Visit of mentors from Norway
As part of the “Capabilities of a Smart Village” project, mentors from Brundalen School visited Babina Greda from March 27 to 31, 2023. The principal of Brundalen School, Sten Frode Solvang, and three teachers spent five days in Croatia, learning about the partner school and how the school system functions in the Republic of Croatia. On the Open Day organized on March 28, 2023, the school was also visited by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Croatia, Haakon Blankenborg, and intern Gro Bakke. Various workshops were organized on the Open Day, attended by teachers, children, parents and other visitors.
During the Norwegians’ stay in Croatia, a meeting was held to review the curriculum of the Young Scientists Club, the Volunteer Club, and the Young Technicians Club, in which the mentors provided their insights and advice to the project leaders based on their own experience. Among other things, the Croatian school plans to participate in the First Lego League competition starting from the next school year, and they hope to be healthy competitors to the mentors one day.
The principal of the school, Đurđica Babić, presented the Norwegians with the Croatian education system and introduced them to the history of Babina Greda and the Elementary School “Mijat Stojanović”.
In order to show the teachers and students of the Brundalen school our school, the principal Sten Frode Solvang organized an online meeting where he greeted the staff and students of his school via video call, virtually guided them through the elementary school “Mijat Stojanović”, and our students also had the opportunity to greet partners in English.
During their stay, the mentors had the opportunity to attend classes, learn about Croatian customs, try traditional dishes, ride in horse-drawn carriages, visit Babina Greda, but also part of the Vukovar-Srijem County – the towns of Vinkovci, Ilok and Vukovar, where they visited several museums, winery and other sights.
The impressions of the mentors and hosts are extremely positive, and both are looking forward to continued cooperation even after the end of the project.
