From 15 to 22 August 2025, eight students from our school (four from Year 9 and four from Year 10) took part in the Erasmus+ project “Moves & Roots” in Íllora, Spain, together with Mr. Fuhrken and Ms. Wolter.
Our participation was organized and supported by NaturKultur e.V. Bremen — a heartfelt thank you for making this possible.
For one week, young people from Spain, Croatia, and Germany came together to get to know each other, learn collaboratively, share sports and culture, and build new friendships.
Day 1 – Arrival
On 15 August, all participants from Germany met at Bremen Airport, full of excitement — for some, it was even their first flight. After landing in Málaga, a bus took us to Íllora. We met the Croatian group already at the airport, and upon arriving in Íllora, the Spanish hosts welcomed us with a warm dinner in the converted school building that would be our home for the week. Tired but happy, we fell straight into bed.
Day 2 – Getting to Know Each Other and the House System
The second day was all about getting to know one another through games and team-building activities. One special highlight was the introduction of the House System, similar to Harry Potter. Points were awarded for things like punctuality or teamwork. Every day brought new mini prizes, and at the end of the week, a grand prize awaited the best house.
Day 3 – Dances, Games and Croatian Evening
Things got rhythmic on the third day. We dove into the world of Spanish dance — from Paso Doble to Flamenco, we learned our first steps and had lots of fun. Then it was our turn: the German group introduced the game “Werewolves”, which brought plenty of excitement and laughter.
During the Future/Sharing session, we recorded the dances and games in presentations or videos.
In the evening, the Croatian group hosted a cultural night with delicious food, language games, and a lively introduction to their culture and country.
Day 4 – Games, Dances and German Evening
The morning focused on Spanish games such as tug of war, jump rope, and “Cops and Hunters” — quite the workout in 40°C heat. Later, we learned Croatian folk dances.
In the evening, it was time for the German Night: we served homemade potato salad with sausages, Bremen sweets, gummy bears, and Milka chocolate. We read the tale of the Bremen Town Musicians, played a Kahoot quiz about Germany, and tried out German and Turkish tongue twisters — which the Croatians mastered easily thanks to their German lessons.
Day 5 – Trip to Granada
A big highlight of the week. Early in the morning, we headed to Granada. At the bus stop, we met a former race car driver who proudly showed us pictures of his old car. Locals often approached us to chat, giving us great opportunities to practice our Spanish.
In Granada, we split into groups: some visited the breathtaking Alhambra, while others went shopping or explored the old town. In the evening, we shared our experiences and returned to Íllora together.
Day 6 – Games, Dances and Spanish Evening
We started the day with Croatian games like ring jousting, and later, it was our turn to introduce German dances. Alongside the slow waltz, we also presented Kurdish and Turkish dances, teaching them to the others.
In the Future/Sharing session, we brainstormed ideas for future exchanges — discussing possible themes, structures, and goals.
That evening, the Spanish group hosted their cultural night with tapas, New Year’s Eve grape traditions, and a big party full of music and dance.
Day 7 – Youthpass and Farewell Party
The seventh day was all about reflection. We worked on our Youthpass certificates and evaluated the week together.
In the evening, we celebrated a cheerful farewell party with snacks, drinks, dancing, and music — a perfect ending to an amazing week.
Day 8 – Goodbye
Early in the morning, the bus took us and the Croatian group to the airport. Saying goodbye was hard — the week had flown by, and we all wished we could have stayed longer.
Conclusion
It was a week full of new experiences, cultural encounters, and shared adventures. We laughed a lot, learned a lot, and made wonderful new friends.
A big thank you to Erasmus+, NaturKultur e.V. Bremen, and everyone involved — we will never forget this time.
Voices from the Participants
“I met new people, languages, and countries. I would recommend it to everyone because it is fun, you learn new languages, and you make new friends.”
“I met many amazing people. We did lots of activities, and I can recommend joining — it was a really great experience. I had so much fun.”
“The trip to Spain was a great experience and a lot of fun. I met new people and made many wonderful memories. I really enjoyed trying Spanish food and visiting Granada. I also liked the weather and the group leaders a lot. I would definitely recommend taking part in this project to gain new experiences.”
“Moves & Roots” youth exchange is financed by the Erasmus+ Programme and organized by our partner organisation Your Missing Element.
If you want to experience something similar, check out our open calls here.
