A group of 8 first year high school students are participating this week (March 8-12, 2021) in the Jesuit European Educational Project (JEEP) which this year has celebrated its 17th edition in virtual format.

The JEEP is an international project of European Jesuit schools that, through the simulation of the work of the European Parliament, promotes the European awareness of our students and gives them the opportunity to participate in formal debates using English as a language of communication. However, they are learning to put into practice the processes of a democratic system.

The Jesuit European Educational Project (JEEP) is a simulation exercise of the European Parliament. The basic idea is that each school delegates 8 students and accompanying teacher to a JEEP session. Each student has to choose a specific committee (Health, Environment, Political, Media, etc), and each committee has to deal with a particular issue: something that might have to be discussed in the European Parliament as well.

In the months before the actual JEEP session, the students of the participating schools collect information on the committee subjects, and they can of course also exchange information and points of view via e-mail.

This year the commitees and the topics are:

  1. Foreign Affairs: The question of EU in relation to the Asian giant: China.
  2. Women’s Rights and Gender Equality: Gender violence in Europe.
  3. Constitutional Affairs: The question of rising criticism and Euroscepticism related to the European Union.
  4. Economic Affairs: The question of tax avoidance in the Europe Union.
  5. Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs: Refugee crisis and the question of human rights.
  6. Internal Market and Consumer Protection: The question of cybersecurity and privacy in a globalized and connected world.
  7. Industry, Research and Energy: Climate change.
  8. Global Pandemics: Coronavirus crisis.

The JEEP objectives are to promote friendships among the students and teachers of the participating schools; to enhance European awareness and identity; and allow students to use the tools of democracy (exchanging views, respecting each other’s opinions and national differences, trying to reach a consensus in the form of a resolution)

The participating students have to speak English fluently; they should have an open mind and should preferably have some debating skills.

Participating Jesuit Schools:

Belgium: Sint-Barbaracollege (Gent)

France: Collège Provence (Marseille)

Croatia: Isusovačka Klasična gimnazija (Osijek)

Hungary : Fenyi Gyula Jezsuita Gimnazium (Miskolc)

Italy: Leone XIII (Milano)

Lithuania:  Jesuit Gymnasium (Kaunas en Vilnius)

Spain: Jesuïtes Sarrià – Sant Ignasi (Barcelona)