From the Arctic to the Tropics : Building Sustainable Bridges with Erasmus+

Our newest Erasmus+ project, "From the Arctic to the Tropics : Building Sustainable Bridges with Erasmus+", started in October 2022. Our partners in this project are Laanila High School and Lycée Antoire De Saint-Exupéry in La Reunion, and the project is about one month student exchanges between these schools.

First exchange students came to Finland in October 2022. For our school we got Marius and Cyril. Their host brothers Joakim and Henrik introduced them some Finnish culture and traditions. Among other things they met the one and only Santa Claus, tried ice swimming and went ice skating.

   Marius and Cyril's very first school day at SPSU

   Host family meeting

   Classmates in SPSU

   At the end of the exchange Marius and Cyril got their certificates for participation

In November they all travelled together to La Reunion where it was Marius and Cyril's turn to share their every day life with our boys. Our teacher Eva together with Laanila teachers travelled with them and spent the first week with them. 

   First touch with La Reunion

   First school day

   Le jardin des tortues

   Diving 

     A visit to the volcano

    Certificates on the beach

    In April 2023 it was time for the second exchange. Isabel and Fia together with teacher Johanna and  team Laanila travelled to La Reunion. They had a 10-hour layover in Paris and had time to explore the city. Finally at La Reunion, the whole group was warmly welcomed by the host families. 

   Exploring Paris

    Meeting the host sisters

During the first week there was a host family meeting by the beach, mutual activities at the school, an excursion to an amazing waterfall and to top it all of, paragliding above the paradise island.

    Host family picnic

    An excursion to the waterfall

    Just amazing!

In the beginning of May, our students and the Reunionise exchange students will come to Finland. Then it is Eléa and Cecilias turn to get to know SPSU and the Finnish culture.

   Eléa (second from the left back row) and Cecilia (left in first row) are coming to SPSU in May

So far this long-term exchange has been very fruitful and exciting experience for all of the participants. Of course during the stays this long there's always cultural differences and surprises, but at the end these are the things that teach us the most and are the salt of this all. We are really grateful for this opportunity to both learn about the Reunionise culture and to show our Finnish specialities to our guests. Together we learn from each other!