LTT MEETING in MATOSINHOS WEEK 18th – 23rd FEBRUARY
REPORT Last February 2018, between the 18th and the 23rd we had our first LTT Meeting, in Matosinhos, with all our partners who came from Greece, Finland, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Altogether we had 32 guests in Matosinhos. The students were lodged at our students` homes. At arrival we all felt part of a group. A group of friends who were eager to get to know each other better, to exchange experiences and show all the results from the tasks we were supposed to accomplish. The agenda for the meeting, keeping in mind all the tasks agreed upon, was composed by different and eclectic activities that ranged from visiting local universities, to the aeronautic development Centre in Matosinhos, visit to the Calém Portwine Cellars, reception at the City Hall by the President, ice-breaking activities with the guests students` and teachers at Zarco Erasmus+ Corner, exchanging among students the Professional Portfolios and CV´s created beforehand, sharing the videos about how to find employment in each country, sharing information for the completion of the brochure, the teachers` visit to Porto Prison, visit to several classes where experiences were shared, sightseeing and visit to monuments in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira, promotion of a cultural night for the WOW group and the week evaluation meetings. The atmosphere lived throughout the week was absolutely amazing and friendly. It looked as if we had known each other ever since. The Portuguese students` families who hosted the students were delighted with their “borrowed sisters and brothers” and they really felt at home. The Board and the Teachers at Zarco were pleased with our guests and had the chance to share ideas and thoughts about different matters. Our WOW Project is something that is making everybody richer and aware of the European diversity that sometimes ends up in so many similarities. The relationships that have been made since October 2017 are getting stronger and stronger and we do feel like a widen family. We are now eager to meet again. This time in Varnamo, Sweden. Written by Manuela Galante
And now, the teachers involved comments:
WoW project in Portugal was a week of friendship and new experiences. We worked hard and achieved all goals. Our hosts showed us the beauty of Portuguese hospitality and we bring each single memory in our harts. It was the first time we have an opportunity to visit a prison and see the importance of learning for those group of people. It was a chance for all of us to stop in a time and think of importance of our work. Learning brings freedom, opens mind, leads to new challenges. Prisoners were focused on what we said during our visit and showed us their work (paintings, singing performance,declaring poetry...). Those people need a lot of support and understanding. We were touched. Elena Mlakar, Slovenian coordinator
A marvelous week. A good planned event by persons with ability to do this, it is impossible to fail. Students and teachers from Greece felt a warm hospitality, an unfeigned appreciation as old friends really feel. Thanks to the opportunity of Erasmus+ action we gathered in Matosinhos, in an amazing suburb of Porto, in order to participate in the second LTT meeting of the project Erasmus+ “ The world of work” , to meet the students and teachers of other 4 countries (Finland , Slovenia, Spain, Sweden) and we were guested by Portuguese students’ family as well by teacher of school E.Secundária João Gonçalves Zarco . Mrs Manuela Galante and her team welcomed us and offered us an unforgettable experience. The days passed so fast but were full of activities, moments of “ice-breaking”, cooperation and of course the main aim of all these actions to break stereotypes, and strengthening the idea of living together in Europe and we make dream of the European future of peace, cooperative, solidarity, brotherhood and of course to live in and create a common effective future, we all expect. All the activities were perfect scheduled and took place on time with the best result of their goal. Students of Greek school are very happy, meeting students from the other countries and they learnt about them, their customs, their everyday life, their school life and about their future. We were lucky enjoying a very good weather conditions, which allowed us to visit places and learn the history of them and the Portugal as well. All we return home and think all these with a sweet nostalgia and beautiful memories of the meeting. Now ae are looking forward to the next similar opportunity in Varnamo , Sweden to meet again our friends and make new. Thank you all for all of these we lived and felt, that week of Feb 2018 in Matosinhos. The week which we will keep in our deep parts of our hearts. Spiros Kourtis, Greece coordinator
Thank you so much for taking so good care of us. It was wonderful! Here we send you a couple of lines for the paper.... We are visiting Portugal for the first time and it is over our expectations. The people are very friendly and generous and we have felt very welcomed. Beautiful surroundings and a rich kultur makes Portugal to a place we will return to. Erasmus + give the students the oppertunities to discover the differences and similarities between the involved countries and this will help them in their future lifes. Ann – Charlotte Hartig, Swedish Coordinator
We have just arrived home and we already miss you all. It has been a very enriching and unforgettable Erasmus experience. You are a great team, students and Erasmus teachers. You are the best. Thank you for your hospitality and welcome. I see you soon, Un beso muy fuerte para todos. Teresa Marques, Spanish Coordinator
We had enough pre-information and tasks were student-friendly. We were welcomed nicely from the very beginning. The program had good parts in school as well as outside. The portuguese culture was well represented. And when we had some changes in Swedish staff, our team worked together very well to get partner's train on track. As an example, we were able to do planning part in one heavy afternoon. The most memorable moments were the visit in Porto prison with all the inmates and staff who had organized a special event. Another great memory is the dinner prepared by our hosts. The atmosphere was great! And the tour around Matosinhos area gave us a whole different idea of the special character of Matosinhos. Obrigado/-a. Petteri Mertala and Anu Huttunen, Finland