2008 - The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

The Spring Day for Europe campaign has a different focus every school year. In 2008, it joins the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue initiative to promote intercultural dialogue and help raise awareness of cultural diversity with young people, as a major asset to our common European cultural heritage.

Now in its sixth year, the main goal of the campaign in 2008 is to prepare and assist schools in planning, organising and running their own events as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. A wide range of activities and events are expected to take place at local, national and European level.

25 March – 30 June 2008  

Spring Day for Europe runs this year from 25 March to 30 June 2008, with a particular focus on 9 May, when Europe Day is celebrated. Spring Day for Europe is open to all pre-primary, primary, lower and upper secondary schools in Europe as well as the rest of the world. It is also open to classes from organisations in charge of extra-curricular activities whose goals are to develop and strengthen skills related to school curriculum.

During this period, the Spring Day for Europe team, both at central and national level, will encourage and facilitate visits by local, national and European public figures in schools. Such visits are an opportunity to discuss European themes and issues, and to make the voices of young Europeans heard by decision makers.

Spring Day for Europe was first launched in 2002 as a campaign to:

• raise awareness about the European Union, its citizens and institutions;
• promote European citizenship education at school through traditional and ICT curriculum-based activities.

Spring Day for Europe is managed by European Schoolnet (EUN) on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communication. The campaign is also part of “Plan D” for increased democracy, dialogue and debate.

Related website: 2008 - European Year of Intercultural Dialogue