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The host of the third short-term exchange of groups of pupils in this project was Private school Futura located in the capital of Croatia, Zagreb. The exchange began od 11th and ended on 15th of November 2019. Both classroom space as well as the program of the exchange was completely full – the host organised many lectures and activities. How it all looked and what were the impressions, you can read below in one of the participants’ report.

“The first day began with the meeting activity for getting to know the whole group, after which we presented topics we got and prepared before the exchange. Presentations were about conducting local mentoring program in each school particularly. We also had a lesson on Croatian history, while we spent afternoon together, sightseeing the city.

The second day we had a workshop on employing and selection process followed by brainstorming activity during which we came up with questions for guests and lecturers of the week. There was also a workshop on how to make your own website using Wix. We left school around 2 PM and went to visit City council (City office for sports and youth – precisely) and Ethnographic Museum.

We paid a visit to Algebra University on our third day of the exchange where we listened to the lectures from several Algebra’s professors. After that, we headed back to Futura where team from IT company Infinum held a presentation about their work, selection process and ways of nurturing relationships with employees. In the afternoon we went to the city centre where we had organised Goosechase Challenge activity of exploring city and interviewing people. In the evening, we visited the museum Zagreb in 80’s.

The fourth day started with a lecture from Mr. Radošević, the owner of IT company Comminus, from which we learned more about how is it to start and have a company in Croatia. After the lecture, we had Kahoot quiz about Croatia, and then lunch. When school activities came to an end, most of us headed to Escape Room, while the rest of the group took some time for themselves. We had a nice end of the day – joint dinner in the restaurant in Zagreb centre.

The fifth day was also the last day of this student exchange. In the morning, we had few presentations to do after which we got our certificates of attendance, said goodbye to each other, split up and headed our own ways.

I have to say that this was my favourite student exchange because I learned a lot. Also, I met a lot of new people with whom I’m still in touch, and I hope that I’ll meet them again one day.”

Students from Lido di Camaiore, Italy, gathered pictures from various activities of the exchange and from their free time spent in hanging out and exploring Zagreb. They made this video as a memory and gave it for everyone to watch it and share their happiness regarding taking part in the project. Enjoy it!

Who can give better impression of the event than the ones for which it was made? Student from Private school Futura reflected on his participation in the second exchange of students in Lido di Camaiore – these are his thoughts and memories:

As a part of Erasmus+ project “Mentoring Programme”, from 25^th to 29^th March we went to Lido di Camaiore, a town placed on Italian west coast, in Toscana region. Two teachers and nine students were chosen to represent our school in this student exchange.

During our time in Italy, most of it we spent in Istituto Istruzione Superiore Chini-Michelangelo, which was also our host institution. Every day, except Wednesday, we had workshops there, some of which were brainstorming, role as a mentee, interviewing local youth and many more. As a part of the program, we’ve done few interesting stuff like meeting with a local authorities, visiting Institute, going on their famous beach…

When we arrived, few students and professors of Istituto Chini-Michelangelo greeted and directed us towards a hall where most of workshops were held. Beside our school, three foreign schools are also involved in this project. We met each other during awesome reception that our hosts prepared.

After the reception, we went for a short excursion to Pietrasanta where we visited some churches and Museum of Sculptures. There we had a lecture on methods of sculpturing – which is very complicated, but beautiful process – and saw some copies of famous originals.

Before the beginning of the workshops, all students were mixed up and divided into seven groups. Each group had at least one pupil from every partner school. Groups got tasks in which it was necessary to communicate and cooperate, which at the same time showed us how much we known and what we should make better. All the workshops were quite similar, but each had its own purpose.

Wednesday was one of the days when we had no workshops and had some time outside the school. We spent it on trips. In the morning, a bus took us to Pisa, where is located one of the most famous sights in Italian history – Leaning Tower of Pisa. After seeing it, we visited Metropolitan cathedral, and then the University.

After presentation on the University finished, we got back to the bus which drove us to a farm on the hills of Montecarlo in Lucca where wine and olive oil are made. There we also had lunch, after which we got to know more about the farm’s history and business which was followed by bus trip back to Lucca and sightseeing.

On Thursday we interviewed students from the Istituto about their plans for their future and thoughts on Mentoring Programme. We filmed ten videos with the students of various opinions and skills. It was very interesting to hear what would they like to be when they grow up and start to look for their dream job. At the end of the day, we presented these videos, which was the most interesting part of this 5-day program.

This is one of the interviews of the fourth day of the exchange:

At Friday, we went by foot to city La Citadella, where we visited Museum of Carnival and, besides masks, saw many different sculptures that were used during the carnival. After visit to museum, we went back to Lido di Camaiore where we had to fill evaluation tests after lunch.

Finally, certificates of attendances in project “Enhancing the possibilities of the future with a Mentoring Programme” were given to everyone, we said goodbye to the students who participated and organizers, and then we headed back to our hotel.

On Saturday, we packed our things in great hurry and rushed to the airport so we don’t miss our flight. We came back to our homes a bit latter than expected – tired, but very happy nevertheless.

At the beginning of February 2018, the first student exchange, which was also the second bigger, international project activity, was held in coordinator school. From February 3^rd to 9^th, Monday to Friday, students from Bulgaria, Croatia and Italy were guests of Procivitas Private Gymnasium in Växjö, Sweden. The main theme of this whole exchange was to introduce the mentoring programme to students, its history, goals and experiences of working with it.

As usual, the first day begun with getting to know each other – both students and accompanying teachers – and with mini-tour through host school. Right at the beginning of that day, Students were divided into smaller, mixed groups and got a task of making design of official project logo which will be presented and chosen in Friday. That Monday afternoon was spent quality on exploring the city of Växjö and very interesting dinner in the school cafeteria during which hosts served traditional Swedish dishes.

Next day, Tuesday, was the day for presenting schools partners and education system of each partner school. After that, staff from Procivitas had introduced their Mentoring programme, which is the basis of this whole Erasmus+ project, and explained how it works in their school. At the end of programme introduction, students were divided into three groups, each one with the task of writing questions that will be used in meeting with mentors tomorrow. During afternoon, students visited City Council where they met deputy major, Oliver Rosengren, former Procivitas student and participant of Mentoring Programme – in position of a student, as well as in mentoring role.

The third day was sort of entrepreneurial day when students got the challenge of making up a product and business plan of their imaginary business firm. Each group presented their ideas and solutions, after which students headed to organisations participating in Procivitas’ mentoring programme. One group had a meeting with a representative of employment service, second with a manager of the stadium in Växjö, while the third one had an opportunity to meet workers from wood factory.

Since Swedish schools find physical activity very important in their students’ life, Thursday began with sports. One group of students played hockey, while other played dodgeball. Rest of the day was spent in a field trip to Linnaeus University and Teleborgs Slott, castle, and finished with farewell dinner and bowling.

Friday was also the last day of this awesome student exchange. Symbolically, it was the day when the first task of the first day of exchange actually came to an end – making of a project logo. Students presented their designs after which the best one – or at least the one with the most votes – was selected as an official logo of Erasmus+ project “Mentoring Programme”. After one emotional goodbye, each team went its own way with a hope that time until the next student exchange will fly by very fast and that it will be at least as half educational and amusing as this one was.

Do you want to hear from students themselves how they liked this exchange? Here is one of the interviews which was made at the end of the activity.

During the first semester of conduction of the Erasmus+ project “Enhancing the possibilities of the future with a Mentoring Programme”, the first project exchange took place. It was teacher training activity in Växjö, Sweden, from December 3rd to December 7th 2018 – and it was amazing.
On the Monday morning, December 3rd, teams from partner schools gathered in Procivitas Private Gymnasium Växjö to meet each other and to learn more about working methods of the host school. Participants found out that Procivitas Växjö is well equipped, modern school with a even more polite and amiable staff. To make everyone feel warm and welcome, they tried their best for each partner to meet some students who came or whose family moved to Sweden from their own, partner country. For the “warm” part, they made sure that every now and then “fika” took place – which represents coffee break with some food or sweets on the side.
The second part of the first day, as well as Tuesday morning, were dedicated to workshops on neurological principles of learning and Scaffolding teaching and learning from professor Marie Bivesjö of AcadeMedia. There was a lot of teamwork, brainstorming and discussing which resulted in great working atmosphere and many new ideas.

During Wednesday, participating teachers had an opportunity to find out more about the school’s entrepreneurial projects and their intern Mentoring programme. In the matter of developing entrepreneurial skills, the school encourages their students to found their own small companies that work with real products or services, client, investors, money… Two groups of students presented their business pitch – one offering advertising space on pizza boxes and other selling their own heating/cooling kitchen pad. Since inspiring young people to be proactive and inspired doesn’t only happen on business field, participants met students who engage in social and science project and activities. After that, Procivitas’ teachers and students presented their experience in working with Mentoring programme which resulted in many good friendships, successful careers and huge network of people supporting each other.
The fourth day, Thursday, was dedicated to presentation of monitoring and communication IT system for teachers and students that Procivitas uses in everyday work. Also, informatics professor introduced to participants Google Suite as a useful package of online tools that helps students – individually and in groups – to do and share their school tasks. On Friday participants talked about working with students with special needs, while last these last two days a lot of time was given to planning of upcoming project activities.
Since “all work and no play make Jack a dull boy”, hosts didn’t want to make the same mistake with their guests so they arranged plenty of free time for social and relaxing activities like: visiting Museum of Emigrants, City council, excursion and dinner at Kosta Boda glass factory, visiting hockey arena and watching live hockey game. All in all – the first project meeting filled every project team with ambition and great motivation for pushing this project forward and wanting the best for their students.