STUDENTS used a musical presentation to brief an MEP on their research into homelessness, which they have just shared with young people from six nations.
Four students from Carmel College, Darlington, have just returned from Germany as part of the Comenius Project, a British Council initiative boosting links with schools and Europe.
They told North East MEP Stephen Hughes how they had revealed their research to a 300-strong audience of young people at a conference in Essen, which also included students from Spain, Poland, France and Ireland.
Amelia Hughes, 16, Tom Shorten, 18, Tom Jackson, 17, and Lucy Phillips, 17, are part way through a Make a Difference project studying homelessness and ways to help.
The presentation was set to music arranged and performed by the students and featuring striking images of the world’s homeless people with stark figures of the millions who live without access to basic shelter.
Mr Hughes said: “One of the great things about Comenius is that it gives youngsters the opportunity to meet people from other countries, who, despite their cultural differences, often share the same hopes and aspirations.”
The students stayed with host families in Germany’s ninth largest city and were surprised by the parents’ long working hours.
Amelia said: “They had a very different working lifestyle and spoke a different language and yet everything felt very familiar.”
Tom Jackson added: “It was such an amazing experience to be able to mix with people from so many nations.”
Music teacher Emma Anyan said: “They put a lot of work into the soundtrack, with Tom playing all the instruments, recording the lyrics and setting it to the images and text.”
Curriculum leader Simon Hannaford added: “The presentation was extremely powerful and well put together, particularly in the short space of time they had to prepare.
“All the students helped each other and I am sure they have made some great new friends who they will keep for life.”
