FRIENDS is a 24-month project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union under the Key Action 3: Support for policy reform: social inclusion through education, training, and youth. Its aim is to contribute to National and European strategies in answer to the “Paris Declaration”, fostering social inclusion and intercultural understanding in educative systems through the implementation on a wider scale of an innovative whole-school approach known as the Quiet Time based on the Transcendental Meditation programme (Quiet Time/TM programme).

This innovative whole-school approach is based on twice-daily “quiet time” breaks, a few minutes at the beginning and at the end of the school day, during which a simple, scientifically documented psycho-physiological technique, the Transcendental Meditation, is practiced by students, teachers and other school staff. It has been scientifically proven that this natural and easy to learn approach has a great impact improving personal and academic achievements of students, creating a general environment of peace and calmness and making social behaviours more tolerant and inclusive, while teachers at the same time see empowered their coping abilities for dealing with stress and with the diversity of the learning environment.

This scientifically proven approach will be implemented in 4 European countries (Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and UK), targeting schools and non-formal educational institutions with minority and disadvantaged students, or with a migrant background. At least 150 students per country will be involved (age 5 to end of secondary school and adult students) to demonstrate on a wider European scale that the Quiet Time/TM programme, implemented in the education field, is a most effective whole-school approach to promote inclusive education and training.

Accesophia is in charge of the dissemination of the project in Spain and also supports its implementation in the country together with Trascendental Meditation Foundation.