Poland
participants
Our goal was to organise a meeting between international students and members of the local community in Wrocław that would promote exchange of information about different cultures as well as inclusivity. In cooperation with educational and cultural facility Odra Centrum, we held one special Easter event for Polish children, during which our Erasmus students shared their favourite facts about their customs regarding that holiday. Then, we followed with a round of engaging integrative activities and having lunch together as an opportunity to socialise even more. Later on we had an Easter egg painting workshop that creatively engaged children in the topic of the activity, as well as showed our Easter traditions to international students. The activities took place by the coast of the Odra River, therefore we also educated our exchange students on the problems of the Polish water economy.
We created an unforgettable experience for the children and provided our Erasmus students with unique opportunity to practice their communication skills, including crucial aspects of non-verbal communication and also creativity in problem-solving through challenges such as overcoming a possible language barrier.
Wrocław is a city with a rich academic and international tradition. However, despite the high number of international and Erasmus students, their interaction with the local community remains limited. Many stay within their cultural circles, leading to feelings of isolation and missed opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange.
At the same time, some regions near Wrocław have been severely affected by floods, disrupting the daily lives of local communities, including children. In response to this, Odra Centrum has launched an initiative to support children from these flood-affected areas by organising educational and cultural activities in Wrocław. Our local activity was a part of this effort, offering these children an opportunity to participate in a meaningful intercultural experience while temporarily stepping away from the challenges of their everyday environment.
For Erasmus students, this local activity provided a chance to actively contribute to the local community by sharing their cultural traditions and engaging in meaningful interactions with the children. A key part of this exchange was a hands-on Easter egg painting workshop. This artistic activity allowed both groups to explore cultural similarities and differences in a fun and creative way, making the exchange more engaging and memorable.
Through interactive workshops, discussions, and shared activities, we created an inclusive space that fosters social connections, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding between all participants.
The activity was promoted on all our social media: Instagram, Whatsapp and also was advertised by ESNers to their Buddies and international students who attended other events. We tried to reach a significant amount of international students in order to pass on different traditions to show, the youngest generation of Lower Silesia, how cultures can vary between themselves.
This activity is part of the project:
ECEM - Enriching Communities Through Engaged Mobilities