First mobility to Turkey - Istanbul

5 students and 2 teachers from each partner country were planned to attend the meeting in Turkey.As our Italian partner went out from the project,we increased the numbers of participants in Turkey.We were 6 students and 2 teachers from Poland,7 students and 2 teachers from Romania,5 students and 2 teachers from Bulgaria.14 Turkish teachers and 89 students were directly involved in organizing the mobility.Each team prepared a presentation about their school,educational system,region, country.All the guests visitedTurkish school.
Participants presented their photo stories on the topic“A day in my life”.They attended workshops on photography basics,weaving,cooking,making pottery.Students and teachers worked in multicultural teams.We had a lot of sightseeing tours.We took part in many cultural and social events(students theatre plays,school concerts,experienced dancers shows).Students stayed in host families and spent their free time with hosts, getting to know each other better.Our students took part in  lessons,so they learnt about Turkish educational system,culture and habits.
Teachers attended coordinators meetings after classes or during students’ workshops so as to discuss the plan of the project, analyse the activities, discuss the roles and provide feedback to the host school members. Coordinators decided also that all Italian responsibilities would be taken by Polish partner. All participants of the mobility attended a meeting with local authorities in which they discussed the project and educational system in Turkey.
ACTIVITIES:
1st Day–opening ceremony;tour of host school,presentations of country and region,presentations of partner schools,discussing the week’s schedule
2nd Day–attending Turkish classes, logo competition, team building workshops (photography basics, weaving, cooking and making pottery, presentation of students’ photo stories, cultural tours and events
3rd Day Photography workshop 1,evaluation of the products,cultural tours and events
4th Day–Photography workshop 2,evaluation of the products,teachers attend project meeting,presenting national clothes,cultural tours and events
5th Day–Evaluation and certification,answering questionnaires and giving feedback,school concert,social events in the evening.
RESULTS:
presentations,photo stories,photos,workshop materials,personalised stationery,teachers’ meeting,evaluation materials,feedback forms,certificates, Europasses,students’ and teachers’ acquisitions and improved skills,intercultural awareness,increased self-confidence etc.Activities took place during regular working hours in the school.Cultural events, sightseeing tours etc.were held after the school classes.Workshops and project-related presentations and meetings were combined with regular class attendance.
The meeting was integrated with the normal activities with:
setting mini-objectives (timed exercises and quizes)
including opportunities for student reflection
learning from experimentations
personalising and localising

As a result of their participation, students became more motivated and enthusiastic about the project and the partnership. They are more aware of their own identity and the cultural characteristics of Turkey. They improved English conversational skills, became more communicative and sociable. They boosted their self-confidence and used their creativity while also improving their
practical photography-related skills. They developed their tolerance, empathy and intercultural understanding. They established long-term friendships with their hosts and other students from the project.
Teachers developed knowledge of other educational systems, observed practices in the Turkish school, exchanged opinions, ideas, suggestions with partners and educational authorities. They became more fluent in English and improved their competences in organizing international events. They also improved communication, interpersonal and social skills. For both teachers and students, it turned out to be an extremely powerful experience. Most of the students have never had the chance to travel before and this mobility is a memorable experience for them. They learnt about Turkish culture, traditions, religion and customs, which will enriched their cultural knowledge.