Chapters & Values :

Chapter 1 -Inclusion

Chapter 2-Empathy

Chapter 3-Respect

Chapter 4- Equality

Chapter 5-Dignity

Chapter 6- Kindness

Chapter 7- Responsibility

Chapter 8- Solidarity

Chapter 9-Tolerance

Chapter 10-Active Citizenship

Chapter 11- Shared Values / Empathy in Action

Liana Gilardi-Girov School,Romania

Chapter 1 -Inclusion

" The Bench in the Middle of the Playground "

    Every afternoon, the children of my Street met at the playground.
 There were swings that squeaked, a slide warmed by the sun, and—right in the middle—a long blue bench.

Leo liked the bench because it was quiet. He used a wheelchair, and sometimes the games moved too fast for him. From the bench, he could see everything.

Aisha loved running. She ran everywhere, even when she didn’t have to. She spoke two languages at home and sometimes mixed them up at school, which made her laugh—and sometimes made others stare.

IIS "G. Ugdulena" - Italy

IIS "G. Ugdulena" - Italy

Leo was really enjoying the game, but suddenly a voice could be heard from far away: it was Sophie’s mum. She was calling her daughter to tell her that she had to go back home. Leo was alone again.

However, he didn’t even have time to feel sad, because he saw another girl running around. It was Aisha! She noticed the boy too. Aisha invited him to play football with her, but the boy had to explain that he couldn’t because he was in a wheelchair. Aisha didn’t give up. She tied his foot to her hand, so when she raised it, he kicked the ball. Once more, Leo wasn’t alone and was having great fun!

It had been a very special day for him, and he felt very happy.

IIS "G. Ugdulena" - Italy

Chapter 3-Respect

The next afternoon, the children met again at the playground. 

Leo sat on the blue bench while Aisha arrived running, as always. 

Soon, more children joined them, each with a different idea for what to play.

“Let’s play football!” one child said.
“No, tag is better,” another replied.
“I want the swings,” Sophie added.

Everyone started talking at once. Leo listened quietly. 

He had an idea, but he wasn’t sure anyone would care.

Aisha noticed and said, “Wait—Leo hasn’t spoken yet.” The children paused, and Leo shared his idea about a game where everyone could take part in different ways.

Some children weren’t sure at first, but instead of arguing, they listened to one another. Each child explained what they liked, and together they adjusted the game as they went along.

The game wasn’t perfect, but it worked. Everyone had a role, and every idea helped shape it. Leo passed the ball and shared new suggestions, while Aisha ran across the playground, listening and responding to others.

From time to time, someone stopped to suggest a change, and the group talked it through before starting again. The afternoon moved on, filled with voices, movement, and new ideas, and it felt like this was just one of many games they would create together.

After talking for a bit, they decided to reorganise the teams. They mixed fast players with those who were better at planning moves, those who could kick hard with those who knew how to pass the ball. 

The game began — and it was the most fun of them all. Every child had a moment to shine. There were goals, laughter, falls, and helping hands to pull others back up.

In the days that followed, the group continued to meet in the playground. It no longer mattered who ran the fastest, who spoke the loudest, or who had different ideas. Everyone knew that, there, every child had the same worth. 

That day, the school organised a games tournament in the playground.

Chapter 4- Equality

Agrupamento de Escolas de Valbom, Portugal

On a colder morning, the playground was almost empty. Leo was already sitting on the blue bench when he saw a new boy near the gate. He stood still, backpack on, looking down at the ground. 

They all sat on the bench. Leo asked his name and what he liked to do. Little by little, the boy started talking — he liked drawing and could make paper planes like no one else. 

“Then teach us!” Sophie said, smiling.  For the rest of break, there were no races or loud shouting. There were hands folding paper, quiet laughter, and many paper planes flying across the playground. 

When the bell rang, the boy was already smiling. 

“Thanks for letting me be with you,” he said.  Leo shook his head.  “Here, no one needs to ask to be a part of a group. Everyone deserves to be treated well.” 

Chapter 5- Dignity

Agrupamento de Escolas de Valbom, Portugal

Chapter 7: Responsibility

The golden hour light flooded the children’s park, but the air felt heavy. Usually, this was where Leo and Aisha were at their loudest, but today, the only sound was the rhythmic scritch-scritch of Leo’s tires as he spun in a tight, nervous circle.

Near the bleachers lay the wreckage: a professional-grade camera, its lens spider-webbed and its casing cracked. It belonged to Dean, a photographer, who had left it on the bench while he went to grab the equipment keys.

"We were just seeing how fast I could pivot," Leo whispered, his hands gripping the rims of his wheelchair so hard his knuckles turned white. "I didn't see the tripod. I didn't mean to, Aisha."

Aisha looked from the broken camera to the door. "Leo, nobody saw us. We could just say a stray ball hit it. One of the older kids was playing earlier, everyone would believe that."

Leo looked at his chair, then at the camera. For a second, the "easy way" felt like a lifeline. Being the kid in the chair usually meant people gave him a pass, they’d feel too bad to grill him. He could play the victim, and it would all go away.

"No," Leo said, his voice gaining a sudden, sharp clarity. "I was the one pushing my limits in a crowded space. I saw the tripod there five minutes ago, and I decided to keep spinning anyway because I was having fun."

Aisha softened. "It’s going to cost a fortune, Leo. You’ve been saving for those new light-weight tires for a year."

"Then I guess I’m buying a camera instead," Leo replied. He looked at Aisha, a small, sad smile on his face. "I spend all day wanting people to treat me like everyone else. If I want the respect of an equal, I have to own my mess like an equal. I can’t hide behind the wheels."

Aisha nodded slowly, reaching out to give his shoulder a supportive squeeze. "You're right. It’s a tough decision, but you're right. Do you want me to come with you?"

Later, they found Dean in the hallway. Leo didn't wait for the man to speak. He rolled right up, eyes level and voice steady.

"Mister, I broke your camera," Leo said directly. "I was practicing my turns too close to the bench and I knocked the tripod over. It was my decision to play there, and it was my mistake. I’ll pay for the repairs or the replacement, even if it takes me a long time."

The photographer looked surprised, not at the broken tech but at the sheer lack of excuses. The air in the hallway didn't feel heavy anymore, it felt clean.

"I appreciate the honesty, Leo," Dean said, his voice quiet. "We’ll figure out a payment plan. And since you didn't make me hunt down a culprit, I won't ban you from the park for the week."

As they headed back out, Leo felt lighter. The wheels of his chair were still the old, heavy ones, but his conscience didn't weigh a thing.

Aylin ÇERÇİL Ordu Science High School