Helping the people of Ukraine

We were thinking about different ways to help the people in Ukraine, and decided to contribute in our own way. On a sunny Monday afternoon we organized a charity flea market and waffle sale in the school yard. 

The event was a succes, and we collected 258 euros to donate to the victims of the war.

Meeting in Braga 2022

The whole Erasmus team on the stairs of Escola Sá de Miranda

In April 2022 we had the very last meeting of the project "Stepping Up to the Sustainable Development Goals" in Braga. To our joy all the partners could participate this meeting. 

For us Finns the journey started early on the Easter Sunday morning. We travelled via Amsterdam to Porto where we met the other students and teachers and took bus to Braga together. The host families and the local teachers were already waiting for us.

At Oulu Airport 4 AM: Ready to go!

Meeting the teams Spain, La Reunion and Wales at the airport of Porto

Meeting local host sisters and brothers

On Monday the school was closed because of the Easter holidays, so we had an excursion to Porto. First, we had a guided tour on the port area, Porto De Leixões. Then we visited the Cruise Terminal and the ocean research center CIIMAR that is located in the same buildning. 

Porto De Leixões

Research center CIIMAR

On the rooftop of Cruise Terminal

After the visit we had a lunch break and nice cruise on a boat along the river Douro. We ended the trip with a visit to a port wine cellar Cálem, where the guide told us about the history of port wine. 

The weather was sunny, and when you found a spot that the wind couldn't reach, the temperature was nice and warm.

 

Beautiful banks of Porto

Boat trip

On Tuesday we had a welcome ceremony at the City Hall by the mayor of the town. After the visit we had a walk around the city center and the cathedral. 

Meeting Mayor

Cathedral of Braga

Students

Teachers

After the lunch at the school, we had the welcome ceremony in the school's theatre, and all the students had their presentations that they had prepared for the trip. The topic of the presentations was "Seas/Oceans around us". 

School lunch

Jemina, Linnea, Erin and Sofia having their presentation

Here you can see our presentation:

Braga presentation 

On Wednesday we hopped on a bus again and drove to the coast of Esposende. First, we had a walk along the river with a guide who told us about the vegetation and animals living in the area. The walk led to the sand dunes and to the beach.  The weather was windy but sunny, and it was nice to walk on the beach.

Walk along the shore and on the beach

We ate picnic lunch in a nice forest, and afterwards visited also Nau Quinhentista, a typical boat from the 16th century. 

In the evening we had a concert at the school by Braga Traditional Cordophone Orchestra. It was very entertaining, and we also learned a lot about typical Portuguese instruments.

Thursday morning students had presentations about themselves, their schools and their countries in different classes. Afterwards we all visited the School Museum and the School Garden. Both were really interesting, especially the garden with its own deer!

The school yard of Escola Sá de Miranda

Deer in the School Garden

School Museum

After lunch we had two workshops: Genially and arts. Genially is a tool for making interactive content online. Our long term students had earlier created a virtual escape room with the tool, and we continued the work by adding some more tasks. In art workshop we painted colourful fishes that became fridge magnets.

You can play our escape room here. (It works better with computer than mobile phone.)

Art workshop

Friday morning, we had a lecture about Ocean protection by captain Nuno Marinho. After that, the students went to classes again and the teachers had meeting.

Captain Nuno Marinho with his mother, teacher Laura

After the lunch it was time for farewell ceremony where everybody got their diplomas for participating the program. We also got a surprise: to remember 25th of April the local students had prepared a short drama play and we all got red carnations.

Team Melilla, Spain

Team Wales

Team La Reunion

Team Portugal

Team SPSU

Team Laanila

Remembering 25th April

After the official program we had opportunity to visit Bom Jesus. We choose to hop on a cable train that took us up to the hill and saved us from climbing all the 577 steps. The views were amazing and the whole site is just unbelievably beautiful. 

It was again a wonderful week and great ending for the whole project. We really hope that in the future we can continue our cooperation with these amazing partners that have become more like family members during all these years.