The Sofia Bakery and Pastry School and the Fundació Catalunya Voluntària maintained communication for nearly a year to create an onsite job-shadowing and training program that took place from April 23 to 29 and that, with the results of the final evaluation in hand, we can say that it has been a complete success.
On the last day, sitting in the Plaza del Virrei Amat, in Vilapicina district (after visiting the CECAC), the 12 teachers of different subjects, ages, and backgrounds, including the principal and the psychologist of the School, reviewed the activities of the week and carried out the final evaluation, whose results we want to share, to demonstrate, once again, that the non-formal and intercultural approach allows achieving very valuable results.
The 3 objectives of the activity, related to the acquisition of new learning, were valued with the same average score of 5 (between 1 and 6).
- To learn about how to establish a supportive environment for working with students having special educational needs
- To learn new information, methods, perspectives, and approaches from the professionals, (professors, educators) in the bakery and pastry sectors.
- To engage in conversations with professionals and improve intercultural communication.
If we pay attention to what they have written, the best-valued activities were the visit to the CECAC and the Pastry School of Barcelona.
We are incredibly excited to share the answers to the question –What have you learned? which exceeds our expectations, as it is a very short program.
- I have understood how a cooperative and professional vocational training center work.
- I have learned a lot about how in another European country they face the same challenges that we also meet in our school.
- I have gained information and knowledge, new ideas; cultural enrichment; self-realization about my own limitations; new friendships, and unforgettable emotions.
- I have gained experience, and I have realized what level we are at. I have learned that the classrooms here are more relaxed.
- I have learned that when there is a will there is a way for a society to come together for the benefit of people in need.
- I have enriched my professional experience, and I have new ideas.
- I have made new friends and learned to communicate with people of different nationalities.
- I have learned a lesson in tolerance.
As well as the last question, open, to add any comment freely, where all the answers have been the following:
- I have enriched myself with new working methods, which I will apply. I saw lessons in tolerance and caring for others. I liked that the general principles of the activity revolve around solidarity and not profit.
- Cordial greetings and thanks to our Catalan partners.
- I will be delighted that our paths cross again to continue catching up.
- The experience was unforgettable.
- No comment.
- No comment.
- I feel enriched and satisfied.
- The program’s activities met my expectations, I would not add any topic!
On the other hand, the logistical aspects (accommodation, transport, and materials) were valued with a score higher than 4.5 between 1 and 5.
For the FCV it has been an excellent opportunity to learn about an essential sector, which is part of the day-to-day life of our city, and to once again collaborate with mind-like non-profit organizations such as the Meritxell Adam-AEMA Educational Association and the Mescladís Foundation, as well as to learn about the good work done of the Barcelona Pastry School and the Barcelona School of Bakers (we already knew from CECAC), with whom we hope to collaborate again on another occasion.
We take advantage of this news of the good results to thank you again for your hospitality and kindness.
With this there are two activities organized by FCV in Barcelona for professional educators, not accompanied by students, with the support of the Erasmus + program and the Bulgarian National Agency.