European Comision and National Agency (SMPF) aprooved Life long learning programme Comenius bilateral project ,,United stories for Europe" for 2011-2013 years. Vydmantai secondary school ( Lithuania) and Escola Sá de Miranda (Portugal) take part in this project.

SUMMARY
The project will focus on discovering a common European cultural identity through comparison of folklore, more specifically those popular folk tales and traditional festivities, which express a community's way of life. This dialogue will aim to focus upon similarities and at the same time the differences from one European country to another. The aim will also be that of reviewing past and present customs in relation to the folklore of Portugal and Lithuania. Each country will seek to tackle its folkloristic identity from a historic and oral traditions perspective, whilst also going into present day customs that commemorate religious and other festivities, some of which are common, and others that are particular to each one of the participating countries. The overall outcome will be concerned with eliciting trends amongst young Europeans with regards to their attitude to traditional folk tales and with raising awareness of the importance of preserving such tales. The exercise will involve teachers and students in an in depth analysis of local traditions which will help each school to compare and contrast similar situations in other communities - a cross cultural exercise where the overarching theme would be life of the common citizen over time.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGY
The objectives of the partnership:

- find similarities that unite today's young Europeans through dialogue and shared experiences

- pointing out differences which we should conserve for the sake of European diversity and our own heritage

- to compare folktales and traditions to accentuate the shared heritage of the common people in the different communities

- to relive past experiences, conserve our local identity and appreciate diversity without loosing sight of a European dimension which has contributed to this identity

- through the meetings the participants bring their particular cultural baggage and through the interaction with the other partners learn and take back also aspects from the others' cultural baggage

- construction of a website which brings together the realities of each of the partners into one common medium which is shared by all

- the publication of a book that comprises the wealth of diversity in a unified form.

- The project will therefore tackle issues such as the importance of preserving our own identity (culture and tradition), mutual understanding and appreciation of other cultures and languages, acceptance of differences.

- The approach, which will be taken during the project will be that of directly involving students into the exploration of their own culture by learning, research and reviving past traditions. Students will be consulting archives, libraries and will be visiting relevant organisations and places of interest. Through the project meetings, the participants will also have the opportunity to meet with their counterparts from different countries,to live in their families, to feel where they will be able to share their knowledge and experience - hence encourage mutual understanding.

IMPACT
On students: The students will benefit from learning how to organise their work through the research and interviews they will be conducting as part of the project. Participation in such a project will also stimulate student creativity,where they will have to write their own stories, and will also help pupils acquire further skills e.g. communication and presentation skills. Furthermore, the project will motivate students to learn foreign languages, especially to improve their English, which is being studied by both participant institutions.

Students will also learn to appreciate their country's cultural heritage and traditions, whilst also learning to respect that of other nations.

On teachers:

The teachers will in turn establish contact with teachers from different foreign institutions, which would result in the exchange of teachers' experience and good practice. They will understand better the needs and interests of their students and will learn how to organise meetings connected with such projects in a better and more efficient way. Teachers will also have the opportunity to get closer to students in an environment different from that of the "class room", which would help them in further understanding the needs of their pupils.

On participating institutions:

Each participating institution will gain an international experience and will be able to take example of the way other two country's educational systems function. Two schools will also gain standing thanks to such international contacts. They will benefit from more creative students and more motivated teachers.

 PLANING ACTIVITIES
There will be six meetings between the international institutions involved in the partnership - Lithuania and Portugal (three in each country).

• The ten-day class exchange in partner school in each country.

• Students and teachers comunicate by mail and e-mails, exchange cards, gifts. For effective communication will be created a website where students will exchange information on the project's theme, a virtual study in different countries, cultures, traditions, and collect reference material needed to prepare the final products.

•International exhibitions, festivals, get-togethers, shows, performances organization.

•Events, language courses, presentations and seminars.

• Students visit the libraries, collect information, take photos, create film, and write publications for press.

• The final product: the overall launch of this book, filmed material presentation in both countries.

 COOPERATION DURING CLASS EXCHANGE
During class exchange pupils will live in families. They will have an opportunity to become members of ,,a new familiy'', to know more about foreign country traditions with authentic customs. During 10 days we will introduce pupils with ours country's traditional holidays, work on the project topic. Participants will have a chance to learn foreign languages (we will organise language courses) to be a part of classmates. We will take part in educational process, lectures, having interviews, meetings, festivals, folk parties at school. Also they will visit different places as museums, schools, churches, theatres, etc in their areas. They could try national dishes and to know more about foreign countries history.