POLAND Again - Together with Disabled Youth

March was a special month. Not only because, instead of being the beginning of the spring, it was one of the most cold month of this winter. But also because we have organized the fourth project meeting, in Poland again.
This time, we took advantage of the smaller distance and we have organized a trip also together with disabled young adults. 5 of them (3 in wheelchairs!), accompanied by 4 staff, joined Daniel and Andrada, and so the Romanian team was impressive this time!
The meeting was great! We had the chance to make some learning events again about Poland and Warsaw, about history and culture (Chopin rings you a bell?), social life and foods and drinks. We visited The Institute for the Deaf and Mute, a special vocational school, where the Romanian students were fascinated by all the opportunities to learn a job/ trade.
We also had a great event in Bialystok: a very well organized conference - "Understanding Disability". Lots of people, teachers, officials from local authorities and from the Government, students and wonderful artistic show prepared by disabled students. And, after the Conference, we had a very interesting interactive debate with the members of the Teachers Association from the Podlaskie region.
Back to Warsaw, we continued the discussions about the future of the TOWEL project, the final products and report, and the future meeting in Salamanca. We have also talked about new projects, especially since the the Polish and the Romanian partners submitted already a new Grundtvig Learning Partnership this year.
All the experience was extraordinary for the young adults with disabilities from Esperando. They had a wonderful time in Warsaw, despite the tremendous cold and the lack of accessibility in many places. But having the opportunity to visit a new country, a splendid city of Europe and a couple of well established educational institutions make it worth entirely. TOgether WE Learn has a different meaning now for us, for the partners (impressed by our young adults) and for the individuals with special needs who travelled to Poland.
On their way home, our young adults were only talking about coming back to Poland. And, when they crossed the Romanian border, most of them started to cry and ask to stay there and not come back...

Welcome to Baia Mare! Welcome to Romania!

Well, it's time for the Romanian Grundtvig project meeting! And our guests, project partners from Spain and Poland, were here from October 2 until October 7.
We have had great, full days! We have learned together about Romanian traditions and culture, about our food and drinks, about the history of these places. We have seen Baia Mare and Maramures, with the wooden churches and monasteries, the wooden houses and gates, the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta, the traditional costumes and clothing, we have enjoyed traditional meals, we have tasted the Maramures hospitality and kindness.

And that was not all! We also have visited Esperando Day Care Centre for physical and mental rehabilitation of physically disabled people and talked to the staff. And we have had the opportunity to learn even more: we all took part in Esperando's International Conference on therapies for disabled people. One day filled with presentations from specialists from Romania, Hungary, Poland and Spain (each partner made a presentation, too!). But not the usual boring talk-talk-talk-no results Conference. Because every single presentation had to show also a practical demonstration of one therapy. Most of the presentations were live, on the spot, including with the disabled people! So, no wonder we have seen standing ovations, tears and happy faces!

And, of course, we have talked about the project, the job done so far and what is still to be done. And we do have a lot of work ahead us!








The third project meeting is now over.
What remains is the memory of a beautiful time spent with great friends, lots of things learned and a little bit of Romania in every one of the partners that were here.
For me, there is one more thing that has remained: the nice words of the foreign people about us and about our work, and how more people should have the chance to learn about the real Romania and how Romanians really are...
Daniel

Poland - First Date!

Well, I hope you didn't think we will stop with the first post.

Of course we have done a lot of work, and we will tell you about it.

Our first project meeting, for instant, took place in Poland. Marta and her colleagues waited for us in Warsaw and prepared a first meeting with the Head of the Polish Teachers Union. Lots of things to find out about the education system and the teachers' union in Poland! Very, very interesting!

Also, we have learned about Warsaw and the history of this wonderful city. Amazing places, great history, so nice to be here! Then, the cuisine: we haven't eat so well and much in a long time! (and late!) Great experience and so many things to learn about it, too.

We have then moved to Bialystok. Again, perfect arrangements made by Marta and the fellow teachers!

A surprise to have so many of them at the formal meeting! Discussions, ideas, desire to cooperate! Great evening! Thank you, folks!

A tour of the Polish nature, with other learning circles on the animals and plants, on the channels and the history that marked the region. Off course, lots of places with the memory of Pope John Paul II. A day to remember!

Then, work, work, work! Brainstormings, plans, ideas, designs of future steps... Nice team, great teamwork!

There are many things to say! But I want you to stay focused! We can talk more about it later on!

Thank you, Marta! Thank you, Poland! Great to be here!

Daniel