First trans-national meeting

In September 2009 occurred the first trans-national visit in Lousado. It was time to meet the partner countries for the first time: Ireland (coordinator William Devlin), Germany (Mic Hale), Spain (Pilar de la Torre and Francisco Ascón), Finland (Irma Kuusisto). Italy was still waiting for the approval...

The main goal of this meeting was to check and revise the partners' roles, to prepare the second visit, which will take place in Hannover and, last but not least, to get acquainted with all the partners and to share with them bits of our culture and traditions.

From left to right : William Devlin, Pilar de la Torre, Francisco Ascón, Mic Hale, Carlos Paiva, Irma Kuusisto, Carla Lourinho, Inês Silva

During their stay, the partners got to know the school and its dynamics, met the students, who welcomed them in a Chemistry lesson and offered some bath salts prepared in the class.

We also visited Oporto, where all the partners stayed over - we took a peek at "Casa da Música", visited the Serralves Museum, experienced a cruise in the Douro which ended with a taste of Porto and enjoyed some typical dishes of our gastronomy.

Mic Hale , Carlos Paiva

Inês Silva , Carla Lourinho , Francisco Ascón

Pilar de la Torre , William Devlin , Irma Kuusisto

Our classes

Here are our students´presentations.

The school

FORAVE – ASSOCIAÇÃO PARA A EDUCAÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA DO VALE DO AVE is a vocational / technical private school located in the North of Portugal.

Established in 1990, FORAVE has level III courses (equivalent to upper secondary school) and level II courses (equivalent to lower secondary school) and its main aim is the preparation of qualified youngsters for active life. This school has always given great importance to an individualized education, with a strong emphasis on professional traineeships.

There are also EFA courses, included in the Lifelong Learning National Education Plan, through which adult students have voluntarily returned to study and are trying to improve or acquire skills and school certificates they didn’t have the opportunity of getting when they were formerly at school. At the moment, our school is teaching level III and level II Courses in Quality Control Technician (level III) and in Audio, Radio, TV and Video Installation and Repairing (level II) to these adult students.

Forave is also an active partner of the enterprises, the community and the local associations.

We provide four different level III courses: a Technical Course in Management, a Technical Course in Industrial Maintenance, a Technical Course in Electronics, Automation and Control and a Technical Course in Food Quality Control, strongly supported by the international company Continental Tyres AG.

The level II courses are concerned with Mechanics, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration and Social Services.

We are situated in the Ave Valley, a geographical region greatly affected by the economical crisis of the textile companies, once its great source of wealth. Most of our students belong to families with very low incomes and at a risk of giving up school. Our main aim is the preparation of qualified youngsters, who can answer to the demands of the market and who can live creative, fruitful and successful lives.

The Partners

Here are the partners of the project:

Ireland - Downe University of the Third Age (coordinator William Devlin)

Germany - Ada un Theodor Lessing Volkshochschule Hannover (Mic Hale)

Italy - Centro Territoriale Permanente di Scandiano (Olmi Leda)

Spain - Universidad Senior de A Coruña (Pilar de la Torre and Francisco Ascón)

Finland- Kyrönmaan Opisto (Irma Kuusisto)

Portugal - Escola Profissional Tecnológica do Vale do Ave

(Carla Lourinho, Inês Silva, Andreia Brandão and Carlos Paiva)

The Project

Culture

is a many faceted concept that embodies a system of shared knowledge, beliefs, values, language, behaviours, attitudes, symbols, geography; that has a past, a present, and is both susceptible to modification and hopeful of a future. It can be metaphysical in belief, values and knowledge; physical in terms of geography and symbols; or aesthetic in terms of the Arts or Fashion. In short; it is the dynamic Mankind creates.

Our Continent – Our Culture (OC-OC)

will treat of the various ways Europeans have contributed, and are contributing, to the composite culture of Europe. The Partnership will address European culture with a focus on that of partner countries. Language learning, identity, active citizenship, European cohesion and understanding together with intergenerational linking and communication technology. The Action will dovetail with both specific and operational objectives of Grundtvig: specific in that the partnership intends to respond to the educational challenges of an ageing population in Europe and help adults with pathways to improving their knowledge and competences; operational - to improve the quality and accessibility of mobility throughout Europe of individuals involved in adult education, assist older people to access education, facilitate the transfer of innovative practices in adult education and support ICT based content for learners within the partnership.

Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig

Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783-1872) is one of the most significant figures in Danish history.

He was a prolific writer and his writing around Nordic and Anglo-Saxon literature helped fashion a sense of what it was to be Danish during the second half of the nineteenth century. His contribution to Lutheran theology stimulated considerable debate, and his hymn-writing left a legacy. In education he advocated popular, autonomous places of learning - what became known as folk high schools.

Grundtvig Programme

The Grundtvig programme focuses on the teaching and study needs of those in adult education and alternative education streams, as well as the institutions and organisations delivering these services. Supporting lifelong learning and mobility in this way also tackles Europe’s ageing population problem.

Launched in 2000 and now part of the overarching Lifelong Learning Programme, Grundtvig aims to provide adults with ways to improve their knowledge and skills, keeping them mentally fit and potentially more employable. It not only covers learners in adult education, but also the teachers, trainers, education staff and facilities that provide these services.