As part of the “Expansion of the Cross-Border Educational Offer of Bolesławiec and Bautzen” project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg Poland–Saxony 2014–2020 cooperation programme, individual and group sessions aimed at supporting students after the pandemic are being held at the Psychological and Educational Counselling Centre. By the end of December 2022, a total of 2,520 hours of group sessions and 2,240 hours of individual psychological and educational sessions will have been conducted. The funds obtained will make it possible to organise sessions using modern equipment. Laptops, projectors, an interactive whiteboard, as well as numerous pieces of equipment for conducting therapy, were also purchased as part of the Project. Individual sessions consist of a series of 10 meetings with a student, while group sessions consist of 14 three-hour meetings. Students aged 6 to 19 take part in the sessions.
Re-evaluating Education
The COVID-19 coronavirus undoubtedly also left its mark on the school education system. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all cross-border activities proved to be a major challenge, including those in the field of education. Exchange programmes, visits, meetings and workshops had to be cancelled, postponed or redesigned. But the crisis also prompted a change in thinking and encouraged creativity. Some forms of cooperation had to be reconsidered; as a result of the pandemic, virtual forms of communication and the exchange of educational experiences gained importance.
The aim of the sessions at the Psychological and Educational Counselling Centre—funded by the project—is to provide alternative forms of working with students in crisis situations. Students can use their new skills while learning at school, but also in everyday life. They will be better prepared and more flexible in dealing with sudden, unpredictable situations. Overcoming the effects of the pandemic is, of course, one of the objectives pursued during the workshops. Another equally important objective is to implement innovative solutions in order to maintain and develop cooperation in education and prepare students for the requirements of the cross-border labour market.
– Our activities are aimed at developing the best ways of working with students as part of future cross-border cooperation. By developing model activities in the field of providing psychological and educational assistance, it will be possible to achieve a high level of preparation of students for continuing their education and undertaking professional activity in border areas, also in the new situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – emphasises Sylwia Brońska, director of the Psychological and Educational Counselling Centre in Bolesławiec Sylwia Brońska.
Overcoming the Crisis
The pandemic certainly affected all young people, regardless of where they lived. The solutions being implemented in the field of psychological and educational support are intended to achieve the desired results in cross-border cooperation between schools and, by design, prevent students burdened with problems, as well as students with disabilities, from dropping out of the education system. During the pandemic, direct contact was very difficult, and thanks to the development of model solutions, schools in the border region were able to:
- identify their areas of activity in organising and providing psychological and educational assistance,
- exchange experiences in carrying out tasks related to supporting students and cooperating with their surroundings,
- acquire the competencies needed for effective cross-border cooperation in the future,
- jointly develop a concept for further cross-border cooperation.
This will certainly contribute to the development of a new, joint Polish-German model that will use proven elements of working with people requiring support. None of us had previously faced a pandemic, so the experiences we are gathering comprise a collection of diverse and highly individual experiences, reactions and feelings. It was undoubtedly a very difficult time and a test of our ability to cope with a crisis. Let us remember, however, that we can learn a great deal from this lesson.
– Strengthening students in this way is the aim of the project activities focused on providing psychological and educational assistance. The effects of these activities are long-term and bring benefits in many areas of students’ lives. However, in order for them to be achieved, the involvement of experienced therapists is required. They will develop, implement and disseminate proven methods of working to improve the quality of life of those in our care, which in turn will lead to good cooperation and the achievement of satisfactory results in cross-border cooperation – concludes Sylwia Brońska, director of the Psychological and Educational Counselling Centre in Bolesławiec.
We need to look at many matters from a different perspective, gain some distance and remind ourselves what is most important in life. Every crisis is an opportunity for something new, for positive change, progress and strengthening.
