Under the Erasmus + project “School libraries promoting readers, values, literacies, skills and inclusion”, from 24 to 28 October there was a mobility to a partner school in Crete, in Agios Nikolaos. Sixteen students from different countries – Portugal, Poland and Italy – participated in this mobility programme, which was joined by several students from the Greek school who gave extraordinary support to all the students and contributed to an atmosphere of great friendship.
It is important to mention that the whole mobility was organised with great rigour and dedication by the Greek Erasmus team, to which was added a permanent demonstration of sincere joy and friendship in receiving their guests.
On the first day, after the welcome given by the school director and coordinator, Marina Toutoudaki, and the Mayor of Agios NiKolaus, we had the opportunity to watch a presentation of traditional Crete music and dance in the auditorium.
This was followed by a dynamic getting to know each other activity with the involvement of all the students. Afterwards, an emotional video about the Holocaust was shown and a quiz was taken.
We also had the opportunity to take the students on a guided tour through the town of Agios NiKolaus.
Also during this week of exchange and sharing of good practices, we visited Elounda and the impressive island of Spinalonga, considered the “Auschwitz” of Crete, where until 1957 people with leprosy were abandoned; we visited Knossos, city in ancient Crete, capital of the legendary king Minos, and the main centre of the Minoan, the earliest of the Aegean civilizations; the city of Heraklion and the History and Folklore museum in Neapolis.
During the last days, the presentation work related to the book “A bag of marbles” took place, as well as several very interesting workshops about this book and the awarding ceremony of certificates for the students and teachers participating in this mobility.
On Friday 28th, official holiday, because it was the commemoration of Greece’s independence day, we had the opportunity to watch the parades that took place in the city.
Finally, Saturday was the day of farewell and emotion, visible in students, parents and teachers, who demonstrated in this way all the extraordinary and unforgettable week lived in Agios Nikolaus.
