Can Europa 2018 culminates successfully after three days of training with more than 200 vocational students leaving for Erasmus this summer. The intercultural training organized by the Mundus Association brought together students from Catalonia and Aragon, trainers from all over Spain, mobility organizations from eight European countries and Erasmus coordinators from various educational centers.

[AfterMovie of #CanEuropa 2018]

"I would've been great. If this is not Erasmus yet, I cannot imagine how it can be, ”explains Ángeles Arboleda, a student at the Institut Ribot i Serra de Sabadell. Angeles is one of the young women who has been selected to enjoy an Erasmus + scholarship from European funds intended for vocational students to do curricular practices in EU countries.

Like its more than 200 training partners, Angels will embark on the Erasmus adventure for a month this summer, specifically in France. Mundus, together with professional training institutes in Catalonia and Aragon, manages the scholarships, giving special importance to the preparation before departure. This preparatory phase has ended with the “Can Europa” training in Comarruga, the largest event organized by Mundus to date.

Previously there have been workshops on how to do a CV in English, language courses and support during job interviews. “Erasmus is going to change your life”, said Alberto Tortolero, president of the Mundus Association, addressing the young assistants in Comarruga after three intense days of training.

Thanks to the presence of trainers, both from the Mundus team and from REVE (Red de exVoluntarios Europeos) who have come from different parts of Spain, students have worked, through non-formal education, issues such as interculturality, conflict resolution or Erasmus objectives.

The training was inaugurated at the Pau Casals Auditorium in El Vendrell, with the presence of the sub-director general of Programes, Formació i Innovació of the Department of Education of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Estanislau Vidal-Folch and the director of the Institut Puig Castellar de Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Carles Gil, as representative of the Santa Coloma Consortium. Vidal-Folch said: "It is up to you to build Europe from respect and tolerance, and doing so through mobility and exchange is the best option."

One of the most anticipated parts of the weekend has been when the meeting between the representatives of the European host associations and the participants took place. In this session, the last one on Saturday, both parties have been able to get to know each other, answer questions about the companies where they will carry out the practices, in addition to commenting on more logistic and cultural aspects of the cities where they will live for one or two months. The European partners, from France, Italy, Romania, Macedonia, Poland, Greece, Slovenia and the Netherlands, in addition to participating in this weekend, have had the opportunity to know the headquarters of Mundus de Zaragoza, where it has been held at throughout the week the seminar  “We Can Work it Out”, a training organized by Mundus t to exchange good practices in the management, delivery and reception of vocational students in the Erasmus + framework.

The most emotional moment of the weekend came from the hand of  Cris Blasco & Pat Sol, an inclusive music group with sign language interpretation. Cris and Pat have closed a weekend full of learning with their music and their art. “Can Europa” has provided all participants with a space for personal and group reflection on what it means to do mobility, allowing students to be more aware of the learning they can acquire and the responsibility involved in the allocation of an Erasmus + scholarship . At the same time, trainings of this nature provide educational centers and sending and receiving entities the opportunity to improve in the process of preparation and monitoring, so that every year more students can benefit from the Erasmus + program, and do so in High quality terms.

Among the participating educational centers are:
• INS School of Treball (Barcelona)
• INS La Ferreria (Montcada i Reixac)
• INS La Guineueta (Barcelona)
• Religious Sisters of Mary Immaculate - Centro López Vicuña (Barcelona)
• INS Puig Castellar (Santa Coloma de Gramenet)
• INS Les Vinyes (Santa Coloma de Gramenet)
• INS La Bastida (Santa Coloma de Gramenet)
• Grameimpuls (Santa Coloma de Gramenet)
• INS Ribot i Serra (Sabadell)
• INS Jaume Viladoms (Sabadell)
• INS Joaquim Mir (Vilanova i la Geltrú)
• INS Practical Culture (Terrassa)
• INS Cavall Bernat (Terrassa)
• INS Carles Vallbona (Granollers)
• INS Escola Municipal del Treball (Granollers)
• INS Comte Rius (Tarragona)
• INS Lacetania (Manresa)
• INS Montilivi (Girona)
• INS Maremar (Masnou)
• Tarragona Boosts (Tarragona)
• Escoles Pia de Balmes, Sarrià, Mataró, Olot, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Caldes de
Montbui
• La Purísima College for Deaf Children (Zaragoza)