MINUTES OF KICK-OFF MEETING

GRUNDTVIG LEARNING PERTNERSHIP PROJECT

“THE TRADITIONAL VILLAGE FOR A FUTURE LIFE”

PLACE: CRAIOVA, ROMANIA

Asociaţia Culturală Gaudeamus

October 11^th – 14^th, 2012

Attendees:

Mr. Nicolae Loghinas - Asociaţia Culturală Gaudeamus

Mr. Fodor Axente - Asociaţia Culturală Gaudeamus

Mrs. Silva Blazulioniene – Lithuania Business University of Applied Science

Mr. Michael Melkonian – SSM global training services ltd

Mr. Stelios Georgiou - SSM Global Training Services ltd

Mr. Socratis Socratous - SSM Global Training Services ltd

Mr. Eero Elenurm - Interest Marketing OÜ

Mr. Jan Kostyszak - Stowarzyszenie na Rzecz Edukacji "Pomost"

Mr. Jean-Michel Damianthe – E-JUNIORS association

Mrs. Betty Abougheida - E-JUNIORS association

Mrs. Mariella Candio - Istituto Tecnico Industriale "Ettore Majorana" (Progetto Sirio Adult Education)

Mr. Petrosius Angelo - Istituto Tecnico Industriale "Ettore Majorana" (Progetto Sirio Adult Education)

Mr. Seggioli Mauricio - Istituto Tecnico Industriale "Ettore Majorana" (Progetto Sirio Adult Education)

Ms. Sebnem Duran - Turgutlu Halk Eğitimi Merkezi

Mr. Osman Tugrul - Turgutlu Halk Eğitimi Merkezi

Mrs. Marga Veron Jarque - Asociacion Emprende Empleo

On Thursday, October 11^th 2012 the partners arrived to Craiova.

Friday, October 12th 2012 was the first meeting working day.

Mr Nicolae Loghinas, Project Coordinator, officially welcomed the participants.

Romania completed a survey of young people and those 50+ – a questionnaire about cultural tourism and traditions. They will organize courses, workshops and opportunities to practice what they learned. This will include E maps, speaking opportunities, exhibits and English classes, multimedia and entrepreneurial tasks.

Goal – to help people start a family business.

The EU asks for inclusion of minorities and refugee populations.

Examples of possible workshops includes map making, photography of traditional subjects, ceramics, woodworking, weaving, and other handicrafts.

Goal – to publish brochures to encourage tourism.

In Romania the easiest is ceramics – visiting and learning about and fabrication of traditional costumes.

We need to do a website for the project which might entail buying a domain and agreement on a user name.

The module platform was felt to be more than we need.

We need a password for each country.

There should be just a few words, perhaps a film and some photos for each country.

Spain asked about the next level – i.e. marketing what we produce.

One county should monitor the website with links to each country.

Each country should keep the same name and just add their country name to their contribution.

Each country should produce their own section for the website.

Attendance was taken with 16 reps present including Cyprus-3, Estonia-1, Lithuania-1, Turkey-2, Poland-1, Spain-1, France-2, Italy-3 and Romania-2 total of 8 countries.

A coordinator for text and technical matters needed – Betty from France and Michael from Cyprus agreed to edit English text and Estonia agreed to do technical aspects re the website.

It is difficult to explain creative processes to achieve traditional products. Perhaps the trainers could explain the process but it is probably too difficult to teach participants to create products.

Could focus on making maps for their geographic area. There needs to be a training session on map making. Each country should make a map or use a Google map

The first training course needs to take place by December.

Examples – using handicrafts to promote tourism.

Cyprus – focus on preserving traditional villages.

Romania – traditional pottery.

Spain – winemaking.

Poland – revival of winemaking industry.

Then partners from every institution presented themselves, companies that they represented and their activities, especially with connection to the subject of the project.

Report from Lithuania. Their organization is a business college founded in 1994 which grants a BA. They have two sites and specialize in recreation and tourist management. Their coursework can be completed in three years full time or four years part time. Closest airport Polonya but possible from Vilnius or Riga

Report from Italy. They are located on the heel of the boot on the Adriatic seaside with lots of history. They are a technical vocational school specializing in electrical engineering, ict and electronics. Their students range from 18 – 74 years of age. They accept drop outs and adults who did not finish their basic studies. Bari or Brindisi is the closest airports. They are in Martina Franca and you can take a direct ferry from Greece.

Report from Estonia. Tallinn is the capital and the airport is near the city. Their people are very well educated but traditional. The country is very flat and in the Northeastern part of Europe. There rep started their first company in 1998 and specializes in marketing. Their sister organization is a youth and science and business foundation which uses very new technologies. They have an integrated learning program and involve youth in all their activities.

Report from Turkey.  Location Turgutlu. Come from Izmir or Manisa Celesty. Their program is outside formal education and for all ages. They can develop any program requested but specialize in handicrafts

Report from Spain. Catatayud located between Madrid and Barcelona 220 from Madrid and 430 from Barcelona. There is a train and a bus from Madrid but best to rent a car and drive two hours. Area known for spas and water therapy and is Unesco registered. They have a women’s entrepreneurs association which is run by volunteers and they coordinate products and help women to create self employment opportunities. Some are interested in rural development and fair working conditions and some men participate. Interested in pottery, preservation of traditions, food and wine. Do some work in agro tourism and technical training.

Report from Poland. Swiebodzin in the Lubuskie region, population 20 thousand. Known for spa, health tourism, herbal remedies, and water sports. They focus on tolerance, international programs and acceptance of multiple religions. It is best to go to Berlin and take a train from there. There are many migrants from the west of the country. The region is historically connected to Germany. They cooperate with schools, young people and have an exchange program with

Report from France : Although we cannot be called a traditional village, we can show you almost any type of French handicraft. Timing is important for us as things shut down during July and August and are extremely busy in September and October We offer a full range of courses for seniors and some for handicapped and youth - mostly in aspects  of ICT We have an English conversation group and technical support to do google maps and photoshop We will look for things typically Parisien ,( dancehalls, music, shows, food) but things here are for the most part from    the whole of france

We stopped to focus and recap

4 main objectives

A. To raise motivation to learn in disadvantaged groups and to promote social inclusion.

B. To define what traditional village life is.

C. To help build skills for group A such as ict training and language learning and develop employment opportunities and

D. To build intercultural workshops and fairs

Timeline October- logo decided – France Forward your ideas to Jean Michel Diamanthe. We should use our learners to develop a logo

Estonia will develop a general website with links to each country using a standard model which Cyprus and France will help edit.

December workshops should be developed on traditional subjects.

January courses start

February – courses finished

March – local newsletters done

April – seminar and conferences re media Meeting in Italy 5-12 or 17^th ?

May – international workshops and fairs organized

June – second meeting in Lithuania

Final report July 2014 in Cyprus with final submission of report at the end of September 2014

Saturday, October 13^th 2012 was the day for cultural activities. The partners had the opportunity to visit Craiova Ethnographic Museum and other places in Craiova.

The minutes was prepared by Mrs Betty Abougheida.