Minutes

of C1 project meeting for the European Union Erasmus+ /

Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices KA202

Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

KA2 Strategic Partnership Project for Exchange of Good Practices

“Innovative agricultural techniques to boost entrepreneurial skills of future farmers”

Project Acronym “Farmers for future”,

reference number 2020-1-IT01-KA202-008505,

organized by I. E. K. Kavalas, in Kavala, Greece,

from 14 to 18 of February 2022 (working dates).

Regarding the European Union Erasmus+ /Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices KA202 Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training KA2 Strategic Partnership Project for Exchange of Good Practices under the title “Innovative agricultural techniques to boost entrepreneurial skills of future farmers” Project Acronym “Farmers for future”, reference number 2020-1-IT01-KA202-008505, during the week from 14 to 18 of February 2022 was organized in Kavala, Greece the C1 LTT by IEK Kavalas, with the physical participation of 23 students from Italy, Finland, Portugal and Lithuania and their accompanying teachers, in total 8 teachers. Romanian partner school connected online with 1 student and 1 teacher during the presentations time in the afternoon of 14^th of February 2022. Hosting country participated with a team of and 3 teachers.

The aim of this mobility was to work on an international basis on Module 1: What’s my soil, my air, my territory like?

For this reason, international collaboration and exchange of knowledge and practices took part on the following fields:

1. Chemical analysis of the soil of the participating schools
2. Analysis of the water of the participating schools
3. Analysis of the climate of the participating schools
4. Analysis of the territory of the participating school from and economical point of view.
5. Data analysis and projects elaboration
6. Choice of the types of agriculture that better fit the territory of the participating schools.

The activities will be carried out both outdoors and in the host school.

In more details:

1^st day, Monday 14^th of February 2022 the international group was welcomed by the Municipality of Kavala at Town Hall. The Vice Mayor of Kavala, Mr. Konstantinos Pefanis presented the agricultural and economic status of Kavala area at present and during the past years. Small gifts with promotional material of Kavala were offered to each delegation.

As Kavala used to be called “Mecha of Tobacco” because of significant tobacco trade in the area, project group visited the Tobacco Museum. There, it was explained about cultivation and elaboration procedure of tobacco during past decades.

After lunch followed the presentations of schools/areas/towns of partners and Analysis of the climate of the participating schools, Analysis of the territory of the participating schools from and economical point of view, Choice of the types of agriculture that better fit the territory of the participating schools.

2^nd day, Tuesday 15^th of February 2022, the day started by exploring the old city of Kavala, the castle, Imaret, the Aqueduct, the monument of Apostol Paul in city center. IEK Kavalas organized a lunch/barbeque at school and after that followed presentations by all partners about Chemical analysis of the soil of area/country of the participating schools and Analysis of the water of area/country of the participating schools.

3^rd day, Wednesday 16^th of February 2022, Lab the Analysis of the water of area/country of the participating schools was conducted at Kavala University, Chemistry department under the excellent organization of Rector of Chemistry Mrs Christina Hatzichristou. Students were separated in small groups and under the detailed instructions of the students of Chemistry department of University learnt by doing how to measure data for water analysis like PH, electrical conductivity, Nitrate, Nitrite etc. At the end of the laboratory groups that had brought their water samples from their countries received the results of their measurements.

The workshops at Kavala University was a very formative experience for all our students.

Participants were given the opportunity of carrying out water analysis in a chemistry lab different from the one they used for practicing at school, as well as improving their communicative skills in the English language. So they were able to make a comparison between the several steps in the procedure and they realized many similarities in the way of operating, in the use of tools and glassware and in the types of reagents employed. Moreover, the university students and their teachers were so friendly and high qualified, allowing the sharing of knowledge in a very educational and fun way that participants felt self-confident and really satisfied with the experience.

Group continued with visiting the ruins of Philippi, the city of Alexander the Great, the museum, the theatre (UNESCO HERITAGE LIST) and Lydia, they had lunch at Kefalari, sweet water fish farming area.

Last activity of the day was the visit an innovative enterprise,  wild predatory birds farm https://www.arpaktika.gr/, where group got fascinated by getting to know about birds, experiencing them and start loving them.

4^th day, Thursday 17^th of February 2022, first activity was to visit the archaeological area and museum of Amfipolis, then it followed a visit at the winery “Vivlia Hora” https://bibliachora.gr, where participants had the opportunity to learn about the art of producing qualitative wine and taste wines of excellent value with important certifications and distinctions in European and international level.

Study visit to Olive oil Museum at Elaiohori, an old small factory for extracting olive oil was the last outdoor activity of this day. The day plan ended with farewell dinner and award of participants’ certificate.

5^th day, Friday 18^th of February 2022, started with an outdoor activity for learning by experiencing, learning by doing, cooperative learning, brainstorming. A case study of innovative farming experience was realized by visiting “Selecta Hellas   https://www.selecta-one.com/ , model florist unit that makes full use of the natural wealth of the land of Kavala. This wealth is none other than the geothermal field of the area, the hot waters (temperature about 70 degrees Celsius) that are located at a depth of 700 meters and are used to heat the unit. The florist greenhouse of “Selecta Hellas”, with an area of about 35+20 acres, is located near the airport of Kavala. According to the management of the unit, the components of success are the utilization of the geothermal field of Eratino Kavala, the use of high technology, know-how and equipment, ecological awareness and zero environmental footprint. as well as the specialized workforce and scientific workforce.

International group had a long detailed guided tour through the facilities of the florist unit.

All participants, before our departure received as gifts promotional printed material of Selecta.

Additionally to the day plan, group visited Keramoti port, they observed the area with lagoons of salt fish, clams and crabs farming, significant populations of several protected species of birds including flamingos and had a closer look at Thasos island. Enjoying the long sandy beach during the sunny day and a temperature that reached 20 degrees Celsius in the middle of February, some brave participants from Portuguese and Finish groups tempted and dived into clear blue Aegean Sea.

After lunch at Nestos river sides and a short walk at Nestos River Straits, a water route of rare beauty the group visited old town of  Xanthi and the House of Shadow https://vaitsis.com, one of the most visited places in Xanthi, a model art space, where “shadows” are “exposed”, from works that have been made from useless materials and everyday garbage, after they have first been properly lit.  In the exhibition of the House of Shadow, there are about 40 shadow sculptures, in a wonderful optical and acoustic atmosphere.

The methodology used for the LTT: learning by experiencing, learning by doing, cooperative learning, brainstorming.

All expected results were achieved:

-improvement of basic skills: numeracy (data analysis) and literacy (reports and presentations)

-improvement of digital skills (creation of dedicated web site and eTwinning pages)

-improvement of foreign language skills

-improvement of the level of inclusion of disadvantaged students and their self confidence

-improvement of entrepreneurial skills and life skills like creativity and problem solving abilities.

Europasses were created and delivered to all participants from sending organizations.