Dalbeattie High School’s European Erasmus Project has drawn to a close.
In 2018 the school, together with four other schools from Greece, Romania and France, secured funding to work together on a project themed around the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
The project aimed to see the five schools investigate together five of the eco-goals: affordable and clean energy, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, life on land and climate action.
Launched as the world emerged from lockdown, along the way there has been international video conferencing, singing and poetry, games-making, developing tech skills with online apps and designing presentations.
Undoubtedly, however, the highlight for all concerned has been welcoming international guests to the schools.
For each visit, ambassadors from all the schools visit one of the countries to share progress on a specific goal and stay with host families.
Dalbeattie High was first up last June when it welcomed 29 pupils and staff to look at clean energy.
Work included model-making of wind turbines, a visit to the Tongland Hydro Power Plant and biodiversity at Threave, as well as outings and cultural activities in Edinburgh and the local area.
The buzz in the school and local community was great and the weather played along for a beach barbecue – and the highlight of the farewell ceilidh.
Next up was the trip to Romania – delayed first due to Covid and then the outbreak of the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
The Dalbeattie contingent was delighted to finally make it to Hunedeora in Transylvania. Pupils were able to visit the local castle and fortress and go searching for bison in a nature reserve, as well as visit the old-town of Sibiu.
During the Easter holidays the next group travelled to Nafpaktos, a scenic coastal town in central Greece, to study sustainable cities and communities.
They enjoyed an overnight stay in Athens before heading to their host school via the Corinth Canal. Activities during the visit included a visit to the stunning Rio-Antirio bridge and a talk on sustainable transport.
The last group of seven students and two teachers have just returned from France.
Despite a few hiccups along the way involving travel delays and lost luggage, the group was able to enjoy two afternoons of sightseeing in Paris en route to their host school in Ancerville, a small town in the Grand Est region.
The visit coincided with a bank holiday on the Monday to celebrate Victory in Europe Day and pupils participated in a reception at the town hall, a procession to the graveyard and a memorial service, which paid tribute to the fallen including five Allied airman buried in the graveyard.
There was also an outing to Verdun, scene of the most fatalities of any battle in the First World War and consequently the location of the World Peace Centre.
Another great day out was to the Lac du Der – a local man-made lake and reservoir, now the second biggest in Europe, built to regulate flooding on the Seine.
During the week the pupils worked on the theme of gender equality with each country presenting on famous women in their country.
Of course for pupils the huge benefit of participating in the project is the opportunity to meet and mix with young people from other cultures and backgrounds and discover that they can have a laugh and make friends despite the language barrier.
Friendships have been made for life and there have been more than a few tears when it came to parting.
Everyone has grown in confidence, independence and maturity as well as acquiring a broad range of new skills. Here’s hoping they can keep up the international links and visits in the future.
