Third mobility - Italy

The third mobility of the program took place in Cosmo Guastella 1st grade secondary school situated in Misilmeri near Palermo, Italy, from November 27 to 30, 2023.

The meeting began with a warm welcome from the director and teachers at the host school. The school's student orchestra initially greeted the teams with the national anthem of each country, followed by traditional Italian music. The polyphonic choir of the school students complemented the event with beautiful melodies prepared specifically for the occasion. The day continued with a visit to the Misilmeri Town Hall and a reception by the mayor, who engaged in discussions with the teachers, shared the city's history, and expressed interest in the program. Subsequently, the educators had the opportunity to explore the historic center of the city and have lunch at the TED restaurant, where students interested in gastronomy undergo training.

Later, the teachers returned to the school, where they learned about the Italian education system and the management of individuals with special educational needs in the classroom. The functioning of the school observatory for school dropout, involving numerous schools and organisations throughout Sicily, was also presented. The first day concluded with a dinner where the teachers had the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and create new ones in a relaxed atmosphere.

The second day included a visit to Cefalù, one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy on the northern coast of Sicily. In Cefalù, teachers explored the picturesque streets of the village, visited the cathedral where they admired the marvellous Byzantine mosaic of Christ Pantocrator on a golden background with Greek and Latin inscriptions. The visit ended with a seafood lunch at a local restaurant.

The third day started with a visit to the professional school IPSSEOA Pietro Piazza in Palermo, where students with special educational needs are enrolled. Educators toured various workshops (computer science, natural sciences, etc.) and observed cooking workshops where many students are trained in the hospitality sector. The day continued with a brief meal at the school's restaurant, where educators tasted dishes prepared by the students. The day concluded with a tour of significant historical monuments in the city, including the historic center, the Cappella Palatina cathedral, the churches Santa Maria dell' Ammiraglio and Santa Maria Della Catena, the Massimo theater, and other landmarks, as well as visits to the city markets.

On the fourth and final day of the program, the teachers visited the second branch of the host school in Misilmeri. They were warmly welcomed by a student orchestra playing percussion instruments they had constructed themselves. Educators participated in outdoor painting workshops, the construction of musical instruments, and educational games with students. In these workshops, educators had the opportunity to interact with students and observe the involvement of parallel support teachers in the educational process. Teachers also toured the other areas of the school. The visit concluded with a presentation of representative forms of art and music from their country by the teachers' teams and a fruitful discussion about the experiences gained and the planning of future actions. During the farewell dinner in Palermo, the satisfaction of all national teams with their participation in this successful meeting was evident, and there was a pervasive sense of emotion during the farewell. The next meeting (4th) is scheduled for March 2024, hosted by the 5th General High School of Kavala.