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This two year project, begun in
2005, aims to enhance the skills of teachers and assistants by devising
innovative education
programmes that develop, with disadvantaged people, economic understanding.
Essentially, the value and uses of money for commercial and social
exchange which
improves opportunities, choices and quality of life for individuals and
groups

The programme, which is funded by the EU Socrates-Grundtvig
Fund, brings together an eclectic mix:
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Nicolina Technical High School in Iasi, Romania who are managing
a major education programme for unemployed adults in a profoundly
disadvantaged area of the city. |
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Womaston School, Mid Wales, part of MacIntyre Care and dedicated
to providing education for resident students with complex learning
difficulties. |
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Galileo Technical High School, Vibo Valentia, working to develop
appropriate programmes with adult males in the local prison. |

Each partner is developing a programme in its own institution:
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In post-communist Romania, the context requires introducing and
developing basic understanding of a market economy with both the
adult students
but also the teachers within the school. |
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At Womaston, the focus is on developing, with support staff, programmes
that introduce the students to basic procedures associated with monetary
exchange all of which assist in increasing the self esteem of the
participants. |
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In Vibo, work has focused on developing programmes with prisoners
that will assist develop skills and abilities in financial management
and to be used after incarceration. |

There were meetings in Romania and the UK, at which the partners discussed
progress, planned future developments and quite literally, explored the
local environment, experiencing the differences of food and culture.
Underlying the specific project aims lies a broader
aim of providing spaces, through the trans-national meetings, for education
professionals and students
to meet together and learn of each others professional, social and cultural
contexts. The programme provides opportunities to share expertise and
ideas and increase mutual understanding in the new Europe.
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