1 00:00:10,220 --> 00:00:20,219 On February 15, 2019, students from all over Europe joined at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to live a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 2 00:00:21,219 --> 00:00:33,219 Manuel de Falla High School in Coslada, Madrid, has implemented a project for students to acquire more knowledge about the European Union, the values they promote and the importance of voting. 3 00:00:34,219 --> 00:00:39,219 We had the opportunity to attend a Euroscola session at the European Parliament. 4 00:00:40,219 --> 00:00:50,219 We were selected for creating a video that promoted voting in the 2019 elections, in an original and unique way. Check it out! 5 00:00:50,219 --> 00:00:57,219 Good morning! In today's news we want to talk about the elections of the European Parliament and the importance of voting. 6 00:00:57,219 --> 00:01:03,219 This will take place in May 2019. Some high schools are promoting the importance of voting. 7 00:01:03,219 --> 00:01:09,219 Claudia, from Manu Edified High School in Gozada, will explain this news with more detail. Hi Claudia! 8 00:01:09,219 --> 00:01:15,900 Hi Sandra! In this high school students are really concerned about world issues that aren't 9 00:01:15,900 --> 00:01:21,599 getting enough attention. That's why they have created two opposing scenes showing what 10 00:01:21,599 --> 00:01:27,980 happens when people vote and when they don't vote. Here we can see disagreements between 11 00:01:27,980 --> 00:01:38,980 countries, totalitarian governments, poverty and illiteracy, closed borders and oppression. 12 00:01:39,219 --> 00:01:46,219 On the other hand, in this one, there is cooperation between countries and peaceful agreements. 13 00:01:46,219 --> 00:01:55,239 Economic development, open borders and free movement of citizens. 14 00:01:55,239 --> 00:02:13,550 Diversity, freedom of speech and no labels. 15 00:02:13,550 --> 00:02:18,550 After seeing this, are you going to vote? The decision is yours. 16 00:02:18,550 --> 00:02:26,949 Seeing through the eyes of enthusiastic teenagers, what was the day like at the European Parliament? 17 00:02:26,949 --> 00:02:34,949 When we arrived, we had the opportunity to interact and socialize with foreign peers at a more informal and personal level. 18 00:02:34,949 --> 00:02:41,949 We then were taken to the hemicycle. We were mesmerized by the sheer size of the room. 19 00:02:41,949 --> 00:02:45,949 We could only feel so little and so big inside the hemicycle. 20 00:02:45,949 --> 00:02:51,949 We felt professional, excited, happy and, if we may say, quite nervous. 21 00:02:51,949 --> 00:02:58,949 The feeling was that of a kid who is able to experience something new and exciting for the first. 22 00:02:59,949 --> 00:03:07,949 Then, the student speakers were invited to introduce their school and country, each with a unique and intriguing presentation. 23 00:03:08,949 --> 00:03:12,949 The Spanish speech was memorable and noticeably recognized. 24 00:03:12,949 --> 00:03:14,949 This is how we presented our school. 25 00:03:15,949 --> 00:03:22,550 We will remain in the Mediterranean region. Claudia and Sandra from Spain, please. 26 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:37,199 Good morning. Manuel de Falla High School is located in Coslada, Madrid, Spain, a city in the heart of a diverse country, 27 00:03:37,699 --> 00:03:45,599 which apart from paella, flamenco dancing, and sun, has a rich culture, welcoming people, and an amazing natural beauty. 28 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:52,800 Our school promotes the values of respect, cooperation, equality and hard 29 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:58,080 work, the same values we see in the European Union, the same values that 30 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:03,479 provide us environmental protection, consumer rights, free movement for work 31 00:04:03,479 --> 00:04:09,180 and travel and the promotion of equality between women and men among other 32 00:04:09,180 --> 00:04:14,819 benefits. We have implemented the project Ambassador Schools of the European 33 00:04:14,819 --> 00:04:20,420 Parliament which supports learning about the European Union and the importance of voting. 34 00:04:21,139 --> 00:04:26,500 Citizens are missing out on the opportunity that we have of choosing our representatives, 35 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:32,500 whose decisions determine our future. People take for granted what we have achieved in the past. 36 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:39,620 Democracy, human rights, freedom. We need to take a stand. Our voices should be heard. 37 00:04:39,620 --> 00:04:46,379 We need to learn to talk and listen. We have the opportunity to choose our own 38 00:04:46,379 --> 00:04:52,600 direction and to go forward we need to walk. The first step is voting. The only 39 00:04:52,600 --> 00:05:00,279 thing left is the future. Let's make it beautiful. Thank you. Thank you very much. 40 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:06,000 Students had the opportunity to ask questions in order to resolve any doubts 41 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:11,000 and listened to the opinions on several topics from different members of the Parliament, 42 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,000 including Vice-President Evelyn Gebhardt. 43 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:21,000 Celia, a student from our school, had the opportunity to ask about data protection 44 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,000 and the consequences of Article 13. 45 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,000 After the meal, the students were divided into their working groups 46 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:33,000 and taken to the community rooms where they were able to discuss the current matters 47 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:39,000 their research topics and wrote their proposals. Later on the groups met at the 48 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:44,160 hemicycle where the speakers presented the proposals and answered questions and 49 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:51,500 voted them. We felt like important MEPs that could take decisions to improve Europe. 50 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:56,519 Overall the Euroscola session is a unique experience to learn about the 51 00:05:56,519 --> 00:06:02,100 impact that the European Union has on our daily lives outside the context of a 52 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:08,319 school environment. Although we are not direct members of the European Parliament, we all 53 00:06:08,319 --> 00:06:14,860 form part of the European Union. We, citizens, choose our future as we have the opportunity 54 00:06:14,860 --> 00:06:21,860 to vote. It is in our hands, no matter how diverse we are. We are all united in search 55 00:06:21,860 --> 00:06:28,699 of happiness. Our vote is a brick that holds the future, and we cannot let it fall.