A series of activities designed to familiarise Transnistrian youth with human rights through intellectual games were held, between 30 April to 24 May 2013, in Romanian-language schools in Grigoriopol, Ribnita, Tighina and Tiraspol.
On 30 April, a group of high school students from the „Evrika” Lyceum in Ribnita organized a seminar for their peers in 9th-12th grades with the topic: „Human Rights: Basic Concepts and Notions”. Seminar participants were able to apply the gained knowledge in two rounds of intellectual games, held on 21 and 24 May, where they played „Brain Ring” and „What? Where? When?”. These activities represent a new method of learning, teaching and promoting human rights.
Similar activities were organised on 22 May in high schools in Tighina, Tiraspol and Grigoriopol. High Schools „Alexandru cel Bun” in Tighina and „Lucian Blaga” of Tiraspol hosted seminars on human rights, organised by and for their students. The organisers and moderators of the seminars – who had previously attended a Training of Trainers course: „Learning to Teach Human Rights through Intellectual Games” – used the most creative teaching methods: they presented topical films, invited their colleagues to join subsequent discussions and debates, suggested creative ways to memorise the classification of human rights, etc.
Later, rounds of intellectual games were organised in Tighina and Tiraspol, where students learned more about the rules of the game as well as the rules of teamwork. The participating students also had the opportunity to test their general erudition, and their knowledge of human rights.
„The seminar and intellectual games represent a new approach to learning and are very useful, especially now, at the end of the school year. Such activities are very welcome, as they help students to learn more easily about human rights, but also about the rules of teamwork, so that later they can make a valuable contribution to their communities,” Svetlana Jitariuc, teacher at „Stefan cel Mare” Lyceum in Grigoriopol, established in v. Dorotcaia, said.
The seminars and games are part of the project: „Human Rights Start with Education”, implemented with the financial support of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau.