Let's rock the VOLCAN: Vocational Open Learning Cultural Activities Network

Our goals with regard to environmental protection and climatic change were, on one hand, to raise awareness of the problems of the stone-extracting and processing industry, the construction boom, ...

Our goals with regard to environmental protection and climatic change were, on one hand, to raise awareness of the problems of the stone-extracting and processing industry, the construction boom, the urban sprawl, and overtourism - all topics that affect directly our regions and which become so more and more negative for the living environment of the participants. We liked also to show possible solutions as to how these problems could be at least partially reduced or even avoided by minimizing the use of resources. Recycling, renaturalization, ecological building with traditional materials, revitalizing established village centers and restored old houses are perfect examples. The participants themselves set a good example and made their contribution to achieving the objective, e.g. avoiding disposable tableware, plastic bags and environmentally harmful materials at the project meetings, by this reducing waste and disposing of it properly . Our objective of increasing the attractiveness of vocational training was pursued through the active participation of trainees from the relevant companies showing how the participants were prepared for the requirements of the job market.

In the forerun of each meeting the national students’ teams received assignments to prepare the thematic focus in advance. The meetings followed a tried and tested process. Each encounter began with icebreaker or getting-to-know-you games. Then followed the presentation of the PPT, slide shows and posters and a question and discussion session. The international groups were formed and given specific work assignments. These included, among other things, taking pictures, plot and story writing, choice of costumes, details and location for the photo stories, the creation of promotional flyers and environmentally friendly tourism concept brochures as well as the creation of a creative wall object from old CDs, bulky waste (shoe racks) and a used stretcher frame. Further activities consisted of excursions to geographically and ethnologically interesting places (Boyabat fortress and volcanic formations, Etna with Nicolosi, the Maria Laach monastery on the Caldeira). There were also guided tours of museums and craft workshops as well as expert lectures. Each meeting ended with a round of questionnaires for evaluation - separated by project leaders and students - as well as a ceremonial awarding of participant certificates.

Throughout the entire project, we made sure that our students were involved as much as possible in the planning and implementation of the activities. They were given assignments to complete independently and responsibly. The project managers and their colleagues were available as consultants. Activities included: • Icebreaker games • City discovery rallys • Kahoo Quiz • Short films (videos) • Role plays • Recycled Art (Wall of waste) • PTT presentations (tourism, geology, industry) • Baroque dances & life style • Posters • Brochures (Sustainable Tourism) • Farewell disco • Promotion leaflets In addition, the German student group (HBF Office management) planned the entire program as part of their project management lessons, obtained offers for transport facilities, fixed guided tours and organised snacks, decorated the classroom and the school hallway, painted the coulisse for the baker boy role play and wrote the questionnaires for their classmates , as well as for the teachers.