The project’s third mobility event took place in April 2024 and brought together the Romania pairing with Dorina and Mihaela and Châlons-en-Champagne represented by Lionel and Claire. This step follows the first mobility, which took place in November 2023 in Champagne.
This mobility aimed to :
- Observe the pedagogical practices used by Romanian teachers in their classrooms.
- To enable direct contact between French teachers and the children taking part in the project.
- Share best practices in sustainable development.
- Promote international cooperation between teachers within an innovative pedagogical framework.
Program and schedule
Wednesday (4:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.): Travel and First Contacts
The journey from Châlons-en-Champagne to Botoșani, located in northeastern Romania, a few kilometers from the Moldavian and Ukrainian borders, was particularly long. The afternoon was devoted to initial contact between the partners, enabling them to review the program for the following days and coordinate final preparations.
Thursday Morning (8:30am – 1:00pm) : Discovery and Observation
The morning began with an introduction to Romanian culture and education. Welcomed in the traditional way with bread and salt by students in traditional costumes, the participants then attended various classroom activities, covering several levels from CE1 (1ère) to sixième (5ème).
Thursday afternoon (1:30 pm – 5:00 pm): “Sauvons la Planète” (Let’s save the planet)
The afternoon was marked by a performance on the theme of ecology, presented by students from grades 5 to 12. Activities, all in French, included poetry, song and dance about the importance of committing to a sustainable future. This was followed by a session in the “step by step” section, dedicated to students requiring special support.
Friday Morning (09:00 – 13:00): 1Village
The morning included participation in four practical classes focusing on the environment and two French classes where students set up activities around the 1Village project, discovering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and phase 3. The teachers actively participated and helped the students.
Friday afternoon (2:00 pm – 6:00 pm) : Visit to the General Inspectorate
A visit to the general inspectorate of the Botoșani department provided an opportunity to present the project, activities and objectives. Exchanges with the Inspector General and those in charge of international and European projects were fruitful. The day ended with a debriefing meeting with the partners, discussing best practices on SDO education and international cooperation.
Saturday: Cultural Tours
Participants visited Suceava’s medieval citadel, currently undergoing renovation, and the ethnographic museum, showcasing traditional environmentally-friendly techniques. Deforestation in Romania was also discussed. The afternoon was devoted to a visit to the museum of painted eggs, a regional tradition, and a typical black ceramics workshop.
Monday Morning (10:30am – 12:30pm): Meetings at the Institut Français
Before our departure, we had the pleasure of meeting the director of the Institut français de Iași and staff from the institute’s media library. It was an opportunity to exchange views on the links between France and Romania, particularly in the fields of culture and languages, and to explore avenues for future collaboration.
This third mobility was an enriching experience. The objectives were achieved, enabling observation of Romanian teaching practices, direct contact with pupils, and the sharing of best practices in sustainable development. International cooperation between teachers has been strengthened, paving the way for new stages in the project.