PROJECT OVERVIEW
The European School Equality Map (ESEM) project promotes more inclusive, safe, and welcoming school environments for all students across Europe, with a focus on LGBTQ+ youth. The project aims to address bullying, discrimination, and the lack of psychological safety in secondary education by empowering students to share their authentic experiences.
Through an anonymous, student-led national survey and the creation of an interactive Safety Map, ESEM provides actionable data on the real atmosphere inside schools. The project highlights inclusive practices, celebrates supportive schools, and equips educational institutions with tools to improve their diversity, well-being, and equality standards.
The European School Equality Map brings together civil society organizations and youth leaders to build a transparent, data-driven framework that amplifies student voices and fosters long-term systemic change in European education.
OBJECTIVES
- To identify and measure the levels of safety, inclusion, and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ+ students in secondary schools.
- To empower students by providing a safe, 100% anonymous platform to share their experiences and evaluate their school environment through the European School Equality Map.
- To recognize and highlight schools that actively foster open, supportive, and inclusive educational spaces.
- To support teachers, school administrators, and policymakers with data-driven recommendations to strengthen anti-bullying policies and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
- To promote cross-border collaboration and share best practices for youth-led school ranking methodologies across Europe.
HOW DO WE ACHIEVE IT
- Anonymous survey and data collection: ESEM conducts a comprehensive, student-focused survey to gather authentic data on school climate, safety, and support systems.
- Interactive Safety Map: The project translates survey findings into a public, accessible European School Equality Map that showcases inclusive schools and pinpoints areas needing improvement.
- Capacity building and awareness: ESEM develops social media campaigns, informational materials, and guidelines to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ students’ rights and emotional well-being.
- Partner and community engagement: The project collaborates with local NGOs, student councils, and educational stakeholders to ensure wide participation and community trust.
- Pilot expansion and shared learning: Building on proven methodologies (such as Poland’s GrowSPACE initiative), project partners adapt and scale the European School Equality Map model to new national contexts like Lithuania.
PROJECT PARTNER
Fundacja GrowSPACE – Poland
