Meeting Report

GRUNDTVIG PROJECT 2011 – 2013

Lifestyles Revisited

 

Partners:

• Beypazarı Kız Teknik ve Meslek Lisesi, Ankara, TR
• Club Senior Nordstad, Ettelbruck, Luxemburg, LU
• Escola Secundaria, D.Sancho I, Vila Nova de Famalicão, PT
• Fundacja Pomocy Niewidomym, Lomianki, PL
• Scuola Secondaria di I Grado G.Pascoli, Fasano di Brindisi, IT
• Universidad Permanente de la Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, ES
• Zebra Formations asbl, Hannut, BE

Partnership meeting report

 

Escola Secundaria, D.Sancho I, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal

23-25 May 2013

 

 

1/ Designating a secretary for the project meeting (who will take notes, write and communicate the report.

 

The partners from Poland were asked to fulfil this task which they gracefully accepted.

 

2/ Dissemination of products through the partnership website hosted by UPUA: checking the various tasks that were to be completed.

 

(a) Sending translations of the extra two and a half pages of information about the project (Motivation, Objectives and strategy, Impact, Relevance, European added value).

 

All partners have accomplished this task.

 

(b) Transmission of the evaluation results of the meeting in Italy shown in Poland to Spain.

 

This task has been accomplished.

 

3/ Presentations by Partners of their local activities as best practices to be shared.

 

(a) Checking the transmission of 5 photos (4+1) and ONE page with description or comments explaining the photos to all partners.

 

This task has been accomplished by all partners.

 

(b) Round table reporting on the local activities related to the 5th lifestyle variable “Leisure and Free Time” including learner and trainer reactions about the 5 (4+1) photos received from each partner.

 

The presentation was made by projecting the photos of each country in turn.

Each country reminded the team what the pictures represented. All partners in turn then gave the reactions of their learners and also their own.

The following order was followed: Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey.

 

Questions were asked when precision was needed about the pictures shown or the activities they represented. Some activities were recognised as approximately similar in other countries allowing for cultural variations or geographical conditions (mountains, sea, forest, etc.) Some leisure activities can only be done providing the climate is appropriate (snow, wind, temperature).

Certain free time activities reflected differences due to local habits and role models related to gender or age. Some were linked to religious customs or to social involvement.

 

At this stage a photo-book produced by Luxembourg was circulated, representing their various workshop activities performed during the course of the project. This type of production may inspire others and be annexed as dissemination to the final report.

 

 

In short we are presenting some comments of participants related to the Round table reporting on the local activities what we have mentioned above.

 

1. BELGIUM 

Participants’ comments

 

	TITLE	Italy	Spain	Luxemburg	Turkey	Portugal	Poland
1	Balle pelote	They don’t know how to play it but are willing to learn.	They also play similar games.		It’s difficult to figure out how to play it, basing on a photograph.	Nobody knows this  game thoroughly. They know similar games.	Everybody is curious about the rules of this game.
2	Cuistax (riding machine)		They have similar races.			They have similar competitions e.g. in Pavoa de Varzim.
3	Stag bellowing				This was the photograph liked the most. It is connected with leisure.	Interesting bird watching.
4	Popinjay (Belgian archery)	They like it because it conveyed them  wonder and amazement, because it is about a very unusual activity, never seen in their region				This was the photograph liked the most	Unknown in Poland
5	Jogging and marathon races					Popular in Portugal

 

 

 

2. ITALY

Participants’ comments

 

	TITLE	Belgium	Spain	Luxemburg	Turkey	Portugal	Poland
1	Sea urchins	They like to eat seafood	They have similar food. Enjoyable.	They don’t have a coast nor these dishes.	They have different eating habits.		Participants rarely eat such dishes.
2	Picking up „Cicorielle”		They have similar food. Enjoyable. Activity also for seniors.	They have similar vegetables.	It brings to mind childhood.	It is hard to judge whether it is edible or not	They have similar interests (allotment gardens)
3	Race of Bearing Wheel cars”			They have similar competitions	This was the photograph liked the most. They have similar competitions (go cart racing)	They have similar competitions	They have similar competitions, although in Poland it takes place in the winter.
4	The filet	Attractive. Informal way of spending free time among elderly.	Common activity. Beautiful nature.	Done by elderly (knitting e.g. sweaters is popular). Young people don’t have time for such activities.	They have painting lessons in schools.	Done by seniors (decorating houses, furniture). Currently it disappears.
5	Walking	Common activity				Everyone likes strolling regardless of the age	Popular in Poland.

 

 

 

 

3. LUXEMBURG

Participants’ comments

 

	TITLE	Belgium	Spain	Italy	Turkey	Portugal	Poland
1	Nature activities	Activities taken in groups	They do the same things	Popular	It’s not popular (merely for the purpose of having a picnic)	It is interesting that women walk together with men. In Portugal, only men spend their free time in such a way at weekends.	Popular among elderly.
2	Playing activities/ playing cards?	Popular. Activities taken in groups			This was the photograph liked the most.
3	Creative activities (handicraft)	Done in Belgium, only by women.	Activity for elderly, it is taught in schools.		Very popular for them, taught in schools. Young people can play.
4	Social engagement / Fire protection			They  felt admiration, esteem, respect for Luxembourg friends because their free time has a social purpose and the group does this activity beyond their sex, culture, age differences.	Applicable to institutions only.	They liked the photograph. Important issue in Portugal as there are many forests.	Such demonstrations take place only in schools - for students.
5	Engagement In different Associations/  Singing in a choir		There are various associations in Spain dealing with music.	Very common. In Italy there are many associations dealing with music.	For instance - street dance courses.	Popular, many participants.	We have great number of such associations. We know the blind choir that recorded 2 CD’s.

 

4. POLAND

Participants’ comments

 

	TITLE	Belgium	Spain	Italy	Turkey	Portugal	Luxemburg
1	Spending free time with neighbors	They have Neighbor Day	They also have it, for example in August	Popular especially in small towns	They have similar ceremonies.	Similar ceremonies, e.g. Saint John (also neighbors meet together)	Only true for the young.
2	Faworki - sweet crisp biscuits	It’s nice to do something together and cooperate		They have almost similar sweets at Carnival		They don’t have carnival traditions	They have similar traditions.
3	Chopin concert	An open air concert was not possible to take place due to the bad weather			Classical music is not as popular as e.g. rap music	They have a foundation which organizes concerts but it’s not very popular	An open air concert was not possible to take place due to the bad weather
4	Canoes		Popular.	Not popular in Italy because of the natural conditions - rivers.	Popular in  South-East Turkey	Popular.	Offered by the clubs
5	Competition - racing			Similar competition but without snow. It communicated  pleasure and satisfaction because this activity gives vent to the creativity and fantasy in order to compose a mean of transport by recyclable materials.	Similar	They don’t have snow.	Similar

 

5. PORTUGAL

Participants’ comments

 

	TITLE	Belgium	Spain	Italy	Turkey	Poland	Luxemburg
1	Tea or coffee at a cafe			Popular	They like this custom, depends on the weather		Eating outdoors is popular.
2	Surfing	They only watch it on TV	Yes, but it is not popular	It transmitted them a shiver and a strong sensation of bravery because that young people can challenge the nature.	Depends on the place of residence	Depends on the wind. There are some places at the Baltic Sea, for example Hel Peninsula	They don’t have it, unpopular
3	Bullfights	Controversial	Controversial	It communicated them a lot of sadness and disappointment because they don’t agree with this way of spending time.	They thought that the photo is from Spain, surprised.	Unknown	Various opinions
4	A big party organized by students	Only for students				We have many such parties in each university town.	They don’t have such parties because there are too few universities.
5	Playing card games	Only men			Popular only among men		Men and women play together

 

 

6. SPAIN 

Participants’ comments

 

	TITLE	Belgium	Portugal	Italy	Turkey	Poland	Luxemburg
1	Cultural trips			Eco trips	Such trips have only recently became popular.	Family trips, various age groups	They also have them, abroad trips as well
2	Taking care of grandchildren	Positive feelings	Important	Popular - social approach. It reveals the link between the past and the future times, the traditions that are transmitted to the young. It is about a familiar solidarity as well as social solidarity in this difficult times.	Regarded as an obligation	Very and popular. Connected with tradition, financially worthwhile	Important
3	Surfing	Positive feelings	They have similar activities.	It transmitted them a shiver and a strong sensation of bravery because that young people can challenge the nature.	Sailing is popular		Unpopular
4	Having a snack with friends (Tapas)	Positive feelings	They don’t have such meetings		They don’t have such meetings	We don’t have tapas	Popular, done with friends
5	Tourist trip

 

 

7. TURKEY

Participants’ comments

 

	TITLE	Belgium	Portugal	Italy	Spain	Poland	Luxemburg
1	Hiking in the nature		As well but only for young people	They have similar interests.		In groups, mainly elderly are associated
2	Riding a motorcycle	Problematic, they are noisy		Popular	Only true for the young.		No
3	Backgammon game	A beautiful place, immersed in nature	They don’t know how to play	An interesting merge between old and new (a tablet)	Unpopular	Unknown	It is not widely known game but women and men play together
4	Day of gold		Good idea		Surprised		Unpopular
5	Harmandali (folk dances)	A beautiful place, immersed in nature; costumes	Beautiful costumes			Interesting costumes	There are dance groups but not very popular

 

 

 

 

4/ Evaluation tools (continuous assessment of the progression of the project and partnership)

 

a) – Presentation by Poland and Portugal of the compilation of results of the evaluation carried out in Poland (for dissemination on the website).

 

The statistics and charts of this final evaluation session showed once more that the partnership has been extremely successful and satisfying for the vast majority of participants right until its last stage. This useful compilation of results revealed high scores in all topics (communication, creativity, personal achievement, etc.).

 

The complete presentation will be sent by Poland to Spain to be added to the EVALUATION TOOLS section of the partnership website.

 

b) – General debate and conclusion: all partners express their opinion regarding the project and the partnership as a whole.

 

See point 6/ “Cooperation for the final report”.

 

 

 

 

 

5/ General overview of the compilation of all products in Compendium form including the fourth and fifth lifestyle variables

 

(a) Finalizing the amount of information to be included in the partnership website hosted by UPUA.

 

Only a few items have to be added to the website before finalizing. These concerns the material related to the present partnership meeting in Portugal:

 

the Meeting Agenda, the Meeting Report (to be sent by Poland to all partners), the evaluation presentation (to be sent by Poland to Spain), the compendium file regarding the fifth lifestyle variable (there will be coordination between Belgium and Spain for this item).

 

(b) Establishing the list of project products to be included in the final report.

 

The partners agreed that all the following sections should be included in the final report, either directly in the form or as annexes to it (CD-ROM):

• Compendium
• Meeting Agendas
• Meeting Reports
• Local activities (workshops)
• Evaluation sessions

These constitute the minimum: any other (extra) product can also be included.

 

6/ Cooperation for the Final Report

 

Belgium sent all partners PART A (common part). PART B should be completed separately by each partner.

 

7/ Application for a new partnership (Think Tank)

 

Luxembourg indicated that they the new project had been accepted by their National Agency and had passed the first selection stage. The result of the European matching will be disclosed at some time in June.

 

8/ AOB: any other matter

 

During the meeting several personalities, including the Head of the school, were introduced to the assembly. They welcomed the participants to the school and Famalicão, giving information about these places. The partners were honoured by the presence of the Director at the final dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***************

 

The partners were grateful to Paula, Artur and Maria-Gloria for having accepted to organise a meeting that was not originally planned, for their commitment and work making the final partnership meeting one to be cherished and remembered.

 

The partners were able to have dinner together on the previous evening while listening to a live fado concert in Porto.

 

They were offered a visit of the school centre with some of its new facilities before departing on a round trip to Bom Jesu and Braga. Some also visited Viana do Castelo and the coast.

 

In blazing sun the partners were lucky to see the magnificent gardens of Bom Jesu with its impressive Baroque staircase symbolic of the Fourteen Stations of the Cross that lead visitors upwards to the Igreja de Bom Jesus de Monte Church.

 

From the top the view of Braga is wonderful. The town itself was animated and full of life with the city's annual Bracara Augusta Roman historical festival, which transforms the historical centre and its citizens into a living Roman camp. Partners enjoyed wandering in the typical narrow streets among small stores and shops.

 

There were several occasions to socialize and to taste and enjoy Portuguese food such as minced duck with vegetables and cod quiche accompanied by sparkling local vino Verde of various vine-plants.

 

The evening meal at Casa do Outeirinho, perhaps meaning “House of the Small Hill” was enlivened with music and dance. All partners joined on the floor to perform folk dances under the expert guidance of Anna who tried her best to get everyone in line.

 

The evening was so successful no one wanted to leave.