Day 1: Experience Sharing and Recommendations
The first day was dedicated to an in-depth teacher discussion about their hands-on experiences with the FoodEducators resources. Teachers shared valuable insights and practical experiences from implementing our lesson plans in their schools. These exchanges highlighted the diversity of approaches and the program’s adaptability to various educational environments.
The teachers collectively presented thoughtful recommendations to refine the programme to align with diverse educational needs. They emphasized the importance of customizing the lesson plans to cater to different learning styles and classroom settings. Additionally, they shared their experiences with other educational programs, which provided a broader context and informed their suggestions for improvement.
Cultural Enrichment: Visit to the House of European History
In the afternoon, the group visited the House of European History. This visit offered a chance to explore Europe’s rich cultural and historical context, providing inspiration and a deeper appreciation of the continent’s diverse heritage. The museum’s exhibits sparked exciting discussions and reflections among the teachers about what a pan-European educational project might mean to them and to their students.
Day 2: Engaging with the European Commission
We started the second day, with pivotal meetings at the European Commission. The Commission’s representatives delivered a comprehensive presentation on the current initiatives and efforts related to food literacy being pursued at the European level. This session was particularly enlightening, as it connected the teachers’ grassroots efforts with broader policy and strategic frameworks.
The Commission’s presentation covered several key areas:
- Ongoing projects and research related to food literacy.
- Strategies for integrating food education into school curricula across Europe.
- Plans and potential collaborations with educational institutions and programs like Food Educators.
Future Actions of the Advisory Board In the next few months the advisory board will be working in small groups to further deepen FoodEducators commitment to teachers: one group will be developing a needs survey that will be translated into 15 languages, another is thinking about creative ways to reach out to teachers on media platforms and the last will be adding interactive content for younger children to our resource selection.
Overall, the meeting in Brussels was an exceptionally productive and enriching experience. It fostered collaboration and mutual learning among the teachers while providing valuable insights on a European level. The shared experiences and recommendations inspire us all to continue engaging with teachers as valuable stake holders in designing the future educational landscape ensuring it remains relevant and impactful in promoting food literacy.
