During the week of March 2–6, 2026, Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna, with a team of two teachers and eight students, visited IES El Carmen school in Murcia, Spain, as part of the Erasmus+ KA121 program.
The group of Greek students and their accompanying teachers arrived in Murcia, Spain, on Sunday, March 1. The students were hosted by the families of Spanish students participating in the program. During the hosting week, the school in Murcia welcomed, in addition to the Greek group, three more groups from accredited European schools within the Erasmus+ KA121 program. The participating groups came from schools in the city of Lier (Belgium), Kalmar (Sweden), and Stavanger (Norway).
Arrival of our school group at Madrid airport
Throughout the week, joint educational activities were carried out, serving the goals set by the five participating schools in their accreditation applications. The goals of our school include fostering creativity, environmental education, and democratic education among students, which were combined with the objectives of the hosting Spanish school. More specifically, the Spanish school focused on water as a connecting link for creatively integrating environmental awareness with democratic participation. The aim was to recognize that the planet is at risk and that diplomacy, democratic dialogue, and cross-border cooperation between countries are therefore required.
On Monday, March 2, the program officially began with an introduction to the host school and its culture. Ice-breaking activities were organized, and Spanish language lessons were conducted at different levels. The goal was for our students to become familiar with basic vocabulary to facilitate communication both at school and with their host families, enhancing their confidence and linguistic awareness.
Ice-breaking activities among students
Spanish lessons
This was followed by a tour of the city of Murcia, where students explored landmarks connected to water. The integration of sustainability, science, and cultural heritage transformed the urban space into a “living laboratory”: groups connected local monuments and infrastructure with issues of environmental management and active citizenship.
Searching for water-related landmarks
On Tuesday, March 3, the day was dedicated to linking the urban landscape with city institutions and the science of water. A morning wellness session helped prepare students for focus and collaboration.
Exercise and dance to start the day
During a guided walk along the river, groups analyzed the structure and function of bridges connecting different parts of the city. In this way, they combined technical and social aspects (urban mobility, neighborhood connectivity, flows of people and ideas).
Student groups visiting the city’s newest bridge
Group photo at Murcia City Hall
The official reception at Murcia City Hall placed the educational experience within the framework of local governance and civic participation. At the Museum of Science and Water, through presentations and interactive exhibits, students explored aspects of the hydrological cycle, water quality, and sustainable use, linking theory with experiential observations from the previous day.
On Wednesday, March 4, the focus shifted to connecting the natural environment with biodiversity and sustainability. The full-day visit to the coastal city of Cartagena, an important port for the region, combined with outdoor sports activities, shifted attention from the urban to the natural ecosystem. The approach emphasized sensory observation, teamwork in the field, and physical well-being as a condition for learning, aiming to link environmental education with personal and social development.
Group activities on a beach in Cartagena
On Thursday, March 5, art was combined with the concept of democracy and physical expression. The program began with “artistic expression through dance,” focusing on flamenco, a traditional dance and musical genre from Andalusia in southern Spain.
Non-verbal communication was then used to develop trust and creativity within international groups.
Dancing flamenco and building trust through non-verbal communication
In the activity “Water and Democracy: The Council of Wise Men (El Consejo de Hombres Buenos),” students were introduced to a historical institution of participatory water management and, through presentations and role-playing, explored issues of justice, accountability, and the common good. The physical expression workshop served as a bridge toward preparing for the Water Stories Festival, encouraging multimodal storytelling (speech, movement, imagery) and the development of presentation skills.
The Council of Wise Men through role-playing
In the evening, the official presentation of the project took place for families and local stakeholders, highlighting the collaborative journey and intermediate results. That same evening, Spanish host parents brought and offered traditional dishes.
On Friday, March 6, the final day of activities began with a structured debate on water-related challenges (conservation, quality, fair access, urban/rural needs), strengthening argumentation, critical thinking, and democratic dialogue. This was followed by the final preparation and implementation of the Water Stories Festival, where international groups presented short stories/actions centered on water, combining scientific elements, cultural references, and creative expression.
Additionally, two international students (out of the 38 participants) and two Spanish students spoke on local radio about the program. One of the two international students was our student, Myrto Barka from class A3.
The evaluation process that concluded the week recorded indicators of cognitive progress (conceptual links between science and society), language use in authentic contexts, intercultural competence, and collaborative problem-solving.
Our students presenting our school at the official project presentation
All student groups from the participating countries
Overall, the week-long mobility in Murcia functioned as a cohesive framework for experiential learning centered on water, spanning urban planning, city institutions, the natural environment, art, and physical expression. Collaboration with IES El Carmen and the participating countries, for both students and teachers, was reflected in mixed teams, co-designed activities, and public dissemination of results, with emphasis on 21st-century skills (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity) and active European identity.
The emotional farewell of the Greek and Spanish students
The team of teachers from the partner countries
Accompanying teachers
Dr. Eirini Arnaouti – Dr. Chrysi Angelidou