C6 Visit
Welcome to Madrid!
Day 1
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Monday 9th was our first day in Madrid. At 9.00 everyone arrived to the school with their hosts. The first activity was an integrating game during which we got to know each other names. Next Spanish students showed us the school. We visited it in small international groups. After lunch (paella was the main dish) we got on the bus and went to the city centre where we attended a guided tour around the Old Town.
Helena - Poland
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Presentation of ebook "What does it mean to be a European?"
HAVING A GENUINE COMMUNITY
Being a European is a gift. Having people around you who mostly share your beliefs, have shared history and customs, and use a similar language usually makes you feel at ease. Sometimes you can also feel at home. That's a blessing from the European Union – having a place where you are always welcome. With the sense of acceptance there comes respect. Being shown that you and your opinions matter and are taken seriously can make your life more pleasurable. Viewing yourself as part of something more significant, like Europe, is also quite comfortable. Knowing you are not alone in this world creates a sense of unity among many countries. That plays a massive role in the stability, security and prosperity of the Union.
Moreover, this democratic union is essential for keeping Europe in relative peace. The EU can protect its citizens, putting them at ease and making them more efficient at work. Maintaining good terms among member nations helps monitor compliance with the EU laws. It also protects the Union from the outside threats and the environment from pollution. Other perks that come from being a European include, among others:
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Respecting civil rights.
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Financial and economic benefits.
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European Health Insurance Card.
Living in a safe place and having your rights defended creates excellent conditions for plans to improve the future arise. With them, future generations can take better care of the planet.
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LAWS THAT KEEP EUROPEANS SAFE AND RIGHTS THAT ENSURE THEIR WELL-BEING
One of the benefits of belonging to the European Union is participating in its prosperous economy. Thanks to the EU, better communication and economic relationships are made. There are fewer fees when it comes to trading. But citizens have to pay taxes, as the money doesn't grow on trees. Thanks to European funding, many companies can get financial help to prosper and grow. The European Council ensures that democracy is maintained and that no dictatorship is created. Consequently, there is no censorship. Everyone has access to the same Internet media with no restraints other than geographical location. Because the union is based on respect, governments promote equality, freedom of speech, and many other rights that create a more welcoming environment for every citizen. The institution that guards that is the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. People there ensure that the freedom of thought, religion, assembly, and information protection is respected and the laws regarding them are obeyed. Another fundamental right is the protection of data regulated by a legal guideline – the general data protection regulation. Finally, every European has the right to actively participate in political life of all EU citizens and contribute to benefiting the rest of the nations. The key to that is good communication.
WORKING ABROAD AND SCHOOL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
Being a European allows citizens to find jobs across all member countries of the European Union. Thanks to an employment code, every workplace must ensure the employees' health and safety. In many countries, there are some services that help unemployed people find a job. There are also four weeks of paid leave each year to help workers have a good work-life balance.
European workers have certain rights to be respected when it comes to their jobs, such as:
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minimum wage,
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health and safety requirements that a workplace has to fulfill,
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equal opportunities regardless of sex, background, age etc.,
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anti-discrimination protection,
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employment code.
Some countries in Europe have efficient systems when it comes to education. Additionally, each country in the European Union offers at least seven years of compulsory schooling. As for higher education, citizens of the EU can study at all universities for the same fee as local citizens, which means looking at prestigious schools, sometimes even for free. Another great benefit are student exchange programs that allow students to gain more opportunities for further development.
Other ideas may be read by clicking on the images below:
Part 1
Part 2
Guided Tour Around the City
Day 2
Workshop: Developing Oral Skills
The day started with two 1,5 hours of lessons.
The first one: „Workshop on oral skills” was generally about how to act during debates, for example how to give a volume of our voice. We tried it on our own, some of us were speaking with a pen inside their mouths, others were talking to the wall or an open window. It sounds absolutely crazy, but in my opinion, it was one of the best ideas to improve/check our voice volume. Summing up, the most important things you have to remember about during speeches are: breaks in reading, your voice sound and volume as well as body language.
After 20-minute break we started the second lesson: „ Workshop on protocols of Three-O-Mun”. The title speaks for itself. We focused on things you weren’t allowed to do during the debate and things you could or should say. We also talked about rules we had to follow. What were they then? We had to speak as ” we…, my country”,
- do not speak as ”me…, in my opinion…”.
The rest of lesson we spent on preparing a debate. For some of us it was uncomfortable and awkward, for others: challenging and exciting.
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To relax after the debate, we went to the „ Museum of illusions”.
Ewa - Poland
Museum of Illusions
Day 3
Three-O-MUN: Model of the United Nations debate
On the third day of mobility to Madrid, the debate took place. It was divided into three parts. In The Model of the European Parliament, each pair or individual was assigned one of the European countries. Delegates proposed different topics to talk about, called caucuses. Not every proposition was approved but each representation had numerous opportunities to speak their minds in their country's name.
In the end, everyone came together to create a resolution consisting of previously discussed issues. It included regulations of the European Law, measures to be taken against climate change and adequate punishment for insubordinate countries. A crucial point referred to Turkey joining the EU. The whole agreed that to become a member of the organisation, the petitioner must fulfil specific requirements, essential ones being respecting Human Rights.
After finishing the debate, students got some free time. They ended the day with an exciting game of bowling.
Julia-Poland
Information Three-O-MUN
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Rules Three-O-MUN
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Day 4
Workshop at National Archaeological Museum
After the exhausting day of debate, we went to the Archaeological Museum where we had to solve problems working in international groups on worksheets. Then we went to an amusement Warner Parque. It was great! We spent the whole day there and had a lot of fun.
Jagoda - Poland
Day 5
Friday started as always: we had breakfast with our families and went to school. At school we played sport game called Chucko-Ball. The point of the game is to throw a ball into a trampoline so it bounces far away and the opposite team won’t be able to catch it. There are two trampolines, one on each side of the court. If the opposite team catches the ball the games goes on. You can’t block the passes and you can only make 3 steps with the ball in your hand.
After playing we went home and spent time with friends. Later that day we met at school to have a farewell grill and an official end of the mobility meeting in Spain.
Bartek - Poland
Group Work Activity
The group focused on European problems that are affecting our life and that may cause bigger problems in the near future. They listed such problems, and the most popular ones were chosen for action upon in the future mobilities. The students' motto is to make Europe a better continent to live in!
Teachers' Project Meeting
After the meeting held on Friday 13th May 2022, we agreed on these aspects and this is the path we are going to follow until the last mobility in Brussels:
SPAIN: Students have voted for these the three main topics we are going to work on next school year:
- Environmental problems
- Gender inequality
- Immigration problems
POLAND: Students will provide nine possible issues related to the former problems as planned in Spain. Then we will vote for the most important five.
MALTA: Students will set up companies in order to face those five problems. Even though companies will be international, different divisions of the company will be distributed among different countries. For example, Finland will be in charge of the design, Spain of marketing, Malta, sales, etc.
FRANCE: The different sections of the companies will be assembled in this mobility, so that the final task will be presenting the final version of the company. A dossier or prototype will be shown in Brussels.
Certificate
All participants were awarded a certificate of participation.