Migration Matters
The meeting in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal
19th-23rd March 2018
The meeting in Montemor-o-Novo was organized as a "short term exchange of groups of pupils". According to the agenda of our project, it focused on addressing the phenomenon of migration and globalization in the different partners' countries.
Prior to the meeting, we decided on several aspects that migration influences and leads to globalization such as the means of communication, the evolution of transportation, the fashion expression, e.t.c. Each national team was assigned to research one aspect and prepare audio and visual material so that we share our research and produce a video during the meeting.
In relation to the topic, the final products were a theatre play, and a documentary created by all students. The research carried out by the project partners and the documentary videos produced during the meeting are available at the "Migration and Globalization" link of our twinspace.
Monday, 19th March 2018
At 8:30h am students were at school and attended their hosts' classes, until 10:00h. Meanwhile, by 9:30h Portuguese teachers welcomed all teachers at school.
An opening ceremony was held at 10:30h, with all participants and the school's headboard. School's headmistress, Miss Idalina Bento, made a welcoming speech and Portuguese team (2 students and 1 teacher) presented the meeting's program and made a brief introduction describing Portuguese school and region.
Afterward, all participants went to the schoolyard and attended a musical performance, with drums, presented by a class of a neighbor music school. Students then participated in icebreaking activities, in international groups.
At 12:30h, all teams had lunch at the school canteen, as it happened during all week, except on the day of Lisbon visit.
During the afternoon, from 14:00h until 16:00h, students had teamwork. Organized in 2 groups, one working on a Theatre play (“Migrations”) and the other on an audiovisual documentary (“Answers in 20 years”). Meanwhile, teachers had a meeting concerning project evaluation and preparation for the meeting in Greece.
At 16:30h, all teams joined at the school library and participated in a " Tertulia", meeting some people with different migration experiences, reporting “Building knowledge about migration”. At Teatime (17:00h), all participants were invited to taste some tea and cookies from several countries, prepared by the Portuguese team.
By evening, teachers had dinner offered by União das Freguesias de N.Sra da Vila, N.Sra do Bispo e Silveiras.
Wednesday, 21st March 2018
At 8:30h, students joined at school to continue teamwork (Theatre play and Documentary “Answers in 20 years”). By 11:30h, teachers, and students had a reception of welcoming at the City Hall, by the Mayor, Dra. Hortênsia Menino.
After lunch, students continued teamwork, assisted by teachers and a local choreographer, Catarina Caetano.
Thursday, 22nd March 2018
Tuesday, 20th March 2018
At 8:00h, we departed to Lisbon. By 10:00h, we had a guided visit to Mouraria neighborhood, conducted by Associação Renovar a Mouraria, where the emphasis has been put on the migrant background of this traditional Lisbon neighborhood.
After free time for lunch at Martim Moniz square - also a multicultural spot in Lisbon, all teams joined for a visit to Fundação Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud, better known as Champalimaud Centre of Investigation for the Unknown. There, the group had the chance to meet with young scientists to discuss their path to science and the importance of traveling to discover new points of view and experiences.
We visited Vila Viçosa and the Marmoris Hotel, hosted by a migrant which had a successful life story in that region.
In the afternoon we visited the town of Évora. The region of Évora has a long history since prehistoric times. The importance of the city since antiquity is due to its unique geographic situation that made it a political and social center of all the civilizations that marked what the Portuguese territory is nowadays.
In the evening, teachers and local authorities had a convivial meal, offered by the municipality.
Friday, 23rd March 2018
At 8:30h am students attended sports school championships at the School Gym celebrating the end of 2nd school period.
At 10:30h all teams went to Theatre Curvo Semedo, for a musical show offered by OFA Music School of Montemor-o-Novo to the school community. At the same place, students presented the documentary “Answers in 20 years” and, to conclude the show, the theatre play, consisting of 3 scenarios and a play: comedy, tragedy and musical, all depicting several migration situations.
The program of the day continued with official closure and evaluation by all partners, at 19:00h.
Afterward, local community, teachers, students, and families joined for a goodbye party at school canteen animated with local singers and the dance group “Grupo de Folclore dos Fazendeiros de Montemor-o-Novo”. Host families kindly brought traditional dishes to honor the guests.
