Active Sister Schools - Pilot Edition
2023-2024
The pilot phase of the project, running from September 2023 to February 2024, engaged 15 international teams, each composed of schools from Denmark, Poland, and Ukraine.
Building bridges through movement and friendship
Connecting children around the world through Physically Active Learning and shared experiences.
Active Sister Schools is an innovative and international project that aims to create unity and integration across school classes from different countries. Through movement and engaging classroom activities, students discover each other’s lives, cultures, traditions, and surroundings in a fun and interactive way.
This project creates a vibrant platform where children from diverse backgrounds can connect, learn, and build lasting friendships.
Why Active Sister Schools?
Creating a safe space for Ukrainian children
The project was born out of a desire to support Ukrainian schoolchildren. By connecting them with peers around the world, the project offers a sense of joy and belonging - even for those studying in shelters or far from home because their schools no longer exist. It provides a much-needed escape from worry, replacing isolation with friendship and shared experiences.
The power of physical activity and connection
We believe that moving together and sharing experiences brings children together. By connecting young people across borders, we create opportunities for friendship, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding.
Inspired by pen-pals
The project draws inspiration from the traditional pen-pal system, which has long helped children build connections and gain insight into the daily lives of their peers abroad. However, Active Sister Schools takes this concept a step further by fostering community, integration, and mutual understanding through movement, play, and joyful cooperation rather than solely written communication.
How did it work?
International teams took on monthly challenges
Classes from different countries that joined the project during recruitment were grouped into 15 international teams. Each team consisted of one class from every participating country. The journey began with a special online event – the Drawing Ceremony – where all students and teachers met virtually for the first time. From there, the newly formed teams collaborated on various tasks, took part in monthly challenges, and met online within their groups. They earned points for completing activities while discovering each other’s customs, languages, and daily lives.
Who was the project intended for?
The project was designed for students in the second and third grades of primary school, typically aged 8-9.
Ready-to-use tools
Each month, teachers received innovative, ready-to-use materials based on the Physically Active Learning method. These resources helped them guide students through challenges while combining three key elements: education, movement, and fun.
Timeline and activities
Participants enthusiastically embraced monthly challenges, where they not only had fun but also taught each other about their countries.
Each challenge included activity cards and videos, guiding teachers and students in completing tasks both online and offline. These resources were created in collaboration with Krokiet and Lama Academy and tailored for interactive, fun-based learning.
Below you can find the videos that the classes used to implement the challenges.
The official closing ceremony of the pilot project
(April 2024)
Teachers, school principals, and partner organizations from Denmark, Poland, and Ukraine met in Warsaw from April 16th to 18th 2024 to celebrate the success of the initiative. The event consisted of a number of joint activities – a hands-on workshop at the Royal Danish Embassy in Poland, a tour of the city, or participation in a concert featuring the Copenhagen Symphony Orchestra Sankt Annæ and the Frederic Chopin Music School Orchestra at the Frederic Chopin University of Music, organized on the occasion of the 84th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II. The highlight of the event was a ceremony at the Residence of the Royal Danish Ambassador to Poland, hosted by Mr. Ambassador Ole Toft.
Results and impact
The pilot edition of Active Sister Schools left a lasting impact on both children and teachers. It created an engaging, structured approach for children to learn, move, and connect across borders, making a meaningful impact on each participant’s life.
For children
The program inspired friendships, cultural awareness, and the joy of learning through movement and creativity. Children gained confidence in connecting with peers internationally, learned about diverse cultures, and improved teamwork skills.
For teachers
By collaborating internationally, teachers gained new methods and approaches to engage students and improve well-being in schools.
For the community
The project fostered international bonds, with schools eager to continue these friendships beyond the project, potentially leading to future educational collaborations.
Project partners
The project has been built on the long-term experience of collaboration between the V4SPORT Foundation (Poland), the International Sport and Culture Association – ISCA (Denmark), Danish School Sports (Denmark) and Ukrainian organization – the UkraineActive.
The pilot was funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
