Walk with me! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Walk with me!

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Background and context. As any other creature, the human being is deeply rooted in nature, but with the particularity of being able to intervene in it. We must do it from a position of respect and avoiding imbalances that extricate us from our roots and origins. It is, therefore, essential that education takes us out of the classroom to restore values and experiences aimed to raise respectful coexistence of the human cultural diversity and its natural environment, the house where we inhabit. Bearing this in mind, together with our experience from previous projects, such as “Mi Escuela, Tu Refugio”, (connected to the use of art), this new draft “Walk With Me” comes out.
Goals. The goals that gave rise to this project have been widely achieved. The activities carried out have been a great opportunity for learning and cultural enrichment, for teamwork and sharing experiences, to further enhance environmental awareness and to overcome prejudice valuing diversity as an enriching element. Drawing, photography, narratives, dialogues, reflection….have led to a positive look towards ourselves and the others.
This Project was addressed to secondary students in IES Juan Bosco, Alcázar de San Juan (Spain), and Collège Jean Rostand, Orvault (France), willing to meet each other and to exchange experiences, completely aware of the fact that it is not possible to fully appreciate what we do not know.
Description of the activities carried out. “Walk with me” was planned in the school year 2016/2017 and uploaded to the platform e-Twinning. It was thought as a strategic partnership and, once approved, it was developed during the years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 (24 months).
The first meeting among the partner institutions was in November, 2017, in Spain. Our goal was boosting the beginning of the Project. E-Twinning was used for an initial general approach between the participants and a design competition was also launched for the logo.
In March 2017-2017, a second transnational meeting took place in France in order to plan the students’ Exchange in this country: dates, matching of students, hiking-trails design, housing, transport, workshops…
The preparation for the workshops and other organizing activities was finished in April, and in May, the first student’s exchange in Orvault (France) was carried out. We stayed there for 8 days, three of them hiking in Les Sables d’Olonne, where students developed creative skills through photography, graphic techniques (drawing and watercolour) and writing (poetry, journal log).
In June, a third meeting was held in Spain. Our driving goal was the evaluation of the first exchange and the planning of the second one in Spain, with a similar format. This one was carried out in September, 2019. The scheduled activities were highly achieved: the hiking trails in Cuenca, with their corresponding creative associated activities; the Collage and Bookcreator workshops; or the trips and the activities on sociability.
The following months, we went on organizing activities in the Project framework: an illustrated calendar was designed and printed with the students’ collages and, at the same time, we also organised an exchange of Christmas cards and typical baking involving several countries such as Spain, France, Portugal and Senegal. Later, a video was created with the students who took part and also a book with the students’ writings.
In May, we celebrated Europe’s day, with an environmental workshop, including binding books of recycled paper, the creation and installation of awareness rising signs, and garbage collection in the countryside with a healthy brunch. By the end of the school year, we ended up the draft with micro narratives and a photography contest.
Finally, the aim of the fourth transnational meeting, in France, was to close the Project. Both partners shared experiences and a diploma was given to each participant.
Results and impact. Beyond the participant students, Walk With Me has reached both educative and local communities: students at different educational levels, faculty, associations of families, city councils and other associations.
Long-term benefits. This experience has made building friendships possible, fraternity and collaboration among the partnerships: Collège Jean Rostand and IES Juan Bosco. We would, therefore, like this collaboration to continue for a long time allowing us to work together in future projects. Besides, Walk With Me has fostered the celebration of Europe’s day in our schools, given us an opportunity to share experiences Erasmus+ with other educational centres.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 46910 Eur

Project Coordinator

IES JUAN BOSCO & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Collège Jean Rostand-ORVAULT (44)