Het stoofvleesmaal had duidelijk allen gesmaakt, de ouders, gastheren en gastvrouwen van de Porto Vecchiaanse leerlingen, hen en de Blankenbergse 6ASO-leerlingen evenzeer. Erna nam leider van het Erasmus+-uitwisselingsproject leraar Steffen Cloet het woord.

Twee leerlingen uit Porto Vecchio, heel betrokken en geïnteresseerd, ontvingen resp. een boek over de Dossin-kazerne en de Franse versie van Mark Schaevers ORGELMAN (La vie d’un Peintre). Voor alle Corsicaanse gasten was er een Blankenberge-tas als cadeau. Directeur Jürgen Balbaert, tevens gastheer in zijn huis, hield een mooie toespraak in het Engels en Frans, gericht op geest en gemoed van alle luisteraars…vrede, vriendschap… “Because together we make Europe more beautiful and stronger and hopefully more peaceful.”

Dear students, dear parents, dear colleagues, and our friends from Porto Vecchio,

It is with great joy that I am addressing you today, at the end of a special week in which we have grown closer as schools, as teachers, as young people, and as Europeans. This exchange project between the Maerlant-atheneum and the Lycée Jean-Paul de Rocca Serra is not just a trip or an educational initiative. It is an experience that enriches us, increases our understanding, and builds bridges between people and cultures. Bridges that we will need in the future in Europe. I hope and I am a little bit certain that this project may even influence the lives of some of our young people a little.

Over the past days, we have seen how language, habits, and traditions may distinguish us, but more importantly, how friendship, respect, and curiosity unite us. This is the true strength of Europe: a continent where diversity does not create division but rather serves as a source of strength and inspiration.

À une époque où les conflits et les tensions mettent à l’épreuve nos valeurs européennes, nous prouvons aujourd’hui qu’il n’y a qu’une seule voie à suivre : celle de la solidarité, de la liberté et de l’égalité. Celle de la vrai democratie. En apprenant à mieux nous connaître, en travaillant ensemble et en respectant la culture de chacun, nous construisons une Europe plus belle, plus forte et plus unie.

Nos quarantaines élèves et leurs professeurs, nos familles ont partagé Blankenberge, la Flandre et notre école avec nos invités de Corse cette semaine. Il y a eu des rires, des apprentissages et des amitiés se sont nouées. Et le meilleur, c’est que ce n’est pas un au revoir, mais juste une escale. En mai, nos étudiants se rendront à Porto Vecchio, où ils bénéficieront de la même chaleur et de la même hospitalité que nous leur avons offertes ici. C’est la 4ème fois que nous mettons en place un tel projet. Des amitiés durables se développent souvent au cours de ces échanges. Nous espérons pouvoir poursuivre ce projet dans les années à venir.

I would like to thank everyone who made this project possible: the teachers, Epos and schoolgroup Impact, the host families and of course the students themselves, who lived this experience with an open heart and mind. You are the future of Europe, and as you have shown this week, that future is one of unity, friendship, and understanding.

I was not only the principal this week, but also part of the host family for Enzo. So, today I am triple convinced of such projects. As a teacher, as a principal, and as a father. Enzo even stole the heart of my wife a little and therefore immediately left a short but beautiful impression on our family. Enzo, you are always welcome when you come near Blankenberge.

There are still people (in our schoolgroup) who question the added value of an exchange project like this. I don’t understand that anymore. I can’t explain it exactly. There’s something magical about Erasmus+ projects.  I know this for more then 20 years – I even met my own wife during a European exchange project – but this week reminded me that the word I needed is ‘magic’. So much happens in such a short period that effects individuals and groups …

That’s why we, my colleagues, made a short survey that you can answer with the QR code that appears after my speech. Will you please answer all of this? Parents, teachers, and students.

Let us take this spirit of cooperation and friendship with us, not only to Corsica in May, but further, in everything we do. Because together we make Europe more beautiful and stronger and hopefully more peaceful.

Thank you very much!