The first LTTA students from our project started their activities today in Incukalna Pamatskola, Latvia. In addition to the Latvian students, this week included 5 students from Portugal, 5 from Croatia and 5 from Sweden. The morning began with a warm welcome ceremony from the Incukalna Pamatskola community, which took place in the sports hall and involved the whole school. Then, divided into two groups, we had a guided tour of the school, led by Year 9 students, passing through the different spaces, including the various facilities of the fantastic sports complex, and being present in various classrooms at all levels of education. At the end of the morning, the students gave a presentation about their countries, their region and their school. After lunch in the school canteen, the students, divided into 5 groups of mixed teams, set off to discover the surrounding natural and cultural spaces in an action-building activity through the village of Incukalns, while the teachers gave them a guided tour of the village. An intense day, which ended with sport: a table hockey demonstration and tournament with the best possible coach - the world champion in the sport - and activities in the swimming pool. It was an auspicious start, which created huge expectations for the rest of the week.

The morning of the second day is dedicated to a visit to Latvia's most visited museum, Turaida Medieval Castle, a place that represents the interaction of different cultures and a multifaceted process of Europeanization over a thousand years. It is a place that symbolizes non-violent resistance in the “Sung Revolution”, bringing to life the values of freedom, democracy and human rights. It is on the European Union's list of European Heritage Sites because of the significant role it has played in the history and culture of Europe. Europe starts here!

Turaida Castle, situated in a picturesque setting surrounded by hills and forests, in the heart of the Gauja National Park, transported the students back to the 13th century, when it served as a bastion of defense and a symbol of power. Guided by local guides, we explored the imposing stone halls, the towers and even the architectural details that preserve the memory of medieval times. 

The “Visit to the Judge President of Turaida” experience was the highlight of the visit. In a careful historical recreation, the students, dressed in medieval costumes and accessories, took on different roles, accurately recreating the social organization of this era.

Next to the Memorial to Rosa de Turaida, we learned about the legend of this maiden, Maija, famous for the tragic way she died at the hands of a rejected admirer, and who is still considered a model of fidelity and devotion.

This tragic death for love was the starting point for the next activity: a workshop in which the students, organized into multinational teams, created scenarios, which will be implemented on Thursday using various dramatic techniques.

After lunch at the St. John's market in the center of Sigulda, a guided tour of “Latvian Switzerland” followed, which allowed them to discover its natural and cultural riches.

A day marked by a journey back in time and full of learning in nature, which ended with a quiz on the Genially platform to test the knowledge acquired - nature at the center of the digital world!

Today was entirely dedicated to Riga, the capital of Latvia. 

The “journey” through the largest city in the Baltic countries begins at the Brothers' Cemetery, a military cemetery and national monument, the burial place for thousands of Latvian soldiers killed between 1915 and 1920 during the First World War and the Latvian War of Independence, which expresses the national gratitude to the fallen heroes. 

This is followed by the Freedom Monument in the center of the city, the greatest symbol of the Latvian state, national unity, independence and freedom. Under the protective light of Liberty, we enter the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, through the Powder Tower, a structure that stands as a reminder of the medieval past, which was originally part of the city's defensive walls, has witnessed centuries of history, and currently houses the War Museum, showing not only the country's struggle for independence and its journey towards nationhood, but also the history of Europe over the last 200 years. Remembering war to celebrate and preserve peace!

The “Swedish Gate”, part of Riga's defensive system, is another of the emblematic sites in Riga's historic center, which takes us on a beautiful walk through some of the main streets, squares and monuments to the heart of the city: the House of the Blackheads.

The following visit should be compulsory in every country's school curriculum, because “Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it”. The phrase, attributed to the Irish philosopher Edmund Burke, perfectly illustrates the afternoon's visit to the Salaspils Memorial, built on the site of Hitler's Germany's largest concentration camp in the Baltic from 1941 to 1944. Today it is one of the largest monument complexes in Europe in tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and welcomes us with a 100-metre-long concrete wall symbolizing the border between life and death: “Beyond this gate, the earth groans.”

Another enriching and fulfilling day that ended with a hotly contested “competition” on the lessons learned and a collaborative activity on the Padlet platform - nature, democracy and freedom at the heart of the digital world!

Today was a day full of learning and creativity.

In the morning, students and teachers took part in classes and had the opportunity to interact with students and teachers from the Latvian school. This interaction provided an exchange of experiences and cultures, allowing the participants to learn more about Latvian teaching methods and school dynamics. In addition, the teachers also had the opportunity to visit classes of younger age groups, which brought new pedagogical perspectives and strengthened the cultural exchange.

This was followed by a “workshop”, in which we brought to life the scenarios previously created during the visit to Turaida Castle, using different dramatic techniques. The 5 multinational groups, using recyclable materials, reused or collected from the surrounding natural spaces, implemented the “stories” created on Tuesday, using mask theater, stop motion animation, shadow theater and puppetry. It was incredible to see the students' imagination and talent, and in just two hours of great creativity and collaboration, they finished their work, which they presented after lunch. The animations produced were completed and saved on the school's official YouTube account.

We ended the day with a special lesson on Latvian folklore, immersing ourselves in the musical rhythms and richness of the local culture. Tradition and history that, through a unique and fun experience, had students and teachers dancing together.

This day was a true reflection of the values of the Erasmus program: learning, interculturality and innovation. We continue to build bridges between technology, nature and tradition!