Lifelong Learning Programme

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Initiatives

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Collection of initiatives aiming at promoting:

  • awareness of importance of sport at school level
  • social inclusion and prevent early school leaving
  • an ethical approach to sport
  • all types of sports at school level

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Title of the initiative:
Vélo3
Web site of the initiative:
Date of the Event:
Every year in May (10th-12th of May 2015)
Country:
Belgium
City:
Verviers
Sport:
Cycling
Aims:
promotion of all types of sports
promotion of awareness of importance of sport at school level
promotion of social inclusion and prevention of early school leaving through sport
Description of the initiatives:
The “Vélo3” project finds its origin in a tragic event: the suicide of a third year student.
This event initiated a reflection among all education stakeholders (teachers – educators – headteachers – parents – external services) on the sensitivity of teenagers in relation to adults, the importance of projecting and the value of efforts.
This yearly project was initiated in 2004 by a physical education teacher:
ALL (between 140 and 160) third year students (14-16 years old) riding a bike during three (class) days. They are accompanied by about fifty adults (teachers, parents, external experts, sympathisers).
This is a wandering project: the group starts from a location about 180 km from the school and joins the school in three days; the starting point and itinerary change every year.

The initiative meets three of the objectives of the project:

Promotion of awareness of importance of sport at school level:
Since the month of January, students have been trained to handle the bike and to ride in group, in traffic (highway code) and physical condition.
The Vélo3 project has become an institution and some children enrol in this school so they can participate in V3.
The school has a large enough fleet of bikes and tandems so that students who have difficulties finding a bike can participate. Tandems are useful for students who are less strong, tired or hurt, since the challenge is to keep them all in so far as possible on two wheels rather than in a car.

Promotion of social inclusion and prevention of early school leaving through sport:
Our school is located in the centre of a town in economic difficulty.
Our school population has changed a lot in a short time. We are confronted to many challenges regarding coexistence, accepting the other.
A great number of foreign students have to learn and accept the habits of the local population, which is regularly the source of problems.
The project aims to mix those different groups in an effort and in an exceptional life moment.
Example: for accommodation and to keep costs as low as possible (a requirement), we ask accommodation to schools (in Wallonia, Flanders, the Netherlands, Germany). Students sleep in sleeping bags on air beds in sport halls and large rooms.
In the past few years, the project went further asking CEFA (sandwich course institute) students to join the group. Those students were allocated in two classes and could participate as soon as the training tin the whole process. Those meetings between two different worlds were extremely fruitful and enjoyed by both students and teachers.
This year, one class from Collège Saint-Michel in Brussels also joined the project. The objective for this new school was to experience the project from the inside and maybe propose it autonomously from next years to Brussels classes.

Another strength, that gradually settled, is the young-adult relationship at a decisive age (15 years). A large number of adults participate in the project. We want to show students that those adults are partners in their education and get on well. They are concerned by their well-being, their safety. They believe in them.
This adult/young people cohabitation is very important to us and gives great humanity to the project.

Promotion of all types of sports:
With this cycling project, we mean to highlight beautiful values and discoveries :
Learning and discovering effort, stamina and mobility.
Awareness to the beauty of nature in spring.
Cultural approach to the locations (geography, history,
arts, architecture, fauna and flora…)
Group life, mutual aid and collaboration at all level of the organisation.
Basic mechanical learning.
Group safety aid.
Accommodation location management.
Bringing life to the evenings…
Iniziative in national language
Supporting Documents:


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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.