Magna Grecia and Grecia have reunited again, after millennia, thanks to a project which saw the students and teachers of the “Montalbetti” secondary school in Reggio Calabria as protagonists.
Reggio Calabria, the first time with Erasmus for Montalbetti students
A new page of European collaboration has been written by the students and teachers of the “B. Telesio” comprehensive institute in Reggio Calabria, who recently participated in an exciting Erasmus+ project at the “3rd Gymnasium” of Elefsina, Athens. This exchange, financed by the Erasmus+ program KA120-SCH-000105061 of the European Union, saw the participation of 11 students and 3 teachersengaged in an educational and cultural experience of two weeks.
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The students had the opportunity to work together with their Greek peers on various workshops, using new technologies and developing linguistic and cultural skills. Among the subjects covered, a leading role was occupied by the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines, without forgetting archeology and the discovery of the mythological places that have marked the history of the Mediterranean.
A unique experience to replicate
«We presented our city of Reggio Calabria and its peculiarities – says the school director Marisa Maisano – Similar experiences should be replicated, because they allow children to grow both from a personal and educational point of view.”
A particularly exciting aspect of this exchange was the comparison between the roots, traditions and dances of the two cultures. Young people from Reggio and Athenians discovered, step by step, a surprising commonality, culminating in a final party where Sirtaki and Tarantella were danced together, accompanied by tastings of the typical dishes of both territories. A moment of sharing that showed how, despite millennia of separation, humanity and the desire for cooperation remain unchanged.
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The project also encouraged a fruitful exchange between teachers, who addressed topics such as disability and inclusion. A particularly discussed aspect was that concerning the presence of special schools in Greece to accommodate pupils with serious disabilities, unlike what happens in Italy where the school welcomes all pupils for a full inclusion project. «An aspect that seemed curious and innovative in the eyes of the Greek teachers who will soon return the visit to discover “the secrets” that make the “Telesio-Montalbetti” an innovative institute and always ready to look beyond the future for the good of its young people» , explains the manager Maisano.
A real opportunity for growth away from the classroom
In addition to the students, the project also involved teachers Donatella Turano and Graziella Vacalebre in mobility, and Filomena Gennarini, Maria Ieracitano and Antonella Orlando in job shadowing and adult training. The head teacher Marisa Maisano herself took part in the initiative, supervising the entire project. She accompanied and supported teachers and students throughout the entire journey. An experience made possible also thanks to the collaboration of the company VEM srls, the school’s partner for projects linked to Europe.
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An experience that the protagonists wanted to share with the other teachers and classmates upon their return, during a moment that was experienced as a sort of final end-of-year party. The “B. Telesio” comprehensive institute entered the Erasmus+ program for the first time with this project, and the hope is to «be able to continue on this path, creating further opportunities for growth and cultural exchange for its students».
