In the heart of Vantaa, at the Vaskivuori school, educators took a step towards a more sustainable future by participating in the eLab Prototyping Program for Teachers.

This program focused on innovative teaching methodologies with an emphasis on sustainable education, greenhouses, and urban gardens. 

The teachers also engaged in job shadowing and an immersive art class, gaining valuable insights into creative teaching approaches. 

Students had a remarkable opportunity to collaborate with peers from India, France, Finland, and Portugal, presenting materials from their respective countries.

They actively participated in Art, Dance, Music and hands-on learning sessions, fostering a vibrant exchange of knowledge and culture. To complement their learning experience, an outdoor hiking trip by Kuusijärvi Lake provided a refreshing connection with nature. 

In Ivalo, Lapland, participants embarked on a unique educational adventure.

The CampFire Social Arts Work initiative provided deep insights into the intersection of arts and community engagement. A visit to a wildlife rescue centre allowed participants to understand conservation efforts up close.

A highlight of the trip was a mesmerizing performance by an indigenous Saami artist and songwriter, Ms. Heli Aikio, composer of Livde, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the region.

The journey continued with an exhilarating crossing of a frozen river to visit a school that champions sustainable ergonomics—a testament to innovative educational design.

The adventure concluded with a visit to the prestigious Sami Siida Museum, which was recently honored as the European Museum of the Year 2024.  This museum serves as a vital hub for preserving and sharing Saami culture and history.

This extraordinary experience was facilitated by Ms. Andreea Gatman from ActonLearning, providing educators and students with an incredible opportunity for learning, cultural sharing, and exploration of new teaching methodologies.

Such initiatives not only enhance educational practices but also foster global collaboration, sustainability awareness, and intercultural understanding, paving the way for a more informed and connected world.

From March 19 to 27, 2025, four teachers and four students from Escola Básica e Secundária de Albufeira in Portugal took part in a mobility program in Finland under the Erasmus+ Oddience 2030 project. During this enriching experience, the group visited Helsinki, Vantaa, and Ivalo, in Lapland, exploring innovative teaching practices and sustainability initiatives.

At Vaskivuori School in Vantaa, the teachers participated in the eLab Prototyping Program for Teachers, organized by ActonLearning, which focused on education for sustainability, with a special emphasis on urban gardens. Additionally, they engaged in job shadowing, observing Finnish teachers in their classrooms, and attended Arts lessons, gaining insights into creative teaching methodologies.

The students, alongside peers from France, Finland, and India, presented materials brought from their home countries, promoting cultural exchange. They also participated in various classes, including Arts, Dance, Music, English, and Mathematics. The program included outdoor activities, such as a walk by Lake Kuusijärvi, offering direct contact with nature.

The journey continued to Ivalo, in Lapland, where the group took part in the CampFire Social Arts Work, a project combining art and socialization in natural environments. The visit included a trip to a wild animal rescue center and a presentation by a Saami indigenous artist and composer, providing an authentic perspective on the local culture.

A particularly memorable moment was crossing a frozen river to visit a sustainable ergonomics school, highlighting the importance of environmental adaptation in education and watch an fantastic aurora borealis at night.

The trip culminated with a visit to the Sámi Museum Siida, recognized as European Museum of the Year 2024, where participants deepened their knowledge of Sámi history and culture.

This mobility program provided a unique learning and cultural exchange experience, promoting values of sustainability, creativity, and international cooperation.

The Coordinators meeting at the Vaskivuoren Lukio at Vantaa (Finland) was a great opportunity for all partners.
Two days well spent in Intellectual discussions with all stakeholders from diverse countries to enrich students’ skills, broadening perspectives on global challenges and the SDGs.

This exchange fostered critical thinking, adaptability, and cross-cultural understanding, and ways to empowering the students to actively contribute to sustainable solutions.

Our partner Ms Andreea Gatman, Act On Learning enlightened all coordinators on the way forward and the impact of coaching circles.
We collaborated to ideas on different strategies to instill the importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in students, to foster a deep, shared commitment to creating a sustainable future.

By working together, teachers can integrate SDGs across subjects, making learning relevant and inspiring students to become responsible global citizens.

This collective approach will allow students to grasp complex issues like climate change, inequality, and health, emphasizing their roles in creating positive change. Moreover, the unified message reinforced the values of teamwork, empathy, and responsibility and shaping a generation that is both aware of global challenges and equipped with the skills and mindset to address them effectively.

The project Coordinators Meeting at Vantaa/Helsinki was an pportunity of meeting again many project participants from the partner organizations, to better know each other, to clarify important aspects of our common project and focus on delivering outputs on time.

But this mobility had some other very important dimensions: it allowed us to discover first-hand the Finnish school ambience at a Vantaa region high school, Vaskivuoren Lukio. The opportunity we were given to visit the school facilities, the teachers room in activity, and to have lunch at the school canteen, made us witness the relaxed and student-friendly environment, some creative inititives by the students and local food habits.

This meeting was also an opportunity to get to know the nature protection and environmental education in Helsinki region and, at least for me, a rediscovery of the nice capital city of Finland, Helsinki. The visit to the modern art museum Kiasma and mostly the Oodi Library as a social and cultural hub made available and accessible for anyone, confirmed my first impression in 2019, about the Finnish as a rather calm but very creative people!

The dinners we have had together, at places carefully chosen by our Finnish partner, made us know both local gastronomy and how gastronomy can go along with sustainability. But these common meals in Erasmus+ projects are not only moments of welfare and relaxation; they are an opportunity of building bridges across different countries cultures. For me they were moments of sharing thoughts and personal experiences and laughing a lot together!

The visit to Villa Elfvik, its green forest and the surrounding wetlands, and the Töölö open air area in Helsinky city were also great moments for me, as an environmentalist. I am currently committed with the Action Plan for Pollinators in Portugal and I strongly believe in the cities role in protecting pollinator insects; so, I especially enjoyed the walking tour from Oodi till the lake of Töölönlahti Park: this area has been massively planted with wild flowers of all colours, mostly all pollinator-friendly! I could see so many bumblebees, in action or just resting on the flowers…

After last project meeting in Portugal, were outside activities were most focused on marine life, therefore SDG 14 – protecting “Life below Water”, it was great to acknowled.

On September 2nd and 3rd, me Naseema Saiyad and Ascensão Marrachinho participated in the coordinators’ meeting at the Vaskivuoren Lukio School in Vantaa, Finland.

The meeting served to make a balance of last school year, and to prepare the next year’s activities on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), based on the development of critical thinking and creativity.

During these days, the participants had the opportunity to learn more about the organization and the activities carried out by the Finnish school. There was a fruitful debate of ideas about the activities developed and the ones to be carried out.

On the first day, after the morning meeting, the group went to visit the school and found some particularities: usually, students agree on thematic days in which they dress according to the theme.

On that particular Monday, they agreed to come dressed as superheroes or villains. The next day, the theme was funeral and wedding.

Informal meetings take place every Monday, with the school principal, where they talk about activities and projects that are being developed at school.

It should be highlighted that all students have free lunch at school and they have at their disposal several leisure spaces (ping-pong, snooker and several sofas) and quiet areas to relax.

The music room was the most impressive one for the number and diversity of musical instruments.

General secondary schools usually give a lot of importance to the visual and performing arts, and there is a well-equipped stage for the purpose of arts.

After finishing the meeting, the group went to visit Elfvik, in Espoo, and its rich and green park. The visit was guided by a colleague from the host school.

At the end of the day and already in Helsinki there was an opportunity to taste Finnish cuisine.

The next day was mainly dedicated to planning the current year and the next mobilities. After the completion of the work, it was time to visit the Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Art – Kiasma and the Library/Multipurpose Space – Oodi

This third meeting of the group strengthened the bonds of the its members. There is a lot of work waiting for the group for next year, but, above all, many challenges and learning outcomes for students and teachers.