Let-me-grow

After all partners – this time with children from Poland, Bulgaria and Germany - had arrived during Saturday the 28th in Rome, the official program started on Sunday morning. The whole group went by bus to the center of Rome and started their sightseeing at Vatican City. The group had the chance to climb the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica and to enjoy the fantastic view. After a small visitation of the inner Basilica the group listened to the Pope’s Sunday speech.

In the afternoon the group walked through the old quarter of Rome: Trastevere, Ponte Sisto, Campo di fiori, Piazza Farnese, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Fontana di Trevi. Piazza Navona is not only well known for the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers, there is also a popular market, the Fiera della Befana which takes place each year at Christmas time. Later on, the coordinators met for a discussion about further communication and details in the project.

Monday was the day for school. Again – like in Ireland – the partners gave everyone a warm welcome – flags were waved and the guests got a Christmas candle as a present. Partners divided into groups to visit classrooms, children and teachers prepared some things for their guests and questions were asked. As well as this the Italian pupils made Christmas decorations or biscuits. Visiting children took part in these activities. All classes, with their teachers, arranged a show, with many different items: dances, musicals, songs around the world, guitar, piano, violin etc..

In the afternoon, a common lunch was taken with the whole school community. Again the coordinators met for a discussion about further communication and details about the project. The others went to visit Ciampino. In the evening, teachers from partner schools and the Italian school met for a dinner. The night ended with a Karaoke session – a very funny experience!

On Tuesday, the group went by bus again to the centre of Rome. On this day the first stop was at the Quirinale Palace (known in Italian as the Palazzo del Quirinale or simply the Quirinale) – the current official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. The interior decoration was fascinating. After passing Piazza di Spagna the group visited an exhibition with more than 100 cribs in it at Piazza del Popolo. Cribs from all over the world were shown – very detailed versions impressed the visitors. Free time was used for further sightseeing and shopping. In the evening, the adults of the group met for a farewell dinner before the first partners left the next day.

On Wednesday, the remaining partners had the opportunity to take part in a general audience of the Pope. The sun shone down from a blue sky. The Pope spoke in many different languages: Spanish, Portugese, English, Polish, German … After that partners had free time and used it in different ways.

All Partners were impressed by the city of Rome (three days are definitely too short), the warm hospitality of the Italian hosts and went home with full hearts.

Photos visiting Rome

Italian presentation about the visit in Rome