EUROPEAN FIRE CELEBRATIONS

WARNING..!

2011-01-18T00:59:00.000-08:00

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”

2011-01-11T02:09:00.001-08:00

http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/514228563

For Omer try this!!

Czech Republic Photobook

2010-10-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

http://s1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/BlankaZikova/FIRE%20CELEBRATION%20CZECH%20REPUBLIC/FIRE%20CELEBRATIONS-scrapbook/?albumview=slideshow

Turkish Photobook!!!

2010-10-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

Apologies the last link was not correct....this is the right one for the Turkish photobook.

http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/514228563

Welsh Photobook

2010-09-24T02:43:00.001-07:00

http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/128340913

Welsh Photobook

Danish Photobook

2010-09-24T02:40:00.001-07:00

http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/496520745

Danish Photobook!!!

Spanish Photobook

2010-09-24T02:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/495856530

Spanish Book!!!

Turkish Photobook

2010-09-23T08:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/495856530

Turkey Photobook!

2010-05-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

2010-05-06T05:53:00.000-07:00

2010-05-06T05:43:00.001-07:00

2010-05-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone.

It was so good to see you all agan in beautiful Prague. Thank you so much Blanka for all your hard work coordinating the visit. It must have been difficult to manage such a large group especially under sad circumstances. You did very well. The ashes of the previous visits and fond memories will always remain with you in Czech Republic.

More than two years ago the coordinators met in a Grundtvig contact seminar in Riga, Latvia. The idea for a project 'European Fire Celebrations' was born and we have had a wonderful two year journey together. We have shared best practises and learned so much.
Many staff and learners have travelled to the five countries and got the chance to see how diverse we are as countries, and how united we are in our commom European goals. We are all committed to the Life Long learning process.

But most of all...we have laughed together, cried together, had SUCH FUN....and made friendships which will remain for life! I know this is NOT the end!

It has been an absolute priviledge for me to have participated in this project.

Thank you all so much on behalf of all Cyrenians Cymru staff and learners.

Best wishes for the future.

Love from Polly xxx

2010-04-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody
Now there is only one week to departure time for Prague!
We hope that the volcano in Iceland will calm down before that, so it will be possible to fly by air.
Here in Denmark we are at least very excited, to see the old historic town, to experience Fire Celebrations the Czech way and - to see you all.
Love from OF-2

Hello Partners!!!

2010-01-22T03:06:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody.

Sorry we have not been in touch through this blog for a while. We had very bad weather at the start of the year in Wales. Lots of snow which took us by surprise. We are making preparations for Prague and are so looking forward to our time in the Czech Republic and to be all together again. Please let us know if you would like us to bring anything!

Lots of love from all in Wales and Dragon Arts!

Polly xxx

Seasons Greetings from OF-2

2009-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

We wish all of our partners in Fire Celebrations a Merry Cristmas and a Happy New Year!

One of the Climate Summits?

Decorated for Christmas in Tivoli Copenhagen

2009-12-03T04:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Denmark

2009-11-22T00:49:00.000-08:00

Hi friends in Turkey.

The danish team wants to thank you all for an exciting stay in Izmir. We have got a lot of impressions of the turkish culture and traditions and your way to celebrate. Of cause it was also good to see all our friends again and to get new friendships.

Now we are back in the rainy, dark and cold workdays, looking forward to sping in Pragh.

from Denmark with lowe

Lene, Bjarne, Karin, Erik, Grethe and Frode

How We Have Celebrated!!!

2009-11-17T06:08:00.000-08:00

CITY TOUR

HIDIRELLEZ” FESTIVAL (BAIRAM)
Arrival of Spring or Summer which means revival of Nature and its starting to live again is an important event in the life of human being in every corner of the World. A widespread belief in connection with tradition of “Hıdırellez” is performance of a celebration for commemoration of the date on which “Hızır” and “İlyas” came together. The day of “Hıdırellez” has been generally celebrated on May 6th. In some regions May 5th has been accepted as the day of Festival and May 6th as the day of “Hıdırellez” and ceremonies have been arranged accordingly. The day of “Hıdırellez” (Ruz-ı Hızır) has been considered as the beginning of Summer in the Public Calendar. According to the Public Calendar among Turks one year has been divided into two sections. The period from the day of “Hıdırellez” (May 6th) to November 8th is 186 days and mentioned under the name of “Hızır Days”.
Traditions, beliefs, ceremonies established around “Hıdırellez” have been confused generally with “Sultan Nevruz” and other traditions and ceremonies performed for meeting the Spring. Because Spring Festivals have been concentrated on several important days. In this connection it is possible to see whole of “Hıdırellez” or other Spring ceremonies in the course of celebration of any one of them.
In Turkish communities both in Anatolia and out of Anatolia with the approach of “Hıdırellez” assorted preparations have been made. Houses have been thoroughly cleaned up, household effects, kitchenware, clothes have been cleaned from top to toe. These works have been performed in order to have “Hızır” (A.S.) visit the house. On the other hand on “Hıdırellez” day lamb or kid, assortment of dishes have been cooked, and in the mean time preparation of a lot of food has been completed. Upon completion of all preparations people go to the nearest picnic places full of trees and having spring and try to pass the day of “Hıdırellez” happily with various plays, entertainments.
Of course the most important ceremony exercised in “Hıdırellez” is the “play of wish”. It has been exercised in order that young girls become lucky, determine their fortune. According to regions the play has different names: drawing lots of wish, fortune pot, lucky, prosperity, etc. The play has been performed as follows: water brought in a pitcher is poured in a pot. Everybody throws a sign into the pot holding water. Such signs may be also sweet basil, mint, “mantuvar” flower in addition to usually ring, earring, etc. The pot is covered with a cloth on the eve of “Hıdırellez” and placed under a rosewood. A lock is put on the pot and locked as a custom. On the other day girls coming together again take the pot under rosewood. Lock is opened and one of them starts to draw lots. In the mean time folk songs are sung. Each folk song is accepted for the fate of the girl whose sign is drawn. This play goes on until the last sign is drawn. In folk songs which have been sung during performance of the play such themes as hope, joy, firmness, love, affection, tenderness, goodness, brotherhood, living abroad, patriotism, etc have been treated.
Followings are a few examples of these folk songs:
Hey fortunate, fortunate
There is time for being fortunate.
One beautiful has the time
to embrace an ugly one.
Are the head of “Martufal”?
Are you Jewellery?
Come let us sing a song
Will you carry it in your pocket ?
One of the widespread beliefs concerning the day of “Hıdırellez” has shown itself in the tradition of making yoghurt. On the day of “Hıdırellez” yoghurt is made without using ferment. If it becomes yoghurt it is believed that “Hızır” visited home.
Furthermore, through studies carried out by our Directorate General, celebration of “Hıdırellez” Culture-Spring Festival has been ensured nationwide.

29TH OCTOBER REPUBLIC DAY
The Independence War was ended by the Lausanne Peace Treaty on 24 July 1923. Thus, all the impediments of the Sevres Agreement had been removed and integrity of the Turkish land had been accomplished by the signing of the Lausanne Agreement. There were no obstructions left on the way to establish the new Turkish State based on national solidarity.
Founding of the Turkish Republic had been heralded by the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April 1920. National Assembly's successful administration during the Independence War had secured the founding of the new Turkish State. Caliphate and Sultanate (monarchy) separated and Sultanate was abolished on 1 November 1922. Therefore, the administrative ties with the Ottoman Empire were broken.
On October 29, 1923, the Turkish constitution was amended and Turkey became a republic. This formally declared the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and accepted all the democratic rules (legislation, freedom and human right) in Europe.. Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) is celebrated throughout Turkey every year. Commemorative events usually begin in the afternoon on the previous day , big parade in midday , torch parade in the evening with fireworks show.

Virgin Mary and Ephessus

Dinner on the Boat

Evaluation Day

The last day with Welsh people

TURKIYE FIRE CELEBRATION

2009-11-17T00:48:00.000-08:00

Dear All Partners,

We hope all you enjoyed Turkiye visit programme.We've tryed to show you some samples of our culture,traditional life and of course fire celebrations.It was unbelievable celebrations for us because first time we did celebrate our national day and Hıdrellez with different 5 country together.And we are so happy to be host for the biggest group.We are sure that the European Fire Celebrations project will go on forever.Thank you so much for your participations.

Thank you so much to CZECH REPUBLIC!!!
Karel,Monika,Jolana,Klara and dear BLANKA ZIKOVA.I'm sure she will do the best programme in the Prague which is lovely city.

Thank you so much to DENMARK !!!
Lene,Bjarne,Grethe,Frode,Erik and KARIN BENTE SLOT.Special thanks to Grethe and Frode for wearing Danish traditional clothes and of course thank you so much to Lisa for the song.

Thank you so much to WALES!!!
Zara,David,Leighton,Rhianon,Gaynor,Esther,Polly and CONRAD WATKINS.Special thanks to Rhianon and David for wearing Welsh traditional clothes and thank you so much to Polly for Ephesus guide.

And Finaly...Thank you so much to SPAIN!!!
Maria,Fernando,Jose Ramon,Vicente,Bea,Carlos,Javier,Ana Maria,Loly,Pepe and my dear twin JOSE VICENTE SANIA LOPEZ!!!Special thanks to Maria,Ramon and Vicente for Spanish dance.We have never ever forget it!!!

2009-11-11T06:04:00.000-08:00

Turkey!!!!!

What can I say? I was a wonderful celebration. We loved seeing you all again in Izmir and thank Turkey for the opportunity to take part in a great parade and Hidrellez. Your organisation was incredible

xxx
thank you al sooooo much love from Polly and all freom Dragon Arts.

2009-10-30T03:03:00.000-07:00

Dragon Arts wants to say a big hello to everyone in Izmir, we wish we could all be there with you but since we can't we decided to spend the week making some European themed crafts, here's some photos of our Danish witches, Spanish ceramic tiles and Turkish Cyanotype designs!

Turkey here we come!!

2009-10-19T03:23:00.000-07:00

Hello to All our partners.

We are so excited that in a weeks time we will be in Izmir with you all! We cannot wait to see you all!

love Polly x

returning

2009-07-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hi you guys,
I am writting to say i have made enquaries and am pleased to say i will be returning to denmark at christmas i am in love with the beautey and cant wait to be in it soon

2009-07-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

DearPartners, the webcast will be starting at 2.45 GMT, on Thursday the 23rd of July. We look forward to linking up with you, Polly will open the webcam at 2.30 in case there are any technical problems. We are all very excited! See you then, Esther x

Fire Celebration - Denmark 2009

2009-07-18T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Partners

We are so glad to hear that you have enjoyed your stay in Denmark. We too are also so happy to have had the opportunity to be hosts for people like you and have been able to show you some of what we think is our beautiful country and some of our Danish traditions!

We have collected some of our pictures, but by and by we hope to get more pictures from you too.

Big hug to all of you from the whole team in OF-2.

SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE PHOTOS!!!

2009-07-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

WHAT'S THAT?

UAAAAUUUUHHHH!!!

IN THE FOREST¡¡¡¡

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PHOTOS!!

2009-07-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

THE SIAMESE OF THE PIPE

PORTLAND

Kisses from Tuejar !!!!!

2009-07-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Dear danish friends:

We are working already one week.(Agggggh)

It seems that we are here at least one month!!!

After this week of DIET (je,je) and work, we continue missing you and your beautiful country.

They have captivated us: your long and sunny days and your green meadows, the tranquility and beauty of your city, but especially the sea has impressed us....
It seems that you have the whole water that here we lack: the fiords, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the small river... It's a gift and a luck.

But the best of everything has been the time that we have shared with you and the opportunity to know yourself better.Your affectionate and opened character, your sense of the humor and happiness have done us to feel like in our home.

We want to thank you for the great effort of organization : the dishes, the excursions, the songs, the dances, etc. Uff, what a exhausting week!!!

We see you soon!!!

Kisses!!!!!

Carlos and Bea

THANKS FROM SPAIN!!!!!!!

2009-07-04T04:11:00.000-07:00

TO BE OR NOT TO BE.....
OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR GREAT TREASURE!!!
AND OUR UNION IS OUR POWER!!!

Dear friends:

Thank you so much, to all of you, for your energy and understanding, and mainly to the danish team for your good work and great love!!!

Kisses!!!!

Nuria, Lola, Jose, Vicente, Carlos, Beatriz, Maria and Pepe

home is not as good as denmark

2009-06-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

hello everyone
home in swansea and it is a shame last week went so fast! i intend to vist gistrup again and lookforward to seeing you all again i will get on the case with conrade to let me come again with craig,david lisa and nicola maybe we could al tay for ever. Was telling everyone about the sheep attack they thought it was so funny and mrs albourg is ok she survied the flight! Gave a glass of albourg snaps to a friend they loved it. Anyway bye for now love and kisees. p.s thanks to blanca and klara for the wonderfull gift.

Love always Matt pics to follow

Thank you Aalborg !!!

2009-06-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hello all the Danish Friends,
I would like to say thank you so much for your wonderfull organisation.We realy enjoyed.We had a great time with you and the other participants.Now we are looking forward to your visit.We will try to show you our hospitality as much as you did.As I said during the evaluation,I feel myself the big family with all of you.We are getting very close to each other every step. Even we are our own home,I feel my heart and my mind with you.
Thank you so much for your cooperation Karin,Grethe,Sonia,Lene,Lise and Eric,Frode,Arnie,Bjarne,Jorgen and the others who can not remember their names.We realy enjoyed for your partnership.

Lots of Love!!!

Omer

2009-06-29T02:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Grete!

I miss you all very much. thank you for your hospitality in Gistrup. Hope to see everyone again soon

Phots to follow

Lots of Love

Matt. xxxx

2009-06-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

<-Sonia Karin Grethe Lene Lise

Arne Erik Bjarne Jørgen René Frode ->

Hi Partners. 7 days to go!

Meanwhile you can visit this website: http://www.visitnordjylland.dk/international/en-gb/menu/turist/turist-maalgruppe-forside.htm

Greetings OF-2

2009-06-01T03:33:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone.

We are enjoying the sun here in Swansea. Hope all our partners are well! We are thrilled that in June we will run a series of 'ninot' making workshop. Ninots are the small paper puppets that the children of Tuejar made for their fire and they will be burnt at a small summertime fire at Dragon Arts. Pictures to follow xxxx Lisa and Nicola along with others will see you soon in Denmark

Love Polly xxx

2009-05-29T02:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody.
Now it is time to get excited about the Midsummer visit to the ‘Land of Light’!

Everyone here in Aalborg is very busy working on the arrarangements.

Following are some links and some facts:
· If you want to look at Aalborg in birds perspective you can visit
http:www.krak.dk/kort/
Select kort / skråfoto / Aalborg
· If you want to know more about the Viking museum you can visit
http://www.visitaalborg.com/international/en-gb/menu/tourist/oplevelser/attraktioner/museer/produktside/gdk016245/lindholm-hoeje-museum.htm?CallerUrl=1

· If you want a look on paintings from famous Danish painters depicting midsummer at Skagen (The Skaw) with the one and only danish midsummer song you can visit
http://da.netlog.com/go/explore/videos/videoid=da-145743

· And some historical facts about Aalborg:

Aalborg.dk > English
The development of the city from the stone axes era to a city of knowledge
But first came the Vikings...They settled down on Lindholm Høje a few km north from Aalborg.
Lindholm Høje Lindholm Høje is Denmark's most famous burial place from the Stone Age, and consists of 700 graves. The place was actively inhabited from the year 400AD through to 1000AD, where Sven Tveskæg (fork beard) reigned. In the years that followed there were some powerful sandstorms, covering the fields and graves with sand.
Lindholm Høje.
Though much has happened since the sand evicted the Vikings. The city became one of Jutland's largest market towns and already before it received its trade rights from the king in 1342, King Hardeknud had pressed coins in Aalborg in 1035. The city blossomed and the Grey Brother monks came here. They arrived in Ribe, Denmark in 1232 on foot from Germany and were part of the growing Order of Francis. The Order of Francis was established in 1223 by the holy Frans of Assisi in Italy. The monks preached about living as Christ had, in faith and poverty. They lived primarily off gifts and begging and were therefore known as the beggermonks. The additional name of Grey Brother came from the colour of their robes. Between 1240 and 1250 the Grey Brothers reached Aalborg. An unknown founder granted them a plot of land on a built up area on the south side of Algade and close to the city harbour in Østerå. The placement was ideal for a begging monk convent, as the brothers could easily gather listeners to their preaching's. The many passers by also meant good charities. (You can visit the remains of the convent if you take the lift outside of Sallings entrance on Algade.) Catholicism became the foremost religion over the next couple of hundred years, though its fate was sealed during a feud with the Count, where Skipper Clement became known as the leader of the farmer's revolution in 1534.
Jens Bang Calmness was restored in the city and it regained its great position in the renaissance as a market town. The merchant, Jens Bang, built his house of stone in 1624, Jens Bang was an incredibly composed person and ahead of his time.
Jens Bang's Stonehouse.
He was allegedly born in Horsens around 1570 and came to Aalborg the latest in 1592.In 1605 he paid 24 shillings in citizenship money and with that earned the right to run businesses and trade in Aalborg. The same year it was apparent from the city's accounts that he had invested in a ship and furthermore the accounts from Aalborg House showed that he had delivered timber and Spanish salt to the vassal. On this new ship he sailed with corn to Norway and took timber home on his return. In some cases it was freighted further to Spain. During 1617-27 he exported, by his own accounts, 3000 bullock southwards. The good times though were ended abruptly for Jens bang in 1639 when his wife died. There needed to be changes so that the creditors could receive their share. The number of payment demands on Jens Bangs exploded in the 1640s. During 1641-43 he fired his trusted co-workers, broke into people's house to acquire valuable papers and became involved in illegal fishing. Jens Bang died in the beginning of 1644. Afterwards the city changed character from being the city of traders and sailors to also becoming an industrial city.
The industrial development stamped Aalborg on the cigar label Not just Denmark's, but also the largest Nordic and 2nd largest European tobacco factory lay in Aalborg. The story of CW Obel has been told many times. The related events stretches from the ground work in 1787 to 1995, when the last cigarillo was rolled in Aalborg, but the significant year was 1961, when CW Obel merged with Scandivisk Tobakskompagni (The Scandinavian Tobacco Company) In the 1950's over two thousand were employed and much of the manual labour was undertaken by women. They were quick both with their fingers and mouths. The Obel-girls actively mixed into the social scene and they had money in their pockets. Obel did not under pay women. The Aalborg movement started with chewing tobacco and ended with chewing tobacco. How many would be aware of the latter part? There is still a small chewing tobacco production in Sofiendal, where the last cigarillos were rolled in 1995. Just 15 workers still produce chewing tobacco - almost like 200 years ago.
Aalborg as a shipping and industrial city With its placement on the Limfjord in the middle of the North Sea and Kattegat, for centuries Aalborg has been a shipping city and where there are a lot of ships, there are also Ship yards. In 1912 the Stuhr brothers founded the yard which since has influenced the cities development. In 1914-18 the yards grew quickly to produce the many transport ships that were needed during the First World War, but after the war new orders were a rarity and in 1927 Aalborg council had to take over the yards. The shipping company, J. Lauritzen bought the yard in 1937 and gave it the name Aalborg Værft A/S. This developed into becoming the cities largest workplace and boasted in the 1980's around 4000 employees. Until it closed in 1988, the yard built not just many ships but also Alborg Tower, the span of the Limfjord bridge and the steel construction for Budolfi churches tower. Aalborg Værft specialised already in the 1940s in building of cooler ships for shipping company J. Laurtzen. The last one was built in the Soviet Union in 1985 and 86. The foundation for another of Aalborg's largest industries - the cement development - is due to the large mass of chalk under the ground.
And since then the "børsterne" came to town A flock of unstable "børsterne"(men who worked hard and socialised hard), they were called, yet it is precisely these cement workers, who largely can take credit for Aalborg's reputation that it was Denmark's working city above all others, as well as that Aalborg is today one of the country’s largest cities. Even though their era is as good as over, it is still to a large extent the cement workers and their neighbourhoods, which characterise Aalborg's development and appearance.
Aalborg became a modern benchmark in the 1930s Large, visionary investments in the Limfjord bridge, the countries first provincial airport, new roads were laid and new parts of the town amongst others Vesterbro and Boulevarden made Aalborg, in a few short years, one of the countries most modern cities. Aalborg was in the 1930s a national icon, and many times arranged the North Jutland Exhibition with guests from all over the country - including members of the royal household and government, headed by the Prime Minister, where Aalborg & Northern Jutland showed off its best attributes and presented new fashions, new lifestyles, new architecture and new technical wonders from various professions. This thread has been taken up again, after Aalborg's time as an industrial city was thought to be over. The phrase "city of knowledge" has become more fitting.
Aalborg as the city of knowledge Aalborg University and many others of the cities places of education produce a large highly qualified workforce thus creating a variety of highly technical businesses. In 1988 three of Northern Jutland's largest businesses closed down and an already badly affected part of the country lost another 2000 workplaces. Something had to be done. On this basis the idea of NOVI (Nordjyllands Videnpark A/S) was born as a spearhead for Northern Jutland’s business development and as a connection between research and production.
NOVI.
NOVI was planned and established within the then current county borders and at the event in 1988/89 the place was referred to as the "centre of knowledge". NOVI was at that time only 5.500 m2 and housed a variety of companies including a line of research institutes and technological service institutes. Its neighbour, Aalborg University was a decisive cooperative partner with close relations between the tenants at NOVI and quite a few of the technical based university institutes. NOVI has grown from its younger days, in the late eighties, and the research park now covers a whole 29.000 m2 For more information, click onto
Aalborg dominated by art and culture The City centre has also developed from being dominated by the big corporations from the past to being dominated by art, culture, Danish 'hygge' (cosiness) and charm. The city offers a wealth of experiences, whether you wish to visit the swimming baths or finer cultural experiences. Become inspired by walks around the city, which guide you around its streets to discover the areas gems. Aalborg is known for its wide range of education. This broad array of education has also resulted in a full spectrum of spare time activities. Here there is everything that your heart could desire in entertainment offerings and sports activities. From parachuting to floorball to football.
In Aalborg there's sport on all tangents You can go to Herning to watch Ice hockey, Copenhagen to see football, Århus to see basketball and to Viborg to watch handball, but there can't be found a place other than Aalborg where in the same weekend, you can follow all the sports at the highest level without having to travel. Aalborg is the top sports city.
Aalborg Stadionhal
As the only city in Denmark, where you can find equal amount of top level teams, men's or women's, football, ice hockey, basketball or volleyball. Rarely have we seen such a collection of sports in one place. It's all going so well with all teams at the top level.
Samba - you are the juggler and the street is yours Every year Aalborg hosts the largest carnival of the Nordic countries, where 25.000 samba happy people participate in a bubbling procession throughout the city.
The spectacle attracts 100.000 onlookers, whom enjoy the fantastic costumes and samba rhythms.
The carnival is a medium for creative folk culture, where participants are immersed into character and throw themselves into a rhythmical musical self expression with their faces as the canvas and their bodies as sculptures. The carnival is homage to life, the spring, the fantasy oblivious to religious or political tendencies.
Near to everything -especially when you're going far Whether you are going to the bakers or to Barbados, it takes almost no time. Aalborg offers all of the cities delights within a reachable distance. From standing and gazing over the Limfjords blue waters, to standing on the middle of the glowing tiles of the shopping streets, there does not go five minutes. On bicycle you can reach all the suburbs in less than 15 minutes, and if you are travelling further it couldn't be easier. Aalborg has its own express route to the rest of Denmark, the E45, and if that is not enough, the airport, which offers a large variety of domestic and international departures, is just 20 minutes away from the city centre. Last but not least, Aalborg is divided by the beautiful Limfjord river, offering everything a sailors soul desires.
A cocktail of international enjoyment The Street (Jomfru Ane Gade) attracts every weekend many thousands of party happy people from all over the Nordic countries to come and party the night away.
Jomfru Ane Gade.
In the furthest, intimate streets there are numerous clubs and bars, something for every taste with prices like Eastern European lands and on many a summer evening you can find yourself having a refreshing drink under blue skies watching the beautiful sunrise.
The text above is an extract from http://aalborg.dk/Engelsk/default.aspx?ctrl=1689&data=133%2c2191885%2c3194&count=1

We are really looking forward to seeing you
That’s all for now – We will be back.
On behalf of OF-2
Frode

Photos of Tuejar Fire Celebration 2009

2009-04-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful time for all of us. Thank you all!

Love Polly.

see you soon!!! más luego Hasta la vista :) . kıss you all.. ideal BULUCU// Turquía

2009-04-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

hola tuejar ideal :)

2009-04-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

oe oe oe oe....

2009-04-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Holassss, que chulo, acabo de encontrar este blog, chulo chulo, soy Marisa la amiga de Chelo, no veas lo que me emocione en la ofrenda, todos cantando nuestro himno. La gente de la falla de Tuejar es estupenda y simbolizan lo que de verdad debe ser la fiesta de las fallas. Felicidades por estas estupendas fallas a todos los que han colaborado, y no os preocupeis por la lluvia porque el espiritu de la fiesta estuvo siempre presente, hasta el ultimo minuto. ANIMO Y A POR LAS FALLAS DE TUEJAR 2010. BESOS.

we miss you all too!

2009-04-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the (many) photos we took. There are more on our website which is http://www.dragonarts.co.uk/ (in case any of you had forgotten!)

Hope to speak to you all or see you soon

Love Carey

2009-04-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS

2009-04-08T03:34:00.000-07:00

...........................................

2009-04-08T03:32:00.000-07:00

I'M MISSING YOU

2009-04-08T03:26:00.000-07:00

HI FRIENDS:
IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC SHARE ALL OUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS IN THE BLOG....
Lots of love!
Pepe

LINKS

2009-04-08T03:08:00.000-07:00

Hi, dear friends:

I would like share with you these links about dissemination of your visit.

I would like to speak a better english in order to share with all of you my feelings about your visit.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

La sede de JCF acogerá la clausura del proyecto Grundtvig de la Falla de Tuéjar
http://www.fallas.com/index.asp?pagina=actualidad&c=55&anyo=2009&subpagina=9544

La Junta Central Fallera contó con la visita de varios integrantes del Proyecto "Fiestas Europeas del Fuego"
http://www.fallas.com/index.asp?pagina=actualidad&c=55&anyo=2009&subpagina=9590

http://www.lasprovincias.es/valencia/20090402/valencia/representantes-cuatro-paises-europeos-20090402.html

super falla de tuejar 2009

2009-04-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Hola soy Pilar una de las afortunadas que ha podido disfrutar de la falla de tuejar ,en especial este año 2009.Estas falla han supuesto para mi un digamos neo-renacimiento en aquello que hacia tiempo que nodisfrutaba durante mis 36 años de fallera. La presencia práctica de los valores de amistad, acogimiento, trabajo , diversión, particpación activa sin personalismos ni protagonismos,ilusión y mucho ,mucho humor que es indicador de una gran inteligencia práctica ,que desdramatiza cualquier conflicto ; son sin lugara dudas la columna vertebral por la que se puede regir un equipo, grupo o comisisón, dejando muy por debajo a cuantiosos balances económicos de ganacias por la buena gestión de un equipo;a buen entendedor pocas palabras ya que todo en esta vida no se compra , ni se consigue con dineero.Muchas Felicidades sin lugar a dudas la falla de Tuejar abre un nuevo capítulo interesantisimo en el mundo fallero abriendo su puerta a europa y haciendonos a todos participes y felices del orgullo de nuestras fiestas sean de la nacionalidad que sean.Muchas Felicidades y que sean por muchos años más.Gracias y besos

a que porqué

2009-04-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

Dear friends:
How are you? We need see you soon because we are missing you.
Do you remember Tuejar? Well, I send a photos of your visit.
Kisses.
Maria.

OUR PROJECT IN TV

2009-04-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

2009-04-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

hello Spain HoLa tuejar ;
Im in Turkey now.I had wonderful days in Tuejar with you. I never forget you.I saw amazing places and people.I meet beatiful people like you. gracias everything I love you I love spain/ tuejar / valencia /

id0_schell@windowslive.com

ideal Bulucu izmir/Turqia

2009-04-02T02:06:00.000-07:00

Hola Tuejar!!

Hello to all the partners of European Fire Association. We are very sad to be back in Swansea again and wish we were still all together in Spain. We cannot find the words to explain how much we enjoyed and learned from the people in Tuejar. We would like to express our huge thanks to everyone for all their hard work throughout the week. I am busy sorting through all the video clips and photos and we will put something together for the blog soon.

In the meantime..... here are the instructions for planting the daffodil bulbs.

You MUST plant them straight away!

Where to Plant Daffodils.
Daffodils grow best with ample sunlight, preferably all day long. At a minimum they need six hours of direct sun. In too much shade, flowering will be reduced and their performance will decline.
Daffodils grow well in many different types of soil, but they need a planting site that is well drained, meaning a location where runoff does not collect after a rain. Avoid low spots and places that tend to be swampy or extra muddy.

How to Plant a Daffodil Bulb.
Plant the bulbs about six inches apart. Dig the hole three to four times deeper than the bulb is tall or about eight inches deep. If your soil is loose and soft, you may find that a bulb planting tool works for you. I use a sharp spade. Some people like the bulb planting augers that attach to a drill, but I feel they compact the surrounding soil.
Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole to encourage rooting. Set the bulb firmly in the bottom of the hole; give it a gentle twist so it sits securely upright. Be sure to place the bulb pointy end up. Return the soil to the hole and you’re done.
It’s best to plant just before a rain storm, or else water generously to settle any air pockets.

Thanks once again for all your friendship and hospitality, partners!!

Viva Tuejar!!!

Love Polly. xxxxx

Visit to Spain

2009-04-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

We just arrived to our own home even we felt at our home ourselves in Tuejar. I'm sure that all the participants of project felt the same feeling.There was a wonderfull celebration in Tuejar.Not only celebration;there was a hospitality, frendly, dearness. Thank you so much for all you did perfect.
Thank you so much Lolly, Carlos, Bea, Fernando and the all the Tuejar people. Of course there was 2 people who they are breaveheart. Maria; when I looked at her eyes, saw that tired with happiness. And lastly the other breaveheart man is PEPE. Even he looked like to smiler, I could have imagene how he was a lot of turbulent in his mind. You did good job guys,congratulation guys.
But after each event project people are getting closer, as I said before. You can believe that even my body is Turkiye, my mind and heart are with all you. That is why I said the last meeting in Valencia that Eorupean Fire Celebration project works as a cement to stick the people each other.

Love
Omer

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT TUÉJAR

2009-03-07T04:38:00.000-08:00

Here you have some information about Tuéjar and the district of Los Serranos. Really there aren´t a lot of information in english about the village and the district, but here you have two links to websites with english version about the region of Valencia in general.

www.comunitatvalenciana.com

www.valenciaterraimar.org

THE DISTRICT OF LOS SERRANOS

2009-03-07T04:07:00.000-08:00

The distric of Los Serranos is located in the Northwestern section of the province of Valencia, on mountainous terrain that honours its name and meaning “high” Turia, and offers stark, rugged scenery with its own caind of beauty.

Extending to the north are the last spurs of the Javalambre Sierra that continues to the east after changing its name to Sierra de Andilla. To the south, the boundary of the district is marked by a succession of sierras that extend from the Negrete mountains to the Sierra de Chiva. Betweeten these are the hills known as Los Serranos, cut through by the river Turia its affluent the Tuéjar river, and other smaller streams.

This district is a fine example of a land dominated by Mediterranean mountains from the Iberian System. The natural habitat varies greatly due to its complex geography, ranging from two hundred metres in altitude on the eastern side to one thousand six hundred at the peac known as La Ceja de Alpuente. There seems to be a harmoni mix of natural landscape with a rich culture heritage to be found in the eighteen towns and some twenty villages in the district.

Apart from its historic and artistic heritage and natural beauty, the Los Serranos district is well know for its hospitality, its extensive festivities calendar and tasty cuisine.

TUÉJAR

2009-03-07T03:50:00.000-08:00

TUÉJAR, AN HISTORICAL VILLAGE.

At the geographic heart of the district of Los Serranos, among valleys and mountains, next to the birth of the river that gives it the name, we can find Tuéjar.

Tuéjar is a more ancient village than Valencia city, a mixture of different cultures, as demonstrate 8000 years old paleolithic paintings, the bronze age's deposits, Iberian settlements and Roman constructions.

In the centre of the ancient urban area, there are remains of arabic architecture.The fact exists that they formed splits of the enclosure marked off by definite walled limits.

In XIV century, Tuéjar was reconquered by Christians, once its strategic importance was given. Tuéjar bordered the kingdom of James I , Aragon, with Castilla, the other great kingdom in Spain towards the end of the Middle Ages.

The fact of its position next to this roadway has made Tuéjar a scene of numerous historic events.

Its inhabitants have lived on agriculture and cattle raising for centuries.

After the Spanish civil war, in 1940, Tuéjar had almost 4,000 inhabitants, but during the years Tuéjar suffered the mass emigration of generations plus young people, toward Valencia and other Spanish cities, even toward other European countries like Switzerland, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in search of a better future for them and their families.

The Spanish entrance in the EU, in the mid 80s, has supposed for Tuéjar and all the district of “Los Serranos”, one point of inflexion so that he seemed a slow and inexorable agony.

European collaboration has been nail piece ever since for the dinamization and modernization of our land.

FALLA DE TUÉJAR 2009

2009-03-07T03:17:00.000-08:00

Hi, dear partners:

In few days you’ll arrive to Tuéjar…
We are very happy and exciting about your visit.
Last 28th. of February we celebrate the “Presentation”

The “Presentation” is a traditional act that is celebrated every year to present to the whole village the activities programmed for the fire celebration.

As you can imagine, this year all the activities that we are preparing are related to our project and to your visit.

It’s really a great honor for us to receive yourselves this year in Tuéjar.

It’s traditional also to present in this act to the " falleras mayores ", a woman and a little girl that they represent for one year the association and preside all the acts that are celebrated.

2008-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

Dear friends from Swansea, Gistrup, Izmir and Prague:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Falla de Tuéjar

Happy New Year

2008-12-22T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hi All The European Fire Celebrations Project People,
Now, time to celebrate the new year.By the way I would like to say Marry Christmas and Happy New Year all of you.I hope 2009 will be better than 2008 for you and all your family. And the other my prospect is that, the year 2009 will give us a good chance, to succesfull about our project.
I'm very exciting to will have meet all of you in Spain and I'm sure my coordinator and the other Spanish are too.I know that they are working hard to host better us.
So, we have only one day to celebrate Christmas in Turkiye but you all have big holiday.I hope you would have meet all your loveliness.

Best Regards,
Love

Omer

Seasons Greetings

2008-12-20T02:41:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Dragon Arts and Learning has closed now for Christmas so we will write to you all again in January (and then not long until Spain in March!!!). Happy holidays everyone - thank you all for making 2008 such a special year!
Love Carey

2008-12-13T08:45:00.001-08:00

Hi everybody.
Now is the time to show that we are able to write on the blog.
1½ months after the return from Wales all the experiences from being together with you now have been settled.
We are sure, that the people we have been telling about you and Wales, thinks we are exaggerating when we praise this fire-celebration week.
Most of all our gratitude goes to Conrad and his staff. You did a fantastic job by arranging it all and taking us into your live.
We have already been talking a lot of how we shall manage to give you a good experience when you come to Denmark.
We send you all Seasons Greetings and are looking forward to seeing you all in 2009.
Happy New Year from OF-2 Denmark
Grethe & Frode

2008-12-01T04:18:00.001-08:00

HI!! partners.

Here is the finished video of the fire celebration! I hope you all enjoy it. We had such a wonderful week together. Thank you all!

Polly.

Writing with lights!

2008-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello partners!!

We found a fun way to write messages to you. We use neon and laser lights and photograph them slowly. It is lots of fun!! We hope to send you all Christmas cards which are written in the same way.

Take care!

Love Polly

2008-11-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

and here is one from me! There are thousdands of photos so we will post more soon but maybe you have not all seen this one yet!

2008-11-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!
I have sent emails to those for whom I have an individual email address but for anyone else - Prys, out IT Manager has asked that if you have any more photos etc that you would like to have included in the final slideshowplease send them to Dragon Arts as soon as possible. Then we can send copies out to each partner.
Hope you are all well!
Carey x

The History of Bonfire Night in Britain.

2008-11-19T03:21:00.000-08:00

Bonfire Night - 5th November
Links
Bonfire Night
Overview

Bonfire Night has a very long tradition involving plots and treason.
Today it is celebrated with elaborate fireworks and bonfires across the country.

In depth
Remember, remember the fifth of November.Gunpowder, treason, and plot.I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.
On 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parilaiment in Westmisnter, London. Guy Fawkes disagreed with the then king of England, King Charles I and plotted with a group of men to fill a cellar under the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder to blow it up. This was later to become known as the Gunpowder Plot. The plan was foiled and Guy Fawkes was captured and sent to the Tower of London. He was later executed.

Traditions
Since that day the 5th November had been remembered as Guy Fawkes Night. Effigies (dummies representing people) of Guy Fawkes were made with shirts and trousers stuffed with hay or paper. A mask was sometimes used for its face. Children would take their guy out on the streets and ask for a 'penny for the guy' to pay for fireworks. At night the guys were placed on the top of bonfires.

Nowadays the 5th November is known as Bonfire Night. On this night throughout the country there are many firework displays. Fireworks of many colours and shapes light up the night sky.
Fireworks
Pyrotechnics is the science used in creating fireworks. The science dates back thousands of years to ancient China. Fireworks are made using gunpowder, the same powder Guy Fawkes tried to use four hundred years ago to blow up Parliament.

There are many types of fireworks. Rockets are fireworks that shoot up into the sky and explode into colourful shapes. Catherine Wheels are fireworks that spin around like a wheel, and are very bright and noisy. The name comes from a form of punishment that was used against St Catherine in the Middle Ages. Sparklers are metal sticks which can be held at one end. When lit it sparkles and hisses.
Fireworks are beautiful and can be a lot of fun. But they must be handled with care, as they can be dangerous. Children must always be accompanied by an adult around fireworks, and the Fireworks Code must be followed at all times.

How long has Bonfire Night been celebrated?

Bonfire Night is over 400 years old. It dates back to 1605 when Guy Fawkes and a group of other men tried to blow up Parliament.

Was Guy Fawkes the leader of the Gunpowder Plot?

No. The leader of the Gunpowder Plot was a man called Robert Catesby. He was a Catholic who was fiercly opposed to the king and the Protestant aristocracy of the time.

When were fireworks invented and what were they used for?

The earliest written records of fireworks date back to China in the 12th Century (AD 1100s). They were used to scare off evil spirits with the loud sounds that they made.

Thanks! for making our Bonfire night so special!!!

Love Polly x

YOU ARE IN MY MIND AND IN MY HEART

2008-11-16T07:02:00.000-08:00

Dear friends:

I have no words to explain my thoughts and feelings about last week....
I´m sure that all of you are agree with me that it was really nice, funny, wonderful, interesting fantastic, amazing...
Congratulations to Conrad, Carey, Lisa, Sally, Polly, Esther... and all the staff and learners of Dragon Arts & Learning Center and Cyrenians Cymru.
All of you did really a great work. Thanks too to Greta, Frode, Suayip, Omer, Mustafa, María, Loli, Bea and Carlos for your energy and understanding ...
It´s a great honour for me to be coordinator of this project.
I´ll continue working in order to do it my best, but is really easy with people like you.

Here you have the recording of the radio interview (congratulations cocococoordinators for your good spanish).

Lots of love
Pepe

Missing you already

2008-11-10T02:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Pepe and everyone,
Now you have gone home the rain is back! It is pouring down again in Wales. It was wonderful to meet you all last week and life now seems very boring without you. Thank you all for your enthusiasm for the Fire Celebrations. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.
All my best regards, from Sally xx

2008-10-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Partners,
here is the menu for our Welsh Food Evening on Tuesday 4th November. I have sent you all an email already but in case you prefer to use the blog here it is again:

a selection of Welsh inspired canapés including cockles and laverbread
**
Starters
Leek and Potato Soup (V)
Or
Spring Rolls with Penclawdd Cockles
**
Main
Welsh Lamb Shanks in Red Wine Sauce served with Seasonal Vegetables and Leek Mash
Or
Glamorgan Sausages served with Seasonal Vegetables, Welsh Butter Mash and Onion Gravy (V)
**
Dessert
Bara Brith Bread and Butter Pudding and Cream
Welsh Cakes
Selection of Welsh Cheese and Biscuits
Joe’s Ice cream
**
All produce is Free Range

we need to know which option for Starter and Main course you would all like to eat.
I need you to tell me this on behalf of all your party by TUESDAY 28TH OCTOBER so we can order the right quantities.
Let me explain a few things that are on the menu:
Laverbread is seaweed.
Cockles are seafood.
Glamorgan Sausages are not meat. They are cheese and leek sausages in breadcrumbs.
Bara Brith is a type Welsh cake
Joe's ice cream is a vanilla ice cream made by a local company

Please let me know as soon as possible
See you all soon, Carey

Information about Swansea.

2008-10-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.dragonarts.co.uk/resources/Swansea_Bay_You_Personalised_Information_Pack.pdf

Hello All Partners!!

Please click on the link to download your personal information pack which will tell you lots about Swansea.

Regards.

Polly Stone.

Food during your stay in Swansea.

2008-10-07T02:53:00.000-07:00

Hello All Partners.

We are all very excited and plans for the Fire Celebrations are going very well here in Swansea. We would like to ask if any of you have special food needs. For example, Karin is allergic to fish. Some of you may be vegetarian, not eat certain meats, or drink alcohol and we would like to make sure that when we have to provide food, there is enough for everyone and something everyone will enjoy. Can you let me know as soon as possible?

Many thanks!

Polly Stone.

Confirmation of hotel in Wales

2008-10-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Partners,
Apologies for not confirming this sooner as I have been on holiday. I want to confirm to you all that the hotel in Swansea is booked. The hotel is the Premier Inn

http://www.premierinn.com/pti/hotelInformation.do?hotelId=24139

There is a small map on this link but I can send another one showing the train station if you like.

The rooms cost £60 per room per night (not per person)
Breakfast has also been booked for every person for each day at an additional cost of £5.25 per day.

So, for Denmark the booking is Sunday 2nd November - Friday 3rd Nov (5 nights) (late check in has been arranged).
For Spain and Turkey it is Monday 3rd November - Friday 3rd Nov (4 nights).

Can Turkey and Spain confirm what time they will be arriving in Swansea on Monday 3rd November and can each country confirm what time they will need to leave on Friday so we can plan our farewell event!

Thanks
Carey

Confirmation of visitors needed

2008-09-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

As part of the visit we wish to prepare certificates of attendence for all those who participate in our visit and therefore need all the names of those visiting us here in Wales. I've recieved names from Denmark so many thanks for that please could I have confirmation of everyone attending from Turkey and Spain.

many thanks

Lisa Llewellyn
Deputy Manager
Dragon Arts and Learning

Dear Partners,

2008-09-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Denmark is now trying the blog for the first time.

Karin

2008-09-19T03:43:00.001-07:00

Dear Partners,
I spoke to Karin at length on the phone yesterday and it is lovely to feel like I am getting to know you all!
Karin has reminded me of a suggestion which has also been made by the UK National Agency which is that Wales produce "Certificates of Attendance" for all of you when you visit us. This will serve as proof of the mobilities taking place. Can you, then, let us know the names of each visitor who is coming to Wales so that we can prepare these certificates in advance.
Thank you everyone,
have a nice weekend
Carey

Your projects!!

2008-09-18T03:41:00.001-07:00

I know that it was agreed that we will communicate in English on this blog and being as it is only UK who speak it as a first language, please can you post some information about your projects, what they do, your members/clients/aims/achievements etc. I have visited all your websites but all the info is in your national languages.

Please visit these web pages for more information about Dragon Arts and Learning Centre, and our organisation Cyrenians Cymru.

Looking forward to meeting you all!!!!!

www.dragonarts.co.uk
www.cyrenians.co.uk

Hello!!!

2008-09-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

I am so happy this blog is now up and running!! We will be posting lots of information for you soon!

Regards,

Polly Stone.

Hotel bookings in Wales

2008-09-18T02:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Partners,
We have now booked your hotels in Wales. I can confirm that the arrangements are as follows:

Denmark - arrive 2nd November, depart 7th November.
3 x twin/double rooms (late check in arranged)

Spain - arrive 3rd November, depart 7th November.
2 x twin/double rooms
1 x single

Turkey - arrive 3rd November, depart 7th November
1 x twin/double room
1 x single

http://www.premierinn.com/pti/hotelInformation.do?hotelId=24139

Cyrenians have paid for the hotel for you all - you will see this is £60 per room, per night. This includes breakfast each day. It is up to us all as partners to agree whether you all reimburse us for the hotel OR we pay on this occasion and each host country does the same. I do not know whether this is something you have all discussed previously?
Please use the blog to let us know if you have any queries about your visit to Wales.
Would you like us to post details of the programme of events here in Wales?

Grundtvig: It’s always a good time to learn

2008-09-07T03:45:00.000-07:00

Until recently, people generally associated learning with the education they received at school and university. Today, Europe is undergoing a major transformation to become a world-leading knowledge based society. This means that knowledge, and the innovation it sparks, are the EU’s most valuable assets. The Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) supports individuals at all stages of their lives to pursue stimulating opportunities for learning across Europe.

A range of trans-national mobility activities within the Lifelong Learning Programme off ers pupils, students, trainees, adults, professionals, professors and teachers a unique chance to obtain education, training and work experience in a foreign country. Thus, they acquire new expertise and professional skills and in addition
develop their capacities to adapt to new environments. Mobility activities are supported in all of the four sectoral programmes of the Lifelong Learning Programme, i. e. Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci and Grundtvig.

Grundtvig is a prime example of how Europe creates opportunities for its citizens. Teachers, trainers, tutors and other staff of working with adult education move to other countries and come back with a bag full of experience. Apart from knowledge in new subjects or in teaching matters, in better organisational skills and in intercultural understanding, they acquire an improved command of other languages
and deeper insight into the host countries.

One of the key eff ects of the mobility actions is the mutual understanding and trust they create among the education and training systems of the countries participating in the LLP, which helps to improve education structures and supports cooperation for a European Area of Education and Training.

In order to ensure quality, the European Commission has established a European Quality Charter for Mobility, which provides recommendations to organisations responsible for mobility. The exchange lifespan includes preparatory measures, implementation and follow-up – three stages that must be considered as a whole for a project of quality.

I am pleased to present the outstanding projects and courses included in this brochure to demonstrate the potential and positive eff ects of mobility of staff working on the adult learning sector. These examples of good practices at European level can provide inspiration to potential project coordinators and course developers in mobility actions. They should encourage European citizens to seize the opportunities that mobility in Europe has to off er to improve knowledge and skills, enlarge horizons and meet new friends and colleagues throughout Europe.

Why the name "Grundtvig"?

2008-09-07T03:30:00.000-07:00

Why the name "Grundtvig"?
Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783–1872), a Danish clergyman and writer, is regarded as the founder of the Nordic tradition of "learning for life". His "folk high school" concept was based on the idea that education must be available to all citizens throughout life and should encompass not only knowledge but also civic responsibility and personal and cultural development.

It is always a good time to learn! – The Grundtvig Programme
An eff ective Europe-wide system for lifelong learning is central to achieving the European Union’s ambitious policy objective of raising economic growth and competitiveness while nonetheless strengthening social inclusion. Adult education has a vital role to play in this regard – in raising the level of knowledge, skills and competences among the adult population, in providing a crucial second chance for the large number of adults who leave school early, and in helping to address the societal challenge of Europe’s ageing population.
Recognising these needs, the European Commission has launched a new policy initiative – the Action Plan for Adult Learning – designed to boost the attractiveness and accessibility of adult learning opportunities, improve the quality of adult education provision, implement systems for recognising the outcomes of non-formal and informal learning, and improve the monitoring of the adult education sector.
The Grundtvig Programme for adult learning has both contributed strongly to the development of these initiatives and is a key instrument for their further development and implementation. It provides the vital bridge between policy and practice, enabling adult educators in over 30 countries to work together on developing innovative approaches, giving local providers the chance to link up with partners abroad to develop joint cooperative initiatives, and opening up a wide range of opportunities for adult education staff and learners to cross national borders in search of new opportunities for training and knowledge.
Launched in 2000 in the framework of the Socrates II Programme, Grundtvig covers all levels and sectors of adult education and all forms of learning: formal, non-formal and informal. It is open to all sectors of the adult population, but gives special attention to those with particular needs: people lacking basic education and qualifi cations, people living in rural or disadvantaged areas, people who are disadvantaged for socio-economic reasons, people with disabilities or severe learning problems, and social groups which are "hard to reach" and which do not generally tend to take part in educational initiatives. With the adoption of the Lifelong Learning Programme in 2007, Grundtvig has also been given the strategic objective of responding to the educational challenge of an ageing population in Europe.

In the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme, Grundtvig con tinues to support several actions:
• Individual mobility to further the professional development of trainers/teachers and other staff in adult education
• Multilateral Projects and Networks in the fi eld of adult education
• Learning Partnerships between adult education institutions from diff erent European countries.

Countries participating in the Grundtvig Programme

2008-09-07T03:25:00.000-07:00

Our partnership

2008-09-07T02:52:00.000-07:00

UNITED KINGDOM "Cynerians Cymru" Swansea - Wales - UK
Contact Person: Conrad Watkins - cyrenians@btconnect.com

Cyrenians Cymru works with some of the most disadvantaged adult learners in Wales, UK. Many have experienced social exclusion as a result of homelessness or breakdown of family networks.

__________________________________________________________

SPAIN (Coordinator Country) "Cultural Association Falla of Tuéjar" Tuéjar - Valencia - Spain
Contact Person: Pepe Sanía - moralpompeya@yahoo.es

Falla of Tuéjar: We are in a rural area. Our village has 1400 inhabitant. Our association has 300 people, all age. We encourages participation of disadvantaged groups; older learners, specific need learners, migrants and learners at risk of social exclusion.

__________________________________________________________

DENMARK "OF-2 (Educational Association 2002)" Gistrup - North Jutland - Denmark
Contact Person: Karin Slot - KS-2@stofanet.dk

OF-2 works with all groups in our surrounding area south east of Aalborg- an area with 13.000 inhabitants. Our participant is compound of: disadvantaged, few migrants, few young, many elderly and no special group learners.

__________________________________________________________

TURKEY "Bornova Izmir Vocational Education Center" Izmir - Ege - Turkey
Contact Person: Omer Edip Ocakoglu - omeredip@gmail.com

Bornova Izmir Vocational Education Center: We are Vocational Education Center in Izmir , which is established in 1986 by National Education Ministry for providing education and training to apprentices, master-builders and masters.İzmir is the third biggest city in Turkey, Education and training programs are being followed in 113 profession fields. Our center has got 7000 students, 4700 of them are our registered students and the rest of them are the other people following. Number of teachers in our center are 85. At the same time our Center is an examination center for professions to have certificate of apprenticeship and master. We are pilot institution covered by SVET (Strengthen Vocational Education Training) which is supported European Union.

Our project

2008-09-07T02:26:00.000-07:00

Our project raises an exchange of experiences in order to introduce adult learners to the different ways in wich fire is used to celebrate events in our countries. We regard these fire rituals like a common cultural point, spreaded all over european folklore.

In these events people plays tradicional music and dances, cooks typical food, and these celebrations are usually rooted in the popular traditions and customs of our countries.

We regard the carrying out of this project like a transvere subject to work all kind of cultural and educatives activities, always from a point of view artistic and creative.

Creative work will include crafts, making figures, photography and film, and the cultural activities will involve adult learners in local food and ways of life of the participating countries.

We raise the exchange visits with our learners like a great oportunity to discover other countries, other lenguages, other customs and other cultures… but the most important: the best oportunity to meet other people and discover that diversity is our great treasure and union our great power.

To respect this diversity and discover our common past, present and future is for us the real beginning of the intercultural dialogue.

All the partners of this partnership believe in our project and design this grundtvig action like the first step… we hope to add more countries in future, and develop an association of organizations across europe, leading to expansion of the exchange programmee: "EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CELEBRATIONS".

"Cyrenians Cymru will work towards the project by establishing a working group, including teachers and learners, to plan for the activities and events in the partnership. In the period and immediately before the host event, our arts and learning centre will be solely dedicated to this event and the activities involved, so that learners can gain the maximum benefit from the partnership." CYRENIANS CYMRU (WALES/UK)

This Grundtvig partnership gives our association a new dimension. It's a very good oportunity for us to develope our work with an european vision. At this moment, we are coordinating all our activities in order to develope this project. CULTURAL ASSOCIATION "FALLA OF TUÉJAR" (SPAIN)

"OF-2, Denmark has establishing a working group of learners and staff. The group are open for new participant who wants to join and work with the preparation and follow up of the visits to the partners. They will take turn to join the travelling group. The whole group will jointly be involved and take active part in preparation and during the 5 days visit of our partners, when Denmark is hostcountry.

The working group will during the projects 2 years, will seek information and try to understand the partners country, their culture, their language both local and national. Besides the group will have to prepare, how they will present Denmark and Danish culture, and show our way to be creative at our traditionally bonfire. All of this will be done, in a way so even if the participants don’t speak the same language they will understand about, country, culture and traditions." OF-2 (DENMARK)

"This project will not only provide us to gain insight of understanding of intercultural dialogue but also give us an opportunity to know the systems and implementations of adult education in different countries. We will be able to take good examples to implement in our adult education system. Besides this, as a candidate of EU membership, it is very important to know certificate system of our partners for professions implemented in adult education to apply to our system." BORNOVA IZMIR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER (IZMIR/TURKEY)