twinning between the “Ferraris” Institute and the IES of El Astillero – MolfettaLive.it

From 12 to 20 April 2024, the second phase of the Twinning / Erasmus+ project “Moving for Health” took place in Astillero in Cantabria (Spain), part of the broader international mobility program ferrarismoving of the IISS “G. Ferraris” of Molfetta.

Through a packed program of sporting, cultural and territorial discovery and protection activities, the children had the opportunity to discover each other’s traditions, enriching their own perspectives and consolidating lasting bonds between the two communities.

The project had as its protagonists 14 students, attending third and fourth grades, who were paired with the same number of Spanish students, hosted by Italian families from 25 February to 2 March.

In the Italian hospitality phase, the Italian and Spanish students participated in an intense program of visits, having the opportunity to observe and analyze the biodiversity of the Apulian territory through plogging, collection and geolocalisation of waste from the Lama Martina Natural Park to the beach First Cala di Molfetta and to spend a wonderful and sunny day trekking with a tourist and hiking guide in the Alta Murgia National Park with tasting of typical local products and a cheese workshop; among the cultural visits, walks of historical-architectural interest in English were organized in Bari and Castel del Monte and a walking excursion to Torre Calderina along the western coast.

Regarding sporting activities, thanks to the collaboration with the Mediterranean Vela Molfetta Association, expertly guided by the president of the association and DSGA of the “G. Ferraris”, Antonio Totagiancaspro, Spanish students and teachers took part in an afternoon sailing excursion, while green walking, respiratory education and traditional Molfetta folk games were held in the Baden-Powell Park.
Once in Spain, however, the Ferraris students, hosted by their Spanish ‘twins’, had the opportunity to learn about the history, territory and traditions of Cantabria, a region located on the northern coast of the Iberian peninsula which boasts a variety of landscapes spectacular that range from majestic mountains to enchanting coastlines. Through trekking, geocaching, surfing and rowing schools, fermentation and cheese production workshops at high altitude, the Ferraris students crossed the green valleys and rivers that run through the towns of Santander, El Astillero and Merilla, admiring the evocative coastal cliffs that create a natural setting of extraordinary beauty. In favor of environmental protection, the students participated in a meeting on environmental policies with the mayor and the environmental councilor of El Astillero and carried out an educational activity of planting oak saplings to help improve the landscape and the air quality of an area on the bank of the Ria de Solìa, not far from the urban fabric.
An entire day was also dedicated to visiting Bilbao and the artistic masterpieces of the Guggenheim museum collection.
The Twinning/Erasmus+ “Moving for Health” project also promoted, among other things, the development of language skills and contributed to strengthening the sense of European citizenship, encouraging an inclusive and supportive vision of European identity among the participants, accompanied in experience from the school director, prof. Luigi Melpignano, and by Professor Angela Teatino, project coordinator.