ON TUESDAY (Oct 9), a civic reception was held at County Hall, Carmarthen, to welcome teachers and pupils involved in the Erasmus + Leading Lights Partnership.
Erasmus + is the European Union funded programme for education, training, youth and sport. Through this programme, Dyffryn Taf and Y Strade schools have formed a highly successful partnership with schools from Finland, Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy, who are all visiting Wales this week.
The aim of the Leading Lights partnership is to shine a spotlight on some of the many forms of discrimination that are increasingly casting a shadow across Europe. The project also has a focus on the refugee crisis and has given participants unique first-hand experiences designed to help them gain a more balanced understanding of the issues involved and to encourage empathy.
As well as improving students’ knowledge and understanding, the international experience gained through exchange visits to the different countries concerned give a huge boost to students’ personal growth and confidence.
They return more motivated and independent, having improved their language skills and gained an international network of friends.
An exciting programme has been organised for the visitors including conferences on human rights and equality, an excursion to St Davids, Welsh and Rugby lessons in Dyffryn Taf, and folk dancing in Y Strade.
Dyffryn Taf Head teacher, Mr Julian Richards, said: “Projects such as Leading Lights with its message of respect, partnership, and the celebration of diversity, show us that the hope of humanity lies in young people.
Because, whilst we are right to showcase our nations and cultures, the Erasmus Programme reminds us that we should do so in order to unite, not to separate: that nationhood is enhanced by the partnership and that difference should prompt curiosity not fear.”
More information about the partnership and projects is available on the partnership blog:
http://leadinglightserasmus.bl
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