CHALLENGE TO CHANGE, CHALLENGE TO EXCHANGE
-ALTERNATIVE FOR A HEALTHY INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
Colegiul Tehnic "Edmond Nicolau" focsani, Romania
The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project "Challenge to change, Challenge to exchange-Alternative for a Healthy Inclusive Society" (reference number 2019-1-RO01-KA105-062073) was implemented by Colegiul Tehnic "Edmond Nicolau" Focsani, a Romanian technical high school as applicant institution in partnership with Associacion Juvenil WUBIRA from Olvera, Spain.
Implementation Period: 01.06.2019-31.01.2020
Grant: 20280 Euro
34 young participants aged 15-19 years old facing fewer opportunities (geographical and economical obstacles)
6 group leaders
This Youth Exchange project was created as an open space where 17 Romanian young people studying at "Edmond Nicolau" Technical High School could meet 17 young people collaborating with the Spanish Youth Association "WUBIRA" from Olvera in order to acquire some behavior changes by gaining awareness with regard to the necessity of having a healthier lifestyle and of adapting their habits in order to become physically and mentally healthier and more responsible, recognising and preventing the danger of certain diseases such as diabetes, bulimia and anorexia nervosa, obesity, heart disease, depression and anxiety. This project was meant as a sequel of a long-term collaboration between the Romanian high school and the Spanish youth association as the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange "RURAL OLYMPICS", planned to take place in Spain in June 2019, will be implemented in March 2020 with the help of local community and schools from Olvera.
Key facts about Colegiul Tehnic "Edmond Nicolau" Focsani
Situated in Focsani, Colegiul Tehnic “Edmond Nicolau”/ "Edmond Nicolau" Technical High School was established in 1972 for training young people for the local labor market in the field of mechanics. Since then, it has changed its name twice and actually Colegiul Tehnic “Edmond Nicolau” is the second size vocational and technical high school in Vrancea county well known for providing to our students theoretical knowledge according to their specialization and professional training in the school workshops. Nowadays the institution is one of the best vocational high schools from Vrancea county for several reasons: high quality professional training delivered to the students and apprenticeship by more than 20 local private companies, well trained staff including 65 experienced teachers, prices won at various national contests and competitions, modern facilities for studying and extracurricular activities: large festivity room with 220 seats,1 multimedia lab, 3 IT labs, 1 lab for foreign languages, 2 labs for Physics, 1 lab for Geography, a sports centre, outside football court, medical care and psychologist.There are 835 young students from 14 to 20 years old and adult learners 25+ who attend evening classes after leaving school without any diploma or professional qualification. Many students have fewer opportunities as their families are facing important economical difficulties so more than 10% of our students receive every year public financial support through the social programme called Bani de liceu/ Money for School, 85% of students live in rural areas and are supported by the Romanian Ministry of Education with money for transportation, 15% of students 14-20 years old have one or both parents working abroad and they are likely to dropout school, several young people deal with learning difficulties.
The main activities are according to the national curriculum for secondary education, both theoretical and technical specializations. The vocational part of education covers about 8 technical classes per academic year where students study both theoretical (Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Physics, Religious Education, Psychology, Romanian language and literature) and practice subjects such as mechanics, CAD Computer Aided Design, electronics, mechatronics, electrics, etc. All students learn two foreign languages, English and French and take IT lessons in the school computer labs. Our high school is certified as a national centre for European Computer Driving License (ECDL), a certification for high school students' digital skills. Students obtain professional certificates according to the domain they have followed during the 4 academic years. These professional certificates allow young people to be qualified workers in order to get employed in the European Union and beyond the common space.
Students have 1 class of Physical Education per week playing sports in the school gym. The students willing to play a sport can join our school teams for basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess or football within the sports club. Every year students trained by the 2 teachers of Physical education participate in local and national sports competitions.
Every year our high school organises the national baccalaureate exams for our students and for those from neighbouring schools as we are an examination centre.
Key facts about Asociacion Juvenil "WUBIRA"
Asociacion Juvenil "WUBIRA", situated in Olvera, was born in April 2014 following a training activity in the Andalusian Youth Institute, the Association for Europe. The association, created by young people motivated to bring positive changes in their local community, has nowadays more than 30 active members working on the creation and implementation of local, national and European projects aiming to promote the youth involvement, active citizenship, healthy lifestyle, education, sports, social inclusion and preservation of natural environment. Constantly collaborating with schools and local authorities/stakeholders, the association offers a healthy and efficient alternative for spending leisure time as well as projects focusing on gender equality. Cultural projects and activities impleneted by Wubira from 2014 to 2019:
- preparing and decorating traditional hornazo cakes
- participating in the contest Pilgrimage Quasimodo Monday (2nd prize in 2015, 2016)
- Wubira Night - organizing an alternative, magical series that combines culture, music, sport, socializing among young people: groups of young people visited emblematic monuments of the region such as the Moorish Castle, Cilla museum and churches where WUBIRA members presented sketches, poetic moments, tea preparations and cakes for visitors
- organising the music festival White Villages in Cadiz and the Sierra Verde Festival
Situated in Focsani, Colegiul Tehnic “Edmond Nicolau”/ "Edmond Nicolau" Technical High School was established in 1972 for training young people for the local labor market in the field of mechanics. Since then, it has changed its name twice and actually Colegiul Tehnic “Edmond Nicolau” is the second size vocational and technical high school in Vrancea county well known for providing to our students theoretical knowledge according to their specialization and professional training in the school workshops. Nowadays the institution is one of the best vocational high schools from Vrancea county for several reasons: high quality professional training delivered to the students and apprenticeship by more than 20 local private companies, well trained staff including 65 experienced teachers, prices won at various national contests and competitions, modern facilities for studying and extracurricular activities: large festivity room with 220 seats,1 multimedia lab, 3 IT labs, 1 lab for foreign languages, 2 labs for Physics, 1 lab for Geography, a sports centre, outside football court, medical care and psychologist.There are 835 young students from 14 to 20 years old and adult learners 25+ who attend evening classes after leaving school without any diploma or professional qualification. Many students have fewer opportunities as their families are facing important economical difficulties so more than 10% of our students receive every year public financial support through the social programme called Bani de liceu/ Money for School, 85% of students live in rural areas and are supported by the Romanian Ministry of Education with money for transportation, 15% of students 14-20 years old have one or both parents working abroad and they are likely to dropout school, several young people deal with learning difficulties.
The main activities are according to the national curriculum for secondary education, both theoretical and technical specializations. The vocational part of education covers about 8 technical classes per academic year where students study both theoretical (Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Physics, Religious Education, Psychology, Romanian language and literature) and practice subjects such as mechanics, CAD Computer Aided Design, electronics, mechatronics, electrics, etc. All students learn two foreign languages, English and French and take IT lessons in the school computer labs. Our high school is certified as a national centre for European Computer Driving License (ECDL), a certification for high school students' digital skills. Students obtain professional certificates according to the domain they have followed during the 4 academic years. These professional certificates allow young people to be qualified workers in order to get employed in the European Union and beyond the common space.
Students have 1 class of Physical Education per week playing sports in the school gym. The students willing to play a sport can join our school teams for basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess or football within the sports club. Every year students trained by the 2 teachers of Physical education participate in local and national sports competitions.
Every year our high school organises the national baccalaureate exams for our students and for those from neighbouring schools as we are an examination centre.
Key facts about Asociacion Juvenil "WUBIRA"
Asociacion Juvenil "WUBIRA", situated in Olvera, was born in April 2014 following a training activity in the Andalusian Youth Institute, the Association for Europe. The association, created by young people motivated to bring positive changes in their local community, has nowadays more than 30 active members working on the creation and implementation of local, national and European projects aiming to promote the youth involvement, active citizenship, healthy lifestyle, education, sports, social inclusion and preservation of natural environment. Constantly collaborating with schools and local authorities/stakeholders, the association offers a healthy and efficient alternative for spending leisure time as well as projects focusing on gender equality. Cultural projects and activities impleneted by Wubira from 2014 to 2019:
- preparing and decorating traditional hornazo cakes
- participating in the contest Pilgrimage Quasimodo Monday (2nd prize in 2015, 2016)
- Wubira Night - organizing an alternative, magical series that combines culture, music, sport, socializing among young people: groups of young people visited emblematic monuments of the region such as the Moorish Castle, Cilla museum and churches where WUBIRA members presented sketches, poetic moments, tea preparations and cakes for visitors
- organising the music festival White Villages in Cadiz and the Sierra Verde Festival
This project has been funded with the support of European Commission within Erasmus+ programme, Key Action 1, Learning Mobility of Individuals Youth Exchange. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.