In search of a participatory model in the intercultural education of students from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds – a research report

This article presents the results of a qualitative study based on the humanizing methodology and a transformative approach, conducted in a space of collaborative intercultural, participatory activities of children and university students, as well as female researchers. The intercultural activities and research were implemented in the third month of the war in Ukraine as a response to current challenges faced by Polish schools and universities. The results are obtained from participant observation (3) and semi-structured interviews (34) conducted with university students working with Polish and Ukrainian pupils, using the project method based on L. Lundy’s participation model in the space of the University of Warsaw. The analysis of the results presents the main aspects of how preschool and early childhood education students understand participation in their work with children from diverse sociocultural backgrounds. The study also showed how important it is to include Polish children and children with refugee and migration experience in the activities and joint participation, which allows one to build a safe space for verbal and non-verbal communication (through art) of children with children and adults.