E-Twinning project “Getting closer: Cyprus, North Macedonia and Serbia: Culture and culture of remembrance” is an important introducing activity and part of the Erasmus + project “Us and Them before Us”. The project’s goal is to connect and encourage the young/ high school students from the partner schools, through research and mutual collaboration to be introduced to the culture, traditions, history – especially the period of the Second World War, which shouldn’t be forgotten.
There were 10-15 students and 1 teacher from each partner school taking part in the project and at the same time they present a national team too. The national teams organized themselves for teamwork, cooperation in small and big groups with previously confirmed work assignments and individual responsibilities. The primary task for the national teams was to come up and present an educational material on their native language as well as English, including information and valuable contents on the topic “Getting closer: Cyprus, North Macedonia and Serbia; Culture and culture of remembrance”. All the researched content by the students, was proved with arguments, data, information, and examples. The assignments done by the students were based on the following topics: 1. Presenting the contemporary culture of the youth in Serbia, North Macedonia and Cyprus through music, films, graffiti, popular books, videogames, internet pages etc. 2. Sharing information from the period of the Second World War with a goal to learn more about this period in the partner countries in the project.
The realization of the project was between March and May 2022.The realisation of the project was between March and May 2022.

During the project the students looked for cultural similarities and differences, the consequences and prejudice, discrimination, human rights, historical events form the Second World War, the holocaust, genocide, ideology, war conventions etc. They built empathy for the victims and their families, they became aware of the war’s influence on the individual life, the development of the society and creating a collective consciousness.
In the project they used different tools from the modern technology: TWINSPACE, GMAIL, GOOGLE DOCS, PPX, YOUTUBE, POWER POINT, PADLET which helped to advance their digital competences.
The working part was performed combined, on the regular and additional lessons based on the curriculum. The project itself allowed the students to develop subject competences and it gave the students opportunity to use the scientific research method, and the method of comparison, analysis of content as well as “the global sociological approach” when doing the research on the second World War.
The teachers were the leaders in the project. First they informed the students about the project, its content and activities; they received agreement for publishing data, names, photos, videos and audio records by the students for the project; they formed a base with the emails of the students; they created a group on Gmail and invited the students to join the TWINSPACE; they coordinated the students and took part in the process of dealing with their work tasks in all the phases of the project. The teachers from the partner schools arranged the steps of the realization of the project through Viber, Facebook and online meetings. The communication was not just one-way, but also two-way between the students, the teachers and all together on a very satisfactory level during the realization of the project. The teachers and the students equally participated in all the activities on the basis of the project schedule through verbal, written, indirect and assertive communication.
The partner schools fully followed the work of the national teams through mutual help and sharing positive experiences. The cooperation between the partner schools resulted in a successful work of the national teams especially in: division in small groups, division of the work tasks, research activities, realization of the finished products (quizzes, presentations in PPX, presentation of finished products and evaluation). The cooperation between the students and the teachers was without any problems and very often in a very entertaining way.
With the start of the project, we paid attention on the e-safety and personal data by receiving a signed approval by the parents, that names, photos, and other data by the students taking part in the project, can be used for the purposes of the project as well as for the interests of the school.
The finished products of the students are not completely uploaded on the E-twinning project (part of the finished products and the questionnaire for evaluation) because of the creation of the new E-twinning platform. We still have technical problems with the platform.
The E-twinning project was closed on 15.11.2022.

In Ohrid, North Macedonia, from June 7, 2022. until 11.06.2022, the first in a series of activities was held that are an integral part of the ERASMUS+ small scale project KA2.
The project was inspired by the idea of Biljana Mijajlović, a history teacher,in order to meet the anniversary of the victory in the Second World War, and this idea was developed and "projected further" by Zorana Maticevic, sociology teacher due to her experience as project menager.The preparatory meeting was organized with the aim of meeting the Project Teams of the partner schools and, together, agreeing on the details of the following activities. Thus, they had about eighty questions that had to be resolved and agreed upon in a couple of days.
It was specified that the next activity, entitled "Week of Remembrance Culture", will be held in Belgrade, from 24.10. 2022 until October 28, 2022. year, during which our teachers, in the presence of guests from partner schools, will pilot several teaching scenarios whose historical context is the Second World War and whose goal is certainly nurturing the culture of memory. It is planned that such Weeks of the Culture of Remembrance will be held both in Cyprus and in North Macedonia, and that in the end, with a joint effort, we will reach the final project product - the Manual which contains 15 lesson plans.The working team members were: Iljo Trajkovski and Danče Tanevska from North Macedonia, Konstantina Kontou and Stella Francidou from Cyprus and Biljana Mijajlović and Zorana Matićević from Serbia. On the first day, the Macedonian team is assisted voluntary by Principle Fani Naumovska and colleague Mirjana Lozanoska. The meeting report contains about 80 points that elaborated on all the important issues of all project activities, including the dissemination, visibility and sustainability of the project.Ohrid, for this occasion, proved to be an ideal choice, both for work and for pleasure. On the one hand, a stimulating working environment and excellent working conditions, and on the other hand, cultural sights and nature of exceptional qualities.

From October 23 to 29, 2022, organized by the Project Team of the Third Belgrade High School, the Week of Remembrance was held, the first of three planned activities of this kind, within the one-year Erasmus+ project "We and them, before us". During that week, we were visited by mobility participants, three teachers each from partner schools, Josip Broz Tito, from Bitola, North Macedonia and Lykeio Archangelou Apostolos Markos, from Nicosia, Cyprus.The activities were carried out according to the Agenda, which included the holding of five pilot lessons, discussions, extracurricular activities, as well as cultural, artistic and entertainment programs.Ivana Pešić, Mirjana Munišić, Jelena Kručičanin, Svetlana Todorović and Biljana Bulović held pilot lessons that are thematically related to teaching about the Second World War and fostering the Culture of Remembrance. In their lessons, they expressed determination to approach these contents in a specific way. After each pilot lesson, a one-hour session was held in order to reflect. Lessons scenarios will be published in final version in the Manual - which is the final product of the project. Three thematic discussions, an exhibition "What would we miss" and a lecture by the Genocide Museum were also held. The hosts and guests visited the National Museum, the Military Museum, the Nikola Tesla Museum and the Museum of Yugoslavia. In addition to seeing the sights of Belgrade and Zemun, a visit to the National Theater is organized where they watched the Giselle ballet. In addition, they had a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner. Milijana Antonić launched the project website and the student media team launched an Instagram, Facebook and Tic Toc account. In addition to taking photos, the team was also engaged in video live streaming, which enabled the direct participation of students and other colleagues from Macedonia and Cyprus. On the spot, our students participated, as well as students of the 13th and 14th high schools who are our partners in the mentioned exhibition. In the preparation and implementation of the activities, we had the full support of colleagues, teaching and no teaching stuff, in for example paper work, language support in terms of language training, student engagement, provision of resources, accompanying guests, etc. for which we sincerely thank all of them. Some students were delegated to translate into Greek and communicate with the Cypriot team members. On the last day, certificates were distributed to mobility participants, certificates about piloting lessons and letters of appreciations to students and colleagues who supported project activities in our school as well as in partner schools. Through the analysis of the evaluation questionnaire and informal discussions, we conclude that serious standards have been set and that the desired results have been achieved.

In the period between 05.02.2023 and 12.02.2023, as part of the project “Us and them, before us”, the second “Week of remembrance” took place in Nicosia, Cyprus. In the one-week activities guests were teachers form the Gymnasium Josip Broz Tito – Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia and Third Belgrade Gymnasium – Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. The host school Lykeio Archangelou Apostolos Markos, Nicosia, Cyprus, with their excellent organization, enable the realization of all the formal activities in the agenda.

During the “Week of remembrance”, the teachers from Macedonia and Serbia, had the opportunity to visit lessons in different educational subjects, which worked on topics in connection to the Second World War, approaching from various aspects. The realization of each lesson showed different methods and techniques which allowed presentation of good positive practices.

Except the lessons’ visit, there were everyday educational visits of cultural and historical landmarks such as: Shacolas tower museum and observatory, Cyprus museum, Centre for visual arts and research, the national struggle museum, National gallery of contemporary arts and other important historical places which present the old and contemporary architecture of Nicosia.
A meeting with Major General Ingrid Gjerde, Force Commander of UNFICYP, she introduced us to the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the island. A visit to the Committee on missing persons in Cyprus (CMP) anthropological laboratory. A visit of the Nicosia airport, which in the past was the main airport on the island, a today it is used as headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus.
The entertainment part (mutual informal meeting and fun dinners) allowed the participants in the project to meet each other better.
The school – host with their excellent organization, well-thought lessons and chosen places to visit during the stay, reminded us of the mutual past and events in the period of the Second World war. The project itself made it possible for the student and the teachers to preserve the memories from this period.

In the period from 27.03 to 01.04. In 2023, the "Week of Remembrance Culture" was realized in Bitola, North Macedonia, as an integral part of the ERASMUS+ project KA2 of small partnerships in the field of general education.
Participants: Iljo Trajkovski, Danče Tanevska, Fani Naumovska as members of the work team and teachers implementing the lessons: Nikola Trajkovski, Mirjana Lozanovska, Filip Jakovleski, Aleksandar Popovski and Sonja Tantarova Grueska, from the "Josip Broz Tito" gymnasium from Bitola, North Macedonia, Stavrolou Hadjimichael, Gorgia Karakondylou , Themis Vassilou. from the Lykeio Archangelou Apostolos Markos high school, from Nicosia, Cyprus, Zorana Matićević, Lora Bouravi Ristić and Biljana Mijajlović from the Third Belgrade High School, Belgrade.
"J.B. Tito" Gymnasium proved to be an exceptional host, excellent working conditions and a stimulating work environment on the one hand and cultural sights and nature of the exceptional features of S. Macedonia on the other.
"Josip Broz Tito" Bitola high school teachers, in the presence of guests from partner schools, premiered several s Innovative classes whose historical context is the Second World War and whose aim is to foster a culture of memory:

After each realized lesson, the participants in the project analyzed the lesson, discussed the topics: "Stories of survivors - the basis of memory" and "Media and reporting during the Second World War". Of particular value were the conversations with the students of the history and journalism section, who also prepared an interview for the school radio. Agenda included not only getting to know the host school, its past, distinguished students and current activities, but also getting to know the numerous cultural and natural treasures of North Macedonia. Accompanied by teacher partners, tours of the most important natural and historical sites and museums in Bitola (Clock Tower, Širok Sokak with its sights, monumental buildings of the city's Western European and Oriental architecture, St. Dimitrija Church, Pelister National Park - natural beauty and history classroom - remains) were realized front from the First World War), Skopje (city center with its sights, visit Sobranje, Holocaust Museum, Mother Teresa Museum, national theater), Vevčani (authentic architecture, springs that are among the most beautiful natural sights of North Macedonia), Struga (old bazaar, the place where the Crni Drim river flows from Lake Ohrid) and Ohrid (Samuel's fortress, the church of St. Virgin Perivlepta, the center of Slavic literacy, spirituality and culture - the church of St. Kliment, the church of St. John the Baptist - Kaneo, the cathedral church of St. Sophia).