Students’ Mobility in the Netherlands “Beyond Plastic: Pathways to a Sustainable Tomorrow”
From September 22 to 26, 2025, students from President Valdas Adamkus Gymnasium took part in the Erasmus+ project “Beyond Plastic: Pathways to a Sustainable Tomorrow” hosted by Dr. Nassau College in Assen, the Netherlands. The mobility week was filled with creativity, collaboration, and meaningful learning experiences.
The project aimed to encourage young people to reflect on the environmental impact of plastic, promote sustainable behavior, and seek innovative ways to protect the planet.
At the start of the week, students met their Dutch host families and new international friends. After an engaging introduction at the Traptheater, they began working in international teams on documentary film projects. Each group chose its own topic related to sustainability and plastic reduction. They conducted interviews with local residents, teachers, and environmental experts, filmed and edited their documentaries, combining creativity with research.
On Tuesday, students visited the RWZI Assen / Waterschap Hunze en Aa’s water treatment plant, where they learned about water purification processes. Wednesday was spent on Schiermonnikoog Island, exploring nature and participating in outdoor sustainability workshops. Thursday included a visit to the Stainkoeln waste processing company and an educational excursion in Groningen, where students explored the city, attended workshops at Forum Groningen, and experienced Dutch culture firsthand.
After daily activities, students spent their evenings with host families, sharing meals, discovering Dutch traditions, and practicing English in a natural environment. These moments fostered cultural understanding and lifelong friendships.
On the final day, students presented their documentary films, showcasing their insights, teamwork, and creativity.
Throughout the week, participants developed numerous competences: enhanced environmental and sustainability awareness, strengthened critical thinking and creativity, improved English communication skills, learned collaborative work in international teams and gained digital competences through filming and editing.
This mobility became not only a learning journey but also a life experience — one that inspired students to act responsibly and to believe that even small steps can lead to a sustainable future.
Italian Heritage and Students‘ Growth participating in „Erasmus+“ Mobility in Nocera Inferiore
In the period from 10 to 14 November 2025, a group of Lithuanian students and teachers participated in an Erasmus+ mobility in Nocera Inferiore, Italy. The visit provided a rich combination of cultural exploration, practical workshops, linguistic activities, and meaningful interaction with the host community. The programme began with a welcome ceremony at the host school, where participants were introduced to the week’s agenda and had the opportunity to meet their Italian peers and teachers. After lunch, the group travelled to Nocera Superiore for a guided visit to the Early Christian Baptistery, an important monument that allowed students to appreciate the architectural and historical heritage of the region. The first day concluded with students returning to their host families to reflect on the new environment and experiences.
The second day continued with artistic and linguistic activities. Students visited pottery shops in Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast, where they observed traditional ceramic production techniques and took part in a hands-on workshop. This activity allowed them to understand the importance of craftsmanship in local culture. In the afternoon, the programme continued with Cambridge English activities at the host school, strengthening students’ communication skills and enhancing their confidence in an international setting.
On the third day, the group visited the Convent of St. Andrew in Nocera Inferiore. Accompanied by a professional guide, students learned about the religious and historical significance of the convent. A practical workshop followed, during which students learned to prepare typical Italian pasta and cakes. Sharing a traditional lunch at the convent enriched the cultural dimension of the mobility and helped students better understand Mediterranean lifestyle and food culture.
The fourth day was dedicated to an educational trip to the archaeological site of Pompeii. Spending a full day exploring the ancient city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD allowed students to connect historical knowledge with real-world evidence. They gained insights into Roman daily life, urban planning, art, and the long-term impact of natural disasters on society. This experience helped broaden their historical understanding and stimulated curiosity about European cultural heritage.
The final day of the mobility began with a Farewell Ceremony at the school, where students reflected on their experiences, exchanged impressions, and received participation certificates. The Italian hosts and Lithuanian participants expressed gratitude for the cooperation, warm hospitality, and new friendships formed during the week. After the ceremony and a final lunch, the group departed, bringing the mobility to a close.
Throughout the week, students strengthened their English skills, expanded their cultural awareness, developed independence and adaptability, and participated in activities that enriched both personal and academic growth. The mobility encouraged intercultural dialogue, creativity, teamwork, and appreciation of European heritage. It created lasting memories and contributed significantly to students’ personal development, while promoting cooperation and mutual understanding between the partner schools.
A WEEK IN BASQUE COUNTRY: LIFE, LEARNING, AND NEW DISCOVERIES
On 12–19 April 2026, six seventh-grade students from President Valdas Adamkus Gymnasium – Liepa Balčiūnaitė, Benita Kaušaitė, Urtė Noreikaitė, Gabrielė Petrauskaitė, Liepa Mieldažytė, and Elena Bajoraitė – along with the school’s deputy director, Birutė Krapauskienė, and English teacher, Vita Janušienė, participated in the Erasmus+ mobility program at IES Elexalde BHI School in Spain.
We are delighted that the mobility took place in a special location, the Basque Country, which, due to its language, culture, and strong identity, is considered one of the most distinctive regions in Europe. Throughout the week, the students had the opportunity not only to explore Basque history, traditions, and culture, and to hear the unique Basque language, but also to enjoy the stunning landscape and inspiring atmosphere – green mountains, the Atlantic coast, and the sun.
Monday’s activities began at school. Students from IES Elexalde welcomed the guests with the traditional Aurreskua dance, which is considered one of the most important symbols of Basque culture. It is a ceremonial dance, usually performed to honor guests. Later, the project participants were given a tour of the school and its various spaces, allowing them to get a closer look at daily school life. After the school tour, students and teachers participated in a Basque music workshop, during which one of the traditional Basque instruments was crafted from recycled materials. Lastly, the day was finalised with traditional dances: the music teacher from IES Elexalde invited everyone to learn a few traditional Basque dance steps.
On Tuesday, the students traveled to the special town Gernika, which is considered a symbol of Basque freedom and democracy. The students, accompanied by their teachers, visited Batzar Etxea, a historic meeting place where representatives of the Basque Country used to gather in the past and where important decisions regarding the region’s governance and rights were made. During the tour, the students learned about the tragic events that took place in Gernica during the Spanish Civil War. In 1937, Gernica was almost completely destroyed. The students also had the opportunity to see a reproduction of the famous painting “Guernica” by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The painting was created in response to the tragic bombing of the town.
Wednesday’s activities took place in Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country. The students and teachers had an active and challenging day there. Project participants were divided into groups and took part in a “City Scavenger Hunt,” during which they had to locate key landmarks in the city and complete various tasks. It was a great opportunity to get to know the city better, experience it firsthand, and actively explore the surroundings. This activity developed communication and collaboration skills, encouraged teamwork, and fostered mutual understanding.
Thursday was just as active and challenging. The morning began with a meeting with the mayor of Galdakao, Iñigo Hernando Arrandiaga. The mayor warmly welcomed the visiting group and briefly spoke about the town’s history, Basque culture, and traditions. The meeting left a warm impression and provided a better understanding of the local community’s values. Later, the students and teachers took part in a 10-kilometer hike. The project hosts led the project participants along mountain trails to Burdin Hesia, a line of defensive bunkers, trenches, and forts built during the Spanish Civil War to protect the city of Bilbao from attacks. The mountain hike was not the only challenge of the day. Upon returning to school, the students participated in competitions featuring traditional Basque sports. The students ran with weights, pulled a rope, and took part in various other team competitions that required endurance, strength, speed, and cooperation.
Friday, which was the final day of project activities, was dedicated to raising awareness about invasive insect species that harm nature and people. Students made traps for Asian hornets designed to monitor and reduce the spread of these invasive insects. The students hung the wasp traps on the school grounds. This activity promoted environmental awareness, practical skills, and a sense of responsibility for environmental protection, while also providing an opportunity to learn through hands-on experience and creative work. The work week culminated in a student concert and lunch.
In summary, it is evident that students gained a wide range of valuable experiences throughout the week. Most importantly, these experiences contribute not only to the acquisition of knowledge but also to the development of meaningful friendships, lasting memories, and a strong sense of connection. The emotions expressed during the farewell clearly demonstrated that the time spent together was both memorable and deeply significant. This reflects the essence of experiential learning in its most authentic form, highlighting the unique value such opportunities provide within an educational context.
International Student Mobility Week at President Valdas Adamkus Gymnasium: Friendship, Sustainability and Erasmus+ Experiences
From April 27th to May 1st, 2026, President Valdas Adamkus Gymnasium hosted an international student mobility week within the Erasmus+ project “Sustainable Wellness in a Green Planet” (SW+GP). The gymnasium welcomed students and teachers from Italy and Slovenia, who together with Lithuanian students participated in a wide range of educational, cultural and sports activities.
The mobility week started with a warm welcome ceremony at school. The headmistress greeted the guests, students performed a musical programme, and international teams got to know each other through ice-breaking activities and a dancing workshop. Presentations about participating countries, cities and schools encouraged intercultural dialogue and communication in English.
During the week, students explored the Old Town of Kaunas and took part in an orienteering competition while discovering the most important historical sites of the city. Participants also visited Vilnius, where international teams explored the cultural heritage of Lithuania’s capital and completed teamwork-based activities.
One of the most important events of the mobility was the international practical conference and fair “ECO ideas for Lithuania 2026”. Students and teachers discussed topics related to ecology, leadership and sustainability. Students participated in workshops, presented their ECO ideas and worked actively in international groups.
Sports activities “United in Motion” in Panemunė forest promoted teamwork, physical activity and healthy lifestyle values. Participants also visited Rumšiškės Open Air Museum, one of the largest ethnographic museums in Europe, where students learned about Lithuanian traditions, crafts and cultural heritage.
International Erasmus+ projects provide students with invaluable opportunities to discover different cultures, improve their English language, communication and cooperation skills, strengthen self-confidence and broaden their horizons. Such experiences help young people become more open-minded, tolerant and responsible global citizens.
We are happy about the new friendships, shared experiences and unforgettable memories created during this inspiring Erasmus+ mobility week.
