30th August - 3rd September 2021

The meeting planned in the grant application was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the schools being still closed in most of the partner countries. The original idea was to meet in Havířov from Monday 12th April to Friday 16th April 2021. We looked for another option and date later when the situation is better and we found the only solution: to meet as early as possible when the covid situation is still under control - at the beginning of the new school year. So the new date was set from Monday 30th August to Friday 3rd September 2021.

During this short-term student exchange the participants had a chance to see how the former heavily industrialized and thus polluted part of Czechia is being transformed into a healthier and less industrial area. The north-east part of Czech Republic used to be called the "steel heart" due to the steel factories and coal mines. Nowadays the coal mines are closed and steel factories have to be careful with emissions they produce. The Czech school has been involved in local project called "Emise" which monitored the quality of air nearby. We showed our partners the results, they saw how the countryside changed after coal mining, how it was destroyed and now being renewed again. The visit to Dolni Vitkovice was an unforgettable experience as this area used to be a steel factory and now it is an open air museum. They experienced how new parts of Ostrava changed from dirty and forgotten ones to fancy shiny new shopping areas where young people can meet. Before the mobility all participants were asked to work on the topic of AIR and then during the meeting in Czechia they personally presented their results which helped them practise their presentation skills and English knowledge. We visited the nearby power plant in Dolní Stráně to witness its contribution and ecology measures to reduce toxic emissions to the atmosphere. There were lectures planned by the teachers in Biology, Physics and Chemistry on air pollution, the toxic particles, its effects on human health, but due to covid restrictions it was not possible to mix groups and take part in lessons. Students tried to find some solutions to reduce the emissions for example by using public transport, using bikes, use more ecologic fuel for heating etc. Teachers of Arts were asked to support the students making banners, posters, comics which were shared on noticeboards and in Erasmus corners in each partner school. A field trip to the local waste disposal company was organized to see how the waste material can be recycled. We saw the green buses in Havířov of the transportation company which runs only buses using natural gas (CNG or LPG). Questionnaire were shared among partners where all respondents answered questions connected with the topic of air pollution and air quality in each country. Results were discussed during the mobility and included in our shared google document.

All the tasks which students were asked to prepare before the mobility were done in a collaborative way on Twinspace. The topic for the period before the mobility was AIR so every school focused on that. Students worked with their teachers of biology or chemistry and discussed the issue of clean atmosphere, air pollution, impact of traffic and local heating systems, ways to prevent the air pollution. The results of their findings at each school were shared on Twinspace and the data were used for the presentation during the mobility in Czechia. The expected tools to work was data analysis, research on internet and/or in libraries, school lessons focused on air pollution, discussions, field trips to local power plants or ecology organisations. Everybody brainstormed three main points:

1) what is the biggest problem about air pollution in your area

2) what is being done to improve the situation

3) what are the future steps of your local government.

Results were also shared among partners and then presented at the mobility. Those who participated in the short-term student exchange presented the results personally. Those who stayed in their schools had a chance to follow their classmates online because photos, videos, chats and other materials were uploaded on eTwinning platform and Facebook private group regularly so that everybody could see the daily programme of the project meeting abroad. At the end of the mobility on Friday all participants were asked to work on Newsletter (as they do after each mobility) with their photos, experiences, impressions, ideas. The newsletter is a shared document on Google docs where all participants can contribute with their ideas. It is available to the public on internet. They also filled in the questionnaire where they evaluated the meeting and gave feedback to the organizing school, what to make better, what to change in the future.

The participants were able to have a first-hand experience and see one of the areas most affected by heavy industry in Europe, the consequences of abusing the nature and the importance to preserve it for the future. They witnessed what they had studied theoretically before when preparing for the mobility. They got to know the Czech Republic, Moravian-Silesian region, its culture, history, people, made new friends, took part only in a few lessons in Czech school due to covid restrictions, maybe broke prejudice they might have had as this north-east corner of the country is referred to as dirty, poor, ugly, not interesting, forgotten. We hope to have proven them wrong and showed them the better perspective. The field trip to Karlova Studanka was interesting because the air is said to be the cleanest in Central Europe there and it is not very far from the polluted Ostrava region. They were able to see how European funds helped transform former steel factories into a unique open-air museum and science center called "World of Science" to educate young pupils and students. They were eyewitnesses of the damage done to this region by coal mining and steel works and how it is gradually renewed into a healthy environment again - for example the golf course built on coal mining waste disposal field near Karviná. All the activities planned during the mobility helped the students to understand better this part of Czechia which is not very attractive for tourist but might become one in the near future as there are lots of things to offer. Hopefully it broke some of the prejudices. It was also quite interesting for the students from Poland and Slovakia as in this region there are lots of people from those countries and Slovak or Polish is spoken here quite frequently, so a linguistic and cultural experience was a benefit too. Polish partners from the Baltic region were surprised that their language is understood here without any problem.

Proposed programme for the meeting in Czechia:

Sunday 29th August 2021

Arrival and accommodation in hotel Boršičanka.

Monday 30^th August 2021

7:40 departure by bus (2:45 hours bus ride) in front of the hotel in direction Dlouhé Stráně where we will have at 10:45 guided tour in English of a unique power plant in the mountains. Lunch provided after the tour (14:00). On the way back a short stop in Karlova Studánka where you can breathe the cleanest air in Central Europe, short walk to the waterfalls if the weather is ok.

Tuesday  31^st  August 2021

8:00 departure - bus ride (1 hour) to Štramberk castle, Zdeněk Burian museum, Šipka cave, Botanical garden and watch tower. On the way back visit to the leaning church in Karviná at 15:30 with English speaking guide (Czech Pisa). Dinner provided at the hotel restaurant at about 17:00.

Wednesday 1^st September 2021

8:00 departure and short walk (5 min) to the local Waste Disposal Processing Plant. Then a short train ride (20 minutes) to Ostrava - Industrial museum with a workshop on ecology and a film show at 13:00. Dinner provided after return in a restaurant at about 17:30.

Thursday 2^nd September 2021

8:00 departure and a walk around meanders of the Lučina river, 9:00 workshop on beekeeping (2 hours), return to the city centre where teachers will be received at the City Hall by the Deputy for Education at 11:45 (20 minutes) while students will have free time with CZ team to explore the architecture, then lunch at a restaurant at about 13:30, afternoon outdoor activities prepared by CZ team.

Friday 3^rd September 2021

8:30 School tour, if possible participation in lessons, newsletter and questionnaire. Lunch at a restaurant at about 13:30, free time activities in the afternoon prepared by CZ team.

Saturday 4^th  September 2021

Departure of all participants

Note: Programme can change according to current conditions and restrictions.

Video made by PL team:

Video made by SK team:

Photogallery from the mobility is HERE.

Newsletter:

Questionnaire results:

What was the BEST experience this week for you?

What was the WORST experience this week for you?

What would you prefer to do during the next meeting? What would you change?

Was the meeting well organized? Average points = 4,00 from max. 5

Were all objectives of the meeting achieved? Average points = 4,29 from max. 5

Were all the topics from the agenda covered? Average points = 4,88 from max. 5

Did you like the programme of the meeting? Was it interesting for you? Average points = 3,82 from max. 5

What do you think is the most attractive thing about your work on this project? Are you getting better at working in Twinspace?

Add any comment you think might help the coordinators to improve in their work on the project.