A PROJECT TO HELP COMPANIES IMPROVE QUALITY IN MOBILITY
A Lifelong Learning Partnership
Visits in Assen, the Netherlands
28th & 29th October 2013
In the morning the group visited the Windmill “De Wachter” in Zuidlaren, as a good practice example of promoting the potential of hosting an European trainee of the hosting companies by involving volunteers. The mill has been built in 1851, as an oil and grain mill. In 1898 steam engines were installed to propel the oil presses; steam energy replaced wind energy. The corn mill is still dependent by wind energy. The building in which you are now, is built in 1995 in the style of the 1900s. The participants took part in workshops and ice-breaking activities.
Visits in Arvidsjaur, Sweden
27th & 28th February 2014
Visit relevant to the project topic – Joinery/Metal workshop (Ideum) After lunch break, all representatives of the organisations were accompanied to the relevant visit, Ideum organized for the meeting. The protagonist was Jan-Åge Lundman, master in the carpentry/metal worshop area in Ideum. An explanation session was handled by him, describing his work with the interns, the main tasks and responsibilities he delivers to them and the common difficulties and issues characterizing these kind of experiences. Was widely clarified the internship doesn´t concentrate only on the working achievements, but also on personal issues. By participating in international projects, interns have to develop and enlarge their horizon, to
overcome their limits and fears and achieve skills and abilities. During the visit, all the machinery, special tools used in the profession and some work examples previous interns made, when shown.
The next step following the meeting was visiting Ringelskolan, the local school for children between 4 and 12 years old. As one of the main hosting companies in Arvidsjaur, Ideum organized a short trip during the afternoon. One of the teachers present in the educational institution, often accepting interns from different European countries, explained about internships she was invited to be part. A conversation concerning previous trainees, the positive outcomes and skills they bring and take back with them in the way home was entartained by the teacher Jeanette Johansson. A general description on the functional way of the school works was illustrated.
Visits in Perpignan, France
27th & 28th of May 2014
Visit of the host company La Roseraie Services.
After a short coffee break, partners visited the host company "La Roseraie Services", a social neighborhood governance. Mohammed El Aimani,who is doing his internship there as a social worker, presented the association. The director of La Roseraie service, the Secretary Accountant and the responsible person for social and professional inclusion also attended the presentation. They explained the advantages of having a European trainee in their organisation and the way they integrate European trainees with the staff.
The day ended with an interesting visit at the Tourism Office of Perpignan. The Tourism Office tutor, Benedicte, introduced their activities and showed us their facilities. She explained in detail their formalized procedures of hosting a trainee and showed the documents they use for any French or International trainee.
Visits in Assen, the Netherlands
18th & 19th of September 2014
On 18th of September 2014, Quarter Mediation organised a visit to the “Natuur en Milieufederatie Drenthe” and joined – together with the representatives of project partners from Italy, Sweden, France and Portugal - the presentation “The role of a regional NGO in the field of sustainable innovation in the province of Drenthe” made by Mr. Christiaan Teule, Programmaleider Energie en Duurzaamheid. After the presentation, everybody had the opportunity to ask questions and to discuss common issues with the speaker.
On the same day, in the afternoon, Quarter Mediation organised a second visit to “De Drents Archief”. The participants were also involved in interactive presentations about educational activities, projects and programmes, as well as in practical workshops about:
- How can we enjoy working in an archive (possible job placements: teacher, trainer, translator, ICT specialist);
- What can be done in the Digi Lounge (possible job placements: guide, translator, ICT specialist, teacher);
- How can be movie makers, translators and guides involved in the activities organised in the conference rooms (possible job placements: media specialist, movie maker, guide, translator, ICT specialist, teacher);
- The role of an ICT developer and a translator in making an iPhone route (possible job placements: guide, translator, ICT specialist, app developer).
Visits in Lisbon, Portugal
16th & 17th of December 2014
The first day, partners visited two hosting companies, with whom EUROYOUTH works in a partnership to promote international internships: the Central Hospital of Lisbon and the Destination Hostel that both gave their testimony in welcoming international trainees, in addition to presenting the companies.
The Central hospital visit was very useful as it introduced the partners to the realities of a hospital, as in fact hospitals are small cities with a very complex management and logistics. This was followed by a reflection and debate on how internships were integrated. Challenges, sectors, conditions, tutoring, matching, training certification were some of the issues approached.
During the second visit of the Destination Hostel, the manager introduced the hostel and his philosophy and
explained the differences to other hostels when it comes to proximity with client, with tailored serviced, personal assistance, etc. After the presentation and visit, a discussion was held how to fit and support internships in this context. Some of the issues were autonomy for trainees, flexibility to find the right tasks and overcome linguistics aspects, the impact these experiences might have on participants, how problems, like low performance, could be solved, how and why some trainees were hired or contacted after the internship.
Visits in Arvidsjaur, Sweden
24 & 25 of March 2015
On Wednesday the 25th of March, the second day of the meeting, the participants visited two interesting places. The first one was a guided tour through to the exhibition: “Winter Car Testing – through the years” at the Arvidsjaur airport. During this tour, the participants were introduced to the Car Testing Industry, one of the main industry and economic factors in Arvidsjaur. The project team of the exhibition included an intern from Ideum who participated in the Leonardo programme, which gave a good example of how international interns can fit into local projects.
Afterwards, a visit to the Continental Testing Facility was organised. Here the project participants learned more about the industry through a guided tour through the workshops and the test facility. Since the car test industry is a very specific and secret business, it is harder to convince them to take international interns. Nevertheless, both visits were useful and interesting concerning internships.
Visits in Padua, Italy 23 & 24 of june 2015
The first day after the coffee break, at 12.00 o’clock partners visited the host company AnnaMaria Morassutti, an important textile restoration laboratory taking care of precious historical handicrafts.
Mrs. Morassutti explained, in a detailed and exhaustive way, her restoration work of various types of antique textiles (e.g. tapestries, clothes etc ..) and also explained what are usually the tasks of the trainees she hosts in her laboratory.
After the visit and her explanations, which caught the interest of the delegates, the lady answered to all further questions the partners asked.
The Museum of PRECINEMA in Padua is unique, not only amongst Italian museums but throughout the World. Founded in 1998 in a collaboration between the Municipality of Padova and the Minici Zotti Collection, this ‘Museum of Wonders’ is an interesting and unusual project that combines public and private interest.
The Museum of PRECINEMA is based in the Palazzo Angeli, a 15th Century building in Prato della Valle, in the centre of the historic city of Padua. This beautiful building is certainly the most appropriate place in which to preserve and display the optical instruments and original hand-painted magic lantern slides, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
The visit started with a guided tour of the museum by one of the museum guides.
Afterwards, the partners met the Director and founder of the museum in person, Mrs Laura Minici Zotti, she explained more on the usual tasks of the trainees that they host.