THIRD ERASMUS+ TEACHER ACTIVITY - NORTH MACEDONIA

From 3rd to 7th November 2025, the third Erasmus+ mobility project “Artistic Journey to Green Future” took place in Skopje, bringing together schools from Spain, Malta, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Croatia. The project encourages students to express their creativity, promote environmental awareness, and foster international cooperation. The third meeting in the capital of North Macedonia focused on climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development, bringing together participants at the Memorial Center of the “Nikola Kljusev” Foundation.

After the opening ceremony and presentation of the program, the Croatian team held a presentation “Environmental Issues in Croatia”, prepared by librarian Ivana Čarapina and biology teacher Vesna Pavlović, and presented in English by principal Tomislav Tomić. The presentation covered the most important environmental challenges in Croatia: climate change, biodiversity conservation, waste management, and an example of good practice in Metković through ecological projects and a sustainable school community.

The participants visited the birthplace of Saint Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to helping others. A special impression was made by the fact that the house houses a photograph of Mother Teresa and Father Ante Gabrić, symbolically connecting Skopje and our Neretva.

On the second day, the participants visited the Hydrometeorological Center, where they had the opportunity to learn about modern methods of monitoring climate change, radar monitoring, and warning systems for extreme weather events. A visit to an elementary school in Skopje was particularly interesting, where members of the Croatian team participated in classes, talked with teachers and students, and exchanged ideas about environmental activities in schools.

The third day began with a lecture by Professor Dr. Sc. Dame Dimitrovska on sustainable mobility and the importance of public transport for reducing CO₂ emissions. After that, the participants visited the beautiful Matka Canyon and the Museum of Electricity Generation. The natural landscape and technical heritage showed how energy can be used in harmony with nature.

The fourth day was dedicated to lectures on climate change, ecological migrations, and sustainable solutions, given by Prof. Dr. sc. Jordanka Galeva. The participants then visited the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia, where they had the opportunity, in addition to an organized tour of the Parliament building, to meet and exchange experiences with MPs Veliko Stojkov Serafimovski and Toni Jarevski, members of the Inter-Party Parliamentary Group for Nature Protection and Combating Pollution and Climate Change. The day ended with a wonderful traditional dinner with Macedonian music and socializing.

The last day of mobility was dedicated to presentations by partner schools and planning future activities. The coordinator of the Croatian team, primary school teacher Marijana Curić, gave a lecture Observing and Creativity in Nature, through which she presented examples of practice with her students carried out this school year, and which belong to the topic "Green Classroom". The students and their teacher attended an out-of-classroom lesson at the Neretva Estuary (September 2025) and were divided into teams to participate in a guided research. After the field lesson, they continued their work in the classroom with prepared activities.

At the end of the mobility, teachers did an evaluation, awarded certificates, and planned the final mobility in Croatia. In addition to the rich educational program, the participants had the opportunity to enjoy sightseeing in Skopje, a city that combines history and modernity at every step. A walk through the Old Bazaar, the scents of spices, traditional crafts, and colorful scenes of street vendors left a special impression on all team members. Among other things, they enjoyed the cultural sights of the city, the bridges over the Vardar, magnificent statues, and the view of the Kale fortress, and every evening was filled with laughter, song, and friendship that connected all participants of this project.

Skopje will be remembered by everyone for its big-hearted people, for the learning that inspired, and for the togetherness that once again reminded us that, just like nature, friendship should be preserved.

https://os-sradica-metkovic.skole.hr/tim-os-stjepana-radica-na-3-erasmus-mobilnosti-u-sjevernoj-makedoniji-artistic-journey-to-green-future/

ERASMUS DAYS

 Celebration of the Erasmus+ programme. During these days, people from all over the world are invited to come together and organise or participate in events celebrating the projects and opportunities offered by Erasmus+. For students, teachers, trainers, professionals and, in general, all citizens, the #ErasmusDays represent a unique moment to promote the multitude of benefits derived from the programme.

We are Erasmus!

ERASMUS DAYS IN ZEKI ALTINDAG, KONYA

ERASMUS DAYS IN CEIP MATA LINARES , SAN VICENTE DE LA BARQUERA

KLEKI AND WICKEDITOR TRAINING FOR TEACHERS

 The teaching staff who participated in the Erasmus KA220 project "Artistic Journey to Green Future" mobility in Malta and who received training there on the use of the KLEKI application and WICKEDITOR have now given a presentation to the rest of the school's teaching staff at CEIP Mata Linares, so they can use it with their students

Ana was in charge of demonstrating the basic use of the applications and its possibilities. In addition, she provided a link to a YouTube tutorial to clarify any questions. All teachers will use it with their students to create projects related to climate change and its effects, the seasons, the weather, sounds in nature, and more!

 eTwinning/ Erasmus + project Artistic Journey to Green Future

This two-year international project was implemented on the eTwinning platform from November 2024 to June 2025, and follows the Erasmus + project of the same name that started at the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year. The authors of this eTwinning project are teacher Çimen Sarıaltın (Turkey) and teacher Marijana Curić. Teachers from the participating countries involved in the Erasmus + project are participating: Spain, Turkey, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Malta. 

The target group of this project is children aged 6 to 11. This age group is a formative period when children begin to develop a sense of empathy, responsibility, and connection to the world around them. They are naturally curious, eager to explore, and very receptive to new ideas, which makes this an ideal time to introduce concepts such as environmental awareness and sustainability. Through creative and artistic activities, the project aims to foster a deep love for nature and a strong sense of belonging to the environment. You can see the project plan here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngTuozbqiOM

In the Stjepan Radić Elementary School, students from grades 1d, 5a, b, c, d, e, and 6a, b, c, d, e are involved in this project. Students from grades 1d and 5d and 5e work with teacher Marijana Curić, and students from grades 5a, b, c, and 6a, b, c, d, e work with teacher Ante Leko. The students and their teachers carried out the following activities: logo design, From waste to art, Safer Internet Day, From recycling to upgrading (enabling reuse of old objects), Street photography, and Letters with seeds. In the project, they introduced themselves, and the teachers also introduced their school and city.

The activity From Waste to Art was shared in the web 2.0 tool Wakelet https://wakelet.com/wake/Eeh-Q7mWlVgFvUcwJ_ep5

The Street Photography activity was conducted by 1st-grade students in the school garden, where they met with students from the Special Group who were collecting young grass clippings and carrying them to a designated place in the school garden. The students joined in this activity, and beautiful photographs were created. 5th grade students Iva Ujdur and Dita Raič took several photos of nature while walking around the city and shared a few photos they took on a school trip with their class.

https://os-sradica-metkovic.skole.hr/etwinning-erasmus-projekt-artistic-journey-to-green-future/

LTT IN MALTA

 Within the Erasmus KA220 project that we are developing at the school, one of the actions carried out has been the "LEARNING AND TEACHING TRAINING" in Malta. A group of 4 teachers from the school traveled there, from May 19 to 23, and together with the other participating countries they carried out the planned activities within the program organized on this occasion by Malta, specifically the St. Francis School in Cospicua.

Among the activities carried out, the following stand out:

• Information about the project blog.
• Globe program presentation.
• Display "Green Classroom."
• Analysis and evolution of the eTwinning project.
• Project social networks.
• Presentation on photography in the natural environment and training for creating animations.
• Conference on climate change and its effects and consequences in the natural environment.
• Activities fostering coexistence among all participants.
• Visits to the school’s classrooms and direct observation.
• Organization and operation of the school.
• Activities related to art and the environment in the surroundings.
• Introducing the program to be developed in Macedonia.
• Agreements adopted.
• Evaluation.

During this week we will hold an information meeting for all the staff to share our experience, agreements, and upcoming actions to be developed.

We would like to thank the Maltese school for their dedication, involvement, and organization of the LTT, and all participants of this mobility for their willingness to work as a team and collaborate together on this project.

 Erasmus team from Stjepan Radić Elementary School at the second meeting of participants of the ARTISTIC JOURNEY TO GREEN FUTURE project

Malta, 19-23 May 2025

From 19 to 23 May 2025, the second mobility of the Erasmus+ project “Artistic Journey to Green Future” took place in Malta, hosted by St. Francis School, a coeducational primary school providing education to children aged 5 to 11. The school is based on the Christian values ​​and charisma of its founder, Sister Margherita De Brincat, and is located in the town of Cospicua, also known as Bormla, a historically significant and charming place that offers an authentic experience of Malta. As the project was designed to encourage children to develop environmental awareness through artistic expression and the connection between art and sustainability, the stay in Malta once again confirmed that children’s emotional connection with nature is best developed through creative activities. The mobility in Malta confirmed the value of Erasmus+ projects in creating sustainable and creative educational approaches. The Croatian team was represented by MARIJANA CURIĆ, a homeroom teacher and project coordinator for the Stjepan Radić Elementary School, TOMISLAV TOMIĆ, the school principal, IVANA ČARAPINA, the school librarian, and ANTE LEKO, an art teacher.

Teacher Marijana Curić expanded her knowledge in the field of integrating art and ecology and presented school projects to an international audience with great success. Principal Tomislav Tomić gained insight into concrete examples of implementing sustainability and artistic approaches in education, which she will use in the future development of the school. Librarian Ivana Čarapina was inspired by the possibilities of connecting literature, digital tools, and ecology in her work with students and gained ideas on how the library can be a space for developing environmental awareness in students through creative content. Teacher Ante Leko further improved his skills in applying visual arts in the service of raising environmental awareness and new ways of combining art, the environment and engaged education.

All participants returned motivated, full of ideas, and ready to further improve their work in their schools. 

 The activities and programme of the mobility included the following:

Day 1 – Welcome and first activities

The mobility started with an informative presentation by the Maltese team, published on the official project blog. Participants reviewed the digital diary of previous activities. This was followed by an inspiring drama workshop on the school lawn with senior students, which aimed to awaken a sense of environmental responsibility. During classroom visits, participants observed how students applied art and everyday tools (pictures, objects, food, movements, music) to create greener messages. The Spanish team organised a team activity “Listen and guess the film”, combining music and films as a means of connecting.

The day concluded with a walk from Cospicua to Vittoriosa to promote sustainable mobility, with a visit to the Inquisitor’s Palace.

Day 2 – Connecting with Nature through Art

On the second day of the mobility, participants visited a kindergarten in St. Lucia and briefly spent time in different classes, observing children’s activities on the theme of a green future. This was followed by a walk to the Chinese Garden of Serenity and an outdoor art workshop, which provided an opportunity for contemplation and creative expression in a natural setting. The afternoon was dedicated to a visit to the Tarxien Temples, symbols of the ancient connection between man and nature. Participants experienced the importance of sustainable living, inspired by the heritage and philosophy of ancient cultures.

Day 3 – Intercultural sharing and presentation

The day began with an eTwinning presentation by the Turkish and Croatian teams, followed by classroom visits where activities related to ecology and students’ creative expression were observed.

The Croatian team was led by teacher Marijana Curić, who gave a lecture on “Green Classroom,” presenting numerous initiatives and works by her and her students from the Stjepan Radić Elementary School. Teacher Marijana showed her rich personal experience of working with students on various projects, most of which she received quality marks from the eTwinning educational community. In the eTwinning project “Artistic Journey to Green Future”, she continues to present school activities, which she demonstrated in the lecture How to love nature through art and sustainable development. The Macedonian team presented a project on climate change. The day ended with a joint dinner at the Ta’ Marija restaurant, with a Maltese folklore evening – music, dance and rich local cuisine. This further connected all participants and enabled cultural exchange in a relaxed atmosphere.

Day 4 – Field Trips and GLOBE Program

On the fourth day, classroom visits continued, with older students taking on the role of guides. Ms. Ramona Mercieca, Deputy Coordinator of GLOBE Malta, gave a presentation on the GLOBE program.

Participants then visited Ġnien San Klement and joined students in conducting outdoor science and environmental activities. The day ended with a visit to Mdina, the so-called Silent City, which promotes sustainable mobility and heritage preservation through its urban design solutions.

Day 5 – Creative Technology and Evaluation

The final day began with a session in the IT classroom. The Turkish team gave a presentation on street photography of nature, and sample animations were presented.

The teachers participated in a training workshop on creating short animations. This was followed by a final Erasmus meeting and evaluation, followed by a certificate award ceremony.

The afternoon was reserved for a visit to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, where participants enjoyed the ambiance of sustainable living in harmony with nature and a traditional way of life.

The Croatian team used their free time to explore the cultural and natural attractions of Malta, further connecting with local heritage and customs, which included sightseeing in beautiful Maltese towns that, on the one hand, provide an authentic Maltese atmosphere through narrow stone streets, traditional balconies and colorful doors (Valletta), and on the other hand, modern tourist centers with nightlife, shops, restaurants and beautiful promenades (St. Julian's and Sliema).

This mobility enabled all participants to learn about Maltese culture and its sustainable principles, which further motivates them to introduce similar practices in their own schools.

Returning from mobility brings new energy, inspiration for further work, and a desire to improve teaching.

https://os-sradica-metkovic.skole.hr/erasmus-tim-iz-os-stjepana-radica-na-drugom-susretu-sudionika-projekta-artistic-journey-to-green-future/

 LETTERS WITH SEEDS

The Letters with Seeds activity was carried out on 8 May 2025 within the international eTwinning project Artistic Journey to Green Future, and is part of the joint work of the project participants.

In the library, students of 1st grade D enjoyed creating the name of the project by dipping pieces of crepe paper in different colours into containers of water, and after the papers had released their colour, they added flour and wheat seeds to the water and shaped the dough. They got dough in different colours with which they shaped the letters, and then arranged the project title on the paper base and left the letters to dry.

The students enjoyed making dough and modelling letters. Fingers covered in paint and happy faces were proof of a task well done.

The workshop was led by teacher Marijana Curić and librarian Ivana Čarapina.

The students' next task was to leave the letters they made somewhere in nature to provide fertile soil for the seeds to grow, but before that, the students and the librarian filmed a short film in which they moved the letters on a grassy surface to arrange the title, and the librarian used the Stop-motion recording technique, which can be used to create animated films and special effects in which objects move in small steps between individually photographed frames so that they appear to show independent movement or change when the series of frames is played back. After that, the librarian organised the entire work process into one video material that you can see here – https://youtu.be/Yk3wgO8c73s

The students left their letters in the school garden.

Teacher Marijana Curić shared the activity on the eTwinning platform in the Canva web tool, where the works of other project participants can also be found. You can see more here:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGmGNwF86k/wMgPUXWsrVjI8JSdQ6MZhA/edit?utm_content=DAGmGNwF86k&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton