The Alternative Learning Programme school of Paola is involved in several Erasmus+, KA1 and KA2 projects. One of the projects, ‘Multicultural aspects in our schools’, is proceeding into its second year.

After visiting Marigliano, in Italy and Corum, in Turkey, it was the turn of Realschule Plus, of Germany, to host all the partners in their small but lovely town of Bad Ems, Nassau, in Rheinland Pfalz.

The Maltese group was composed of two teachers and two students and, apart from the host country and Malta, there were also participants from Italy, Turkey, Greece and Romania.

The activities took place between November 12 and 16 and the theme was ‘How can people of different religions live together peacefully’. Several activities were organised during the five-day stay, all having religion as their main objective. Other activities included the packing of toys in boxes to be distributed during the Christmas period to families in need.

A very interesting activity was a tour to the beautiful city of Cologne. David Schmidl, the German coordinator, also organised a concert where both students from the German school and professional local artists performed for us. We also had a meeting with the mayor of Bad Ems in the Rathaus. The teachers stayed in a hotel and the students were hosted by families of students that attend the school.

Before leaving for Germany, our students had some tasks that included surveys, puzzles and preparing some literature which they had to take with them to Germany to present to the other participants.

All in all, the trip was a successful one, like the previous two, and apart from the activities the students had to take part in, the most important thing was that they made new friends.

We are thankful to the German coordinator for a well-prepared and organised trip as well as to the other teachers.

I most certainly think that, apart from carrying out the activities that had to do with the project, such trips also help to broaden the students’ perspective towards a United Europe that is so fundamental to live a peaceful life together.