about quality education, but can children truly thrive if they don't feel safe? Today, we are diving into a new Project Story that targets a challenge faced by schools everywhere: the silent threat of bullying and online harassment.
Educators on both sides of the border noticed a worrying trend - students withdrawing emotionally under the weight of peer hostility and social exclusion, leaving teachers without a clear roadmap to intervene. Knowing that good intentions alone cannot protect a child, the Free Trade Union for Education Maramureș, the Association for Education and Culture "Lesia Ukrainka ", and Social Centre ETALON from Ivano-Frankivsk teamed up to create real, systemic change.

Here is how this cross-border initiative is shifting the paradigm on school safety:
🔹 The partnership launched a massive sociological study across 84 regional schools, gathering insights from over 2,800 respondents to understand exactly how and where bullying occurs.
🔹 Moving past empty theory, the project trained more than 400 educators, equipping them with concrete skills to spot early warning signs and defuse harassment instantly.
🔹 To build a culture of teamwork, 40 schools were upgraded with active inclusion tools, including outdoor classrooms, sports equipment, and school radio networks that bring students together.
🔹 The team established the official "Bullying Proof" methodology and certification, providing a lasting framework that schools can use to self-regulate and stay safe for years to come.

When communities unite to protect their youth, empathy and safety know no borders!

📖 Read the full, inspiring journey on our official website: https://ro-ua.net/ro/comunicare-2021-2027

ROUA00169

🎶🖼️ Music, art and cross-border cooperation! Students and teachers showcased their talent during the “Musical Instruments Presentation and Painting Exhibition” event, that highlighted new artistic equipment, inspiring performances, and the creativity of young artists from Botoșani and Ivano-Frankivsk. ✅

We are sharing some details about the project EdAH – Educational- Artistic Horizons beyond the Borders.

Project implemented by:
Botosani County, Romania and Executive Committee of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, Ukraine.

Total budget 364,524.94 EUR out of which 328,072.44 EUR represents EU funding through Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine 2021-2027 Programme

Project objective:
Modernizing the professional educational infrastructure and improving equal access to quality services in continuing professional education, by equipping two schools, one in Botoșani and one in Ivano-Frankivsk, with high-performance equipment specific to artistic education, as well as by improving the professional skills of 13 teaching staff and non-didactic during the project implementation period.

Results and main activities:
Two art schools in Botosani and Ivano-Frankivsk equipped musical, painting, and IT equipment, furniture, Virtual Reality glasses, interactive panels, etc
5 workshops focusing on the exchange of best practices, identification of new teaching methods, etc
2 events promoting vocational-artistic education with the participation of at least 100 people
3 workshops on traditional techniques, virtual art, and mastering technical equipment
1 virtual exhibition of works of visual art using virtual and augmented reality
600 students will benefit from modernised education facilities