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ERASMUS+: Learning by travelling, growing by sharing
There are educational experiences you remember… and others that truly shape you. Students from IES Ginés Pérez Chirinos have taken part in the first mobility of the Erasmus+ programme HEROES (Helping the Earth Restore Our Environmental Sustainability), which clearly belongs to the second group.
Twenty students, accompanied by three teachers, had the opportunity to join this enriching educational journey to Enkhuizen, a destination with which the school has maintained a strong partnership for several years. This was not just another trip: it was a real immersion in a different culture, a different way of life and, above all, a different way of learning.
From the moment they arrived, students began to explore life in the Netherlands, even trying out their first words in Dutch (with more enthusiasm than accuracy, it must be said). However, the true value of the experience went far beyond tourism: it was about active learning, closely linked to the major challenges of today’s world.
Sustainable Development Goals
During the stay, the focus was on several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 10, reduced inequalities, and SDG 3, good health and well-being, were approached through direct experience, as students took part in physical activity by learning how to ice skate.
As part of SDG 12, responsible consumption and production, students visited the Zuiderzeemuseum, where they reflected on how consumption habits have changed over time.
Climate action (SDG 13) was explored from a perspective that was both familiar and surprising: fashion. Students analysed the large amount of water required to produce clothing and took part in a recycling workshop, where they designed new garments that were later presented in an original fashion show. Science, creativity and environmental awareness all came together.
Finally, SDG 5, gender equality, was addressed through the workshop The Pink Tax, where students examined pay differences between men and women across different sectors. This activity encouraged critical thinking and meaningful discussion.
Beyond the academic content
Beyond the academic content, what truly mattered was the experience of living together, cultural exchange and personal growth. Learning English in the classroom is valuable… but having to use it to communicate, live and interact in another country is on a completely different level. The results were clear: a significant improvement in students’ communication skills.
Erasmus is not just an educational programme; it is an investment in the future. It helps to shape open-minded, thoughtful and responsible citizens. And, like any good investment, its benefits are not measured in the short term, but in the lasting impact it leaves behind.
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Co-financed by the European Union. The opinions and points of view expressed only commit their author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education (SEPIE). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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