European Commission launches €35 million call for projects that turn environmental challenges into business opportunities.
The European Commission today launched a €35 million call for eco-innovation projects to be
funded under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. Under the 2010 CIP Ecoinnovation call for proposals, funds are available for new projects in the area of materials
recycling, sustainable building products, the food and drink sector and green business
practices. Applications are particularly welcome from small businesses with green products or
services that need backing to penetrate markets. The call opens today and runs until 9
September 2010. Some 50 projects could end up being chosen for funding.
Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment said: "This call for innovative projects is a tremendous opportunity for Europe's entrepreneurial talent to showcase new ideas to reduce our ecological footprint. The CIP Eco-Innovation initiative shows that helping the environment makes good business sense, with numerous products and services now demonstrating how competitive growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand."
The call covers four main areas:
Material recycling
Sustainable building products
Food and drink sector
Green business
Up to 50% of project costs covered' The call is addressed particularly to small businesses that have developed a green product, process or service that is technically proven but is still struggling to find its place in the market. The call offers direct co-financing with grants that cover up to 50% of the total project cost. The €35 million funds available for the 2010 call are
expected to bring to life between 45 and 50 new projects. The projects are selected on the basis of their innovative approach, their market replication potential and their contribution to European environmental policies, especially in terms of resource efficiency. Some 44 projects are currently running under the scheme, and another 45 are set to launch in the course of this
year. Some examples include: converting used tyres into valuable insulation materials; using bamboo plantations to purify 'grey' water; and replacing conventional paper labels with innovative laser technologies.
The 2010 call for proposals will be presented today during the CIP Eco-innovation Info Day taking place in the Charlemagne building in Brussels. The deadline for submissions is 9 September.
Background: CIP Eco-innovation
With a total budget of around €200 million over the period 2008-2013, CIP Eco-innovation supports the first application and further market uptake of sustainable solutions that make better use of Europe's natural resources.
CIP Eco-innovation is a green strand of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and a dynamic contributor to the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP).
Further information:
All relevant call documentation can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation/ application_en.htm
Several national info days will take place around Europe. Key dates and locations are available on:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/events_en.htm
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Brussels, 24 February 2010
CIP Eco-innovation: 45 new projects paving the way for Europe's green growth.
45 best green projects will receive € 32 million funding under the 2009 CIP Eco-innovation initiative. The 45 projects were selected from among over 200 proposals submitted by the call deadline. Ranging from innovative materials for easy sorting and recycling to advanced production methods that save water and other resources, the selected projects are set to strengthen Europe’s competitive edge while improving its environmental standing.
Following a thorough evaluation of the 202 proposals submitted by the call closing date, 45 new projects are due to receive a share of the € 32 million funds available under the 2009 CIP Eco-innovation call for proposals. Within their lifespan, the 45 projects are expected to mobilise directly as much additional funding again from the private and public undertakings in the project consortia, leading to a total investment of around € 64 million. Thanks to their replication factor, these projects will leverage even higher investments in the medium term.
A detailed breakdown of the selected projects shows the following distribution:
Recycling: 33%
Green business: 29%
Food and drink: 29%
Buildings: 7%
Others: 2%
Commenting on the results of the evaluation, Patrick Lambert, Director of the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) responsible for managing the funding scheme, said "I am pleased to see such an enthusiastic response to our call with so many high quality applications. Now that the selection is complete, I look forward to the next stage when these new projects will contribute to Europe's green growth agenda."
The 45 selected projects will now enter the contract negotiation phase; the first projects are expected to kick off in the spring.
When business meets the environment Eco-innovation covers a wide range of green products, services and processes that can turn environmental challenges into business opportunities. The underlying idea is that competitive growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand.
Examples of CIP Eco-innovation projects which will receive funding under the 2009 call include:
a filtering system to turn olive oil waste into valuable components for health, nutritional and industrial uses;
a new type of milk bottle made of a mix of recycled paper and plastic that you can easily separate and sort;
a revolutionary laser technology for fruit labelling that replaces conventional paper labels;
a new manufacturing process to produce motorcycle parts with less waste and lower emissions;
a novel recovery scheme for old carpets that reduces the need for raw material and energy consumption;
better recycling methods for old shoes and footwear taking lessons from the tyre recycling industry;
a new sorting method for black plastics using an innovative imaging sensor technique;
an innovative wooden floor adhesive that does away with heavy metals and volatile organic material;
improved technologies to recycle used nappies without incineration or harmful emissions.
A record number of submissions
With 202 proposals submitted by the closing date, the 2009 call saw a significant 50% increase in applications over the previous year. The proposals came from a wide spectrum of organisations, but for the most part (70%) SMEs. Altogether the funding requests arising from the 202 project proposals amounted to € 150 million. The two most popular areas of submission were recycling – accounting for one third of all proposals submitted – and green business. Together, buildings and the food and drink sector represented another third of all proposals.
The 2009 call attracted applications from 614 organisations in 32 countries, with once again Spain, Italy and Germany in the lead but also some new entries from proposers in Iceland, Albania and Serbia.
With 44 projects currently running under the scheme, CIP Eco-innovation is a green strand of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and a dynamic contributor to the Environmental Technologies Action Plan.
The next opportunity to apply under CIP Eco-innovation will be with the new call for proposals which will open on 13 April 2010 with € 35 million available for funding new projects.
Links:
For a detailed analysis of the 2009 call see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/projects_en.htm
To learn more about CIP Eco-innovation visit: http://ec.europa.eu/ecoinnovation
Media Contact:
Mr Andrea Pascal, EACI
Tel: +32 (0)2 29 90452
E-mail: andrea.pascal@ec.europa.eu
About CIP Eco-innovation
With a total budget of € 200 million over the period 2008-2013, CIP Eco-innovation supports the first application and market uptake of sustainable solutions that make better use of natural resources and reduce Europe's ecological footprint. CIP Ecoinnovation projects bring about new products, services and processes in areas as diverse as materials recycling, buildings and construction, the food and drink industry, and green management.
http://ec.europa.eu/ecoinnovation
About ETAP
The Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) is Europe's roadmap to making eco-innovation an everyday reality throughout Europe. Adopted by the Commission in 2004, the Plan covers a broad range of activities promoting ecoinnovation and the widespread use of environmental technologies, with a view to positioning the EU as a recognised world
leader in this area.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap
About EACI
The Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) was established by the European Commission to ensure the effective management of three EU-funding schemes and a European business network. The EACI's team is made up of specialists on energy, the environment, business support, multi-modal transport, communication and finance. http://ec.europa.eu/eaci
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call 1 of 4 Green business: Clean Production
255727
TILEATHER
Substitution of Chrome in Leather Tannery
The project concerns the application of an environmentally friendly technology in the tannery-leather industrial processes consisting in the substitution of the chrome with titanium. The project proposes the innovative adaptation of the patented Sanotan technique to be applied in the tannery sector at European level.
255887
ECOTPU
Biobased thermoplastic material for shoes
The proposal aims to introduce into the market an innovative bio-based thermoplastic (TPU) material for shoe production, the so-called "ecoTPU". The project describes tangible environmental benefits in terms of reducing the toxicity of TPU made of renewable resources and on CO2 emission in comparison to the production of standard TPU.
255993
CFT
Ceramic tiles' cutting
The project aims the industrialization of an innovative line for the ceramics tiles’ cutting by the adoption of a new dry cycle that allows also the elimination or reduction of mud produced in the cutting and grinding working phases.
256055
GLASSPLUS
Ceramic tiles from Cathodic Ray Tube
The GLASS Plus project concerns an innovative industrial process aimed at using recycled cathodic ray tubes (CRT) glass in the ceramic industry to partly replace feldspar in the production of ceramic tiles.
256080
ECOBULLNOSE
Process for bull-nose ceramic tiles
The Eco bull-nose project concerns the industrialization of an innovative line for the bull-nose ceramic tiles that allows a drastic reduction of polishing and grinding sludge production during the finishing operations.
256087
HI-REACH
Resource efficient motorcycle parts
The project aims to produce new parts for motorcycle fabrication, with reduction in environmental impacts on raw materials use, waste generation and pollution effects.
256112
BISCOL
Biodyes for textiles
The project aims to produce and introduce into the market a new type of biodyes for the textile industry with a focus on the reduction of the environmental impact of the textile chain roduction by replacing high polluting chemicals with biological compounds, and by reducing energy consumption of the dyeing process.
256162
BIOLIGNIN
Lignin plant for ecobinders
BIOLIGNIN will facilitate the use of lignin for eco-binders (from straw) needed for instance by wood-based panel manufacturers. To achieve this, an industrial plan to produce lignin (together with bleached paper pulp and C5 sugar syrup) will be set up.
Green Business: New services and advanced EMAS
256171
GREENPAL
Pallet trading support
Webbased ICT solution for trading old and new pallets, reducing transport and increasing re-use of EU pallets. This new service offers the possibility for wide, fast and independent matchmaking between supply and demand of used pallets.
256189
INTOUR
supply chain management in mass tourism
Ecolabel and advanced Cluster EMAS of hotels for tour operators and travel agencies involving national and European associations. Replication and expansion of existing Dutch initiative based on a previous LIFE project.
256100
PROSPEC
EMAS for printing sector
Advanced EMAS for print clusters in UK and GR, aiming for 23+12 companies. In consortium: trainers, consultants, verifiers. It will create the first two EMAS clusters in printing industry (UK + GR) and integrate existing methods to a printing specific platform, which will serve SMEs, consultants and verifiers. It will share Cluster lessons with other sectors.
255948
ECOSTEVEDORING
EMAS for ports
Advanced EMAS for cargo (un-) loading in ports through developed software tool. 15 ports companies will be targeted with a cluster and triple perspective of freight loading (containers, bulk and roll-on/roll-off). Builds on successful national demonstration and focus on carbon footprint of the transportation sector.
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call
2 of 4
Recycling: New products from recycled material
256005
WAP-WIR
Substituting dangerous materials with recyclables in ceramics
WAP-WIR aims at replacing polyester resins, volatile solvents and hazardous pigments with recycled natural stone and glass powders in decorative bassrelief ceramics.
256025
NATURALISTA
Footwear waste into
new consumer
products
The project addresses the recycling of post-used shoes and footwear industry
waste to be used in the manufacturing of new products. This will be done by
means of a mechanical treatment very similar to the one used in tyre
recycling, which is basically a shredding and grinding process.
256120
PROWASTE
Recycled plastic
lumber
The project aims at promoting an innovative industrial process for the
production of more environmentally friendly high performance recycled
plastic lumber.
256151
ACE
Rubber based
products
This proposal aims to introduce an innovative hybrid material, a recycled
polymer called “Eco-rubber”, made from recycled rubber and plastic to
European markets by adapting and fine tuning the material towards end users'
needs.
Recycling: New recycling services
256142
EUROC2C
CARPETCHAINS
Carpet recovery
The project aims at developing a collection and recycling scheme of used
carpets in 6 European countries.
256184
WACOIL
Recycling of Waste
Vegetable Oils
This proposal aims at improving different stages in the recycling of waste
vegetable oil by using street containers with a sensor level device from one
hand and undertaking experimental tests of the residues from pre-treatment
and the by -products from refining.
Recycling: New recycling Processes/Technologies
256180
WS-REC
Design and construction
of a ELV-windscreen
recycling line
The project aims at implementing a recycling plant for car windscreens,
enabling commercial re-use of glass and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and
avoidance of land-filling or incineration. The project includes the
optimisation of current practices for the recycling of glass and an
innovative method for PVB recycling.
256141
THE DIAPERS
PROJECT
Recycling of diapers
This project will demonstrate the economical feasibility of an industrial
sized sorting and recycling processing plant for used nappies using
proven technology (with improvements) and thus avoiding the need for
their incineration or placing in landfills.
256130
FIBERROTOR
Reusable fibres from
waste glass fibre
The project will implement a machine for the recycling of clean
unhardened waste fabric-type glass fibre into single fibres which can be
re-used as a raw material. A prototype of the machine already exists.
256010 Big Tyre Recycling
Recycling big tyres
The proposal aims at building up a commercial plant for recycling big
end-of-life tyres (diameter greater than 1.4 m) by separating rubber and
steel using Ultra High Pressure (UHP) water jet cutting technology.
256152
RECYTUBE
Reuse scraps containing
carbon nanotubes
The project will reuse scraps containing carbon nanotubes, which are
generated during the generation of plastics nanocomposites.
256154
BP Sorting
Black Polymer Sorting
with HELIOS SWIR
The objective of the project is to develop bring on the market a new
sorting system for black plastics based on a hyperspectral imaging
sensor.
256174
PARILAS
Sorting of shredded
aluminum scrap
This project aims to develop a process based on laser technology for
identification and sorting of shredded aluminium scrap to different alloy
types.
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call
3 of 4
Food and Drink
255890
PLACOTOP
Bottle stopper from cork
and plastic
PLACOTOP aims at optimizing and introducing into the market a new
type of bottle stopper made of a composite material - plastic and cork.
The project contributes to reducing the environmental impact of materials
linked to food packaging and at protecting cork oak forests by facilitating
their preservation and better management.
256031
OMIWAT
Treatment of waste water
from olive oil production
OMIWAT addresses the important environmental issue related to olive
oil production and its polluting effluents. A three-stage filter system to
treat olive mill waste water will be set up. The system will produce
highly valuable by-products such as a fertilizer, polyphenols for the food
and drink sector, timber and recycle water for irrigation.
256032
ECOBIONET
Bio-degradable nets for
agriculture and packaging
ECOBIONET's objective is to industrialize the manufacture of different
types of bio-degradable and compostable nets for agriculture and
shellfish packaging products.
256045
ECO3CIP
Cleaning of waste water
from dairy production
The aim of this project is to develop an ozone-based clean-in-place
solution which lowers the volumes of water required, lowers the volumes
and strength of wastewater discharged and reduces the need for the use of
aggressive chemicals. The main application is within the dairy industry
but there is scope for extension to include other disinfection processes
within the food industry.
256048
ECOPACK
Green labels for
packaging and mulching
plastics
Proposal aims to integrate eco/human toxicology tests to the
requirements of the EN13432 standard. The environmental benefits arise
from a more environmentally safe product, enhancing the composting of
labelled plastics, and the eventual benefit of biodegraded agricultural
plastics as soil fertiliser
256052
RECOWATER
Wastewater treatment for
food industry
RECOWATER aims to provide an innovative solution to the recycling of
cooling waters within the food industry as well as reducing the impact on
the generation, collection and treatment of wastewater.
256062
GREENBOTTLE
Recyclable milk bottles
GREENBOTTLE focuses on a novel technology to replace plastic milk
bottles with bottles made a molded recycled paper outer shell and a thin,
loose plastic inner liner. At the end of the product life, the consumer can
easily separate the two components which fit into existing recycling
streams.
256067
miniAD
Portable treatment of
animal by-products
MiniAD aims at replicating a system based on existing anaerobic
digestion technology to treat animal by-products. Innovative in the small
scale and portability of the plant, and in the processing of outputs (such
as digestate and biogas).
256083
ECOBLOOD
On-site treatment of
animal by-products to
water and biogas
The ECOBLOOD project aims to provide an eco-friendly technology for
on-site blood processing, comprising a blood coagulator and a membrane
filtration unit. The technology will produce clarified water and blood
meal to produce biogas.
256095
Sterilis
Optimised sterilization
equipment for food and
drink industry
The project concerns new continuous vertical sterilization equipment for
the food & drink industry. It offers additional environmental benefits
such as the lower consumption of water for sterilisation and cooling,
lower energy and an overall reduced footprint.
256123
ENBED
Limiting losses of food
industry
ENBED addresses new ICT technologies aimed at the monitoring of food
conditions during transport with the purpose of limiting losses in terms of
food products and improving efficiency of energy consumption during
transports.
256136
APRE
Animal by-products for
fertiliser and energy
The aim of the APRE project is to produce a high quality fertilizer and
energy through the co-digestion of energy crops with animal by-products
in a centralized biogas plant.
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call
4 of 4
(Food and Drink – continued)
256149
PHOBIOR
Clean production of free
omega-3 fatty acids
The scope of this proposal is to build a commercial scale reactor for
producing a healthy product, guaranteed mercury –free omega-3 fatty
acids, altogether under clean production conditions.
256169
LASERMARK
New way of fruit labelling
The LASERMARK proposal aims to replace conventional fruit labelling
processes (i.e. paper and coated labels) with a more environmentally
friendly and innovative solution, which consists in an edible contrast
substance that changes colour when activated with the laser.
Buildings/Construction
255934
BACOM
Bio-waste to construction
material
Innovative process to recycle bio-solid waste from water treatment plants
into composite construction materials.
256009
SANGUSS
Installation walls using
foam glass
SANGUSS offers a new process to fill installation walls using foam glass
produced from waste that is not recycled today with advantages on higher
resource efficiency.
256179
ECBP
Eco-labelled wood floor
adhesive
An innovative an eco-labelled wood floor adhesive with no heavy metals
or volatile organic compounds.
256186
SUSCON-EPV
Sustainability index for
concrete
SUSCON-EPV aims to develop a sustainability index and a green label
for concrete. The proposed solution wants to be a credible alternative to
present national less sustainable prescription based practices.
Timo Mäkelä
Director of Sustainable Development and Integration
European Commission – Directorate-General for the Environment
Background
Timo Mäkelä is Director – Sustainable Development and Integration – at the DG Environment of the
European Commission. His present responsibilities include sustainable development and economic analysis,
sustainable production and consumption - including waste management, environmental research, science
and innovation policies as well as environmental policies for the industry. Mr Mäkelä has held a number of
posts at the Ministry of Environment of Finland. Furthermore, he has also served as a head of department at
the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Water Affairs in Gaborone, Botswana and as a Director at the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. Since 1996, Mr Mäkelä has been employed
by the European Commission, as a Head of Unit at the Enlargement Unit of DG Environment in Brussels and
as the Head of European Commission Representation in Finland, before his present post.
Patrick Lambert
Director
Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)
Background
Patrick worked for British Gas for 10 years in finance and personnel management. In 1984 he joined the
Energy DG of the European Commission, working firstly in the natural gas field but thereafter enjoying spells
in energy policy, international relations, energy efficiency and renewable energies. When energy and
transport were merged in 2000 to create DG TREN, Patrick was responsible for international relations in
these two sectors as well as relations with the Council and Parliament. Towards the end of 2004 he was
appointed Director of the Intelligent Energy Executive Agency, the first executive agency created by the
Commission. In 2007 the IEEA became the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI),
responsible for managing a number of EU programmes in the fields of intelligent energy, sustainable
transport, eco-innovation and small business support.
Beatriz Yordi
Head of Unit Market Replication- Eco-innovation and Intelligent Energy
Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)
Background
Physicist, Beatriz started at Ciemat (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y
Tecnológicas) and joined the private electricity utility Union Fenosa in a pioneer EU technology project on
solar energy together with RWE and Endesa. She joined the European Commission in 1994 working in the
RTD programme on renewable energies. From 2000, she was conceiving, and implementing Community
legislation and policy orientation at DG TREN. Beatriz has been responsible for drafting and implementation
of the Directives on electricity from renewable energy sources and Biofuels and the setting of 20% objective
on renewable energy sources. In 2008, she joined EACI and was appointed responsible for managing market
replication on eco-innovation and intelligent energy
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Wednesday 31 March 2010
DETERMINATION IN THE FACE OF NEW DISABILITY
Tackling and overcoming learning difficulties has become a frequent media subject over the last decade. Terms such as "Dyslexia" and "ADD" are becoming increasingly familiar to children and adults alike, with copious amounts of literature and online advice available on how to overcome these obstacles. However, Joanna Pinewood Education (JPE), a London based tuition centre, wants to draw our attention to less publicised learning difficulties; namely those which develop following accidents or trauma.
In recent months, JPE has been working alongside a young man who has faced these difficulties. He has kindly agreed to be used as a case study and to share his experiences. JPE will provide information and advice on how best to triumph over these new found challenges, while continuing both social and academic development.
The young man in question is in his thirties and from London. In year 7 at school, aged 12, he was pushed into the wagon of a passing London Underground train, which caused him to spend 4 days in a coma and a further 2 months in hospital. The boy incurred serious head injuries, developing chronic memory loss and epilepsy.
Adjusting to life after an accident such as this is extremely difficult and the man in question remembers severe bullying from his school peers alongside the struggle to come to terms with his new disabilities. Jonathan Smallman, an army officer who was injured in a horrific car crash in 1985 talks of similar difficulties in coming to terms with the severe brain damage incurred. Now a teacher at Rehab UK, which helps people with brain injuries to become socially and economically independent, Jonathan tells the BBC:
“When I first came round in hospital, I am told, that I was like a five or six year-old. I had lost my skills to interact.”
"I remember in the early stages being driven into town by my mother.”
"I can remember being ready to go home and yelling across the square to my mother, who was talking to somebody 'It is bloody freezing, hurry up.”
"I was oblivious to everyone else who was shopping and what they might have thought. I had lost my social skills, but to anyone else I must have just seemed very rude."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Learning to rebuild your social and academic skills is extremely testing, especially when having to deal simultaneously with a new disability. However, through focusing his energy on a specialist interest, the young man has overcome this, gaining qualifications and an active lifestyle. He has concentrated on horticulture, gaining a Level 1 Vocational Diploma and is now working towards Level 2. This focused approach makes it much easier to motivate oneself as Krzysztof Bahrynowski, Managing Director of JPE states:
“The most difficult obstacle for these newly debilitated people is self-motivation. They are often so disheartened and depressed by an accident or trauma that a completely reclusive and inactive nature takes over. Through working face to face with people who have dealt with these issues, JPE is gaining invaluable knowledge that we would like to share with others who have been affected”.
Through working together, JPE and the young man would advise the following in order to help continue development:
1. Work as a team – To further motivate his specialised interest in horticulture, the young man has partnered with other people with similar disabilities on his allotment.
2. Get help – The young man has encouraged the local Disabled Person’s Society to sponsor his allotment that will become a project for these people in the community.
3. Get involved – Once the project is completed, JPE plans to take him to the Czech Republic for a workshop on motivational skills that will be held at the University of Olomouc in October to present his project work.
4. Keep in contact – Krzysztof and the team at JPE are ensuring that they maintain regular contact with the learner to ensure he is moving in the right direction. With JPE’s help, he will gain the new competences he had always wanted to achieve.
Over the last year, JPE has made it their priority to create tailor made packages for all learners, regardless of age or ability. They believe that providing packages to suit individuals’ needs is imperative, whether it is learning English as a second language, overcoming dyslexia, or a refresher course to help stay ahead of the game. JPE is also actively involved in the European Grundtvig Project “Let’s Do It Creatively...for the benefit of Adult Learners”, receiving a grant from the EU to help adult learners. Likewise, JPE are currently applying for a grant to help disadvantaged learners, providing free workshops on improving key competences.
For more information on the upcoming workshops or to book bespoke, one to one and group tuition, please visit www.jpetutors.com or call: 01895 847 135, email: info@JPEtutors.com
Tuesday 16 February 2010
A Brighter Future Begins Today
Come and enjoy a learning experience!
Saturday 27th February 2010
The Mosaic Art And Sound
invite you at
Joanna Pinewood Education
to an
open workshop
How to Benefit from European funding opportunities in education
Experiences of sound and music to enhance listening skills and communication in family interaction
Implementing cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) into one's life to overcome personal and family problems: hints and suggestions
Monday 18 January 2010
Arte Via Workshop for adult learners in Lousa Portugal
London Uxbridge 9th November 2009
Grundtvig Lifelong learning Partnership: Let's Do It Creatively...for the Benefit of Adult Learners.
Like Jonathan Borg of Malta, I believe UK left Portugal with a high "esprit de corps". This two year project has given us many challenges but I do not feel we should be afraid and that we should be encouraged by any obstacles. My message to those that have some private fears is that in anything negative can be found something positive.
The first few weeks leading to the Arte Via workshop in Lousa Portugal have been a steep learning curve for JPE especially in the administration of the preparation of Schengen Visas for our non EU staff.
There has also been a learning curve and revaluation of how we should organise our journeys to the international workshops. We went for the most economic travel plans but we found them most time consuming. We crossed London in the early hours of the morning on Thursday the 5th of November 2009 and found that our most direct “Underground” link the Piccadilly line had failed us due to signal failure so we missed our Easy Bus link to Gatwick Airport. Even so we had an adventure. At Victoria station a kind information receptionist told us that the Southern to Gatwick is far cheaper than the Gatwick Express. At Gatwick airport we disseminated about our Grundtvig project to the Easy Jet lady at the baggage check- in. As we had jars of home fermented gherkins and edibles for our European Gastronomic buffet donated by one of our adult learner Edwiga and a preparation of my great grandfather’s “recipe”, the Easy Jet lady kindly slapped a few orange fragile labels on a bag and wished us a “bon appetite”. We had to buy a few bottles of water at W H Smith due to the dryness caused by the air conditioning at Gatwick South. We boarded the easyjet plane smoothly. We slept through the flight and reached Porto fresher and less anxious.
At Porto airport: a very efficient, clean airport, Joji John passed through the non EU passport control easily. I think that my presence at his immigration desk also supported his Schengen visa. Her eyes arched when Joji told her that we are going to a Grundtvig workshop in Lousa, he spelt it and she corrected our pronunciation to Losa. The Porto terminal is airy, open plan and laid out in marble and other durable stone. It’s a very beautiful building.
There is a very good and efficient information centre on the ground level of the airport which was able to sell us tickets for the light railway- "Metro" and give us information on how to get from Coimbra University City to Lousa pronounced Loza.
The light railway connection to the railway station was very quick and took twenty minutes. We found that we had plenty of time to catch express from Porto to Coimbra B pronounced kuˈĩbɾɐ or Kwimbra. I was surprised by the strong security and police presence on the line. We had good hot chocolate for one euro at a family owned bar across the road from the railway station.
The train left Porto station and went across a long high bridge and we were able to photograph the city and river below. As the train sped along its way I captured Atlantic white waves beating the coast on video. Very quickly it went dark and when it reached Coimbra B nothing could be seen except the twinkle of lights in this University City. At the station we tried to get information about reaching Coimbra A, the next station, but we had a language problem however a young woman told us that the next train was at 18.13. After a few minutes we arrived and again in a mixture of French, Spanish and Italian, we got information in English for walking directions to the next station. On the way we were lucky to meet Miguel (Michael) who told us that the next train to Lousa (Loza) was in nine minutes. We ran to the Coimbra Parques station and I think that this local train was held up for us whilst we bought tickets. Miguel was interested in our reason for visiting Lousa (Loza) and we talked to him about Grundtvig and our project. He was very interested in our project and later we passed his telephone number to Ana. He was keen to improve his English and he invited us to the annual honey fair in Lousa. His scout group had a stall selling honey, edible chestnuts, sweet cakes and key rings made of knots. We were overwhelmed by his hospitality and he and his wife Thelma offered to drive us from the station to our accommodation.
Joji and I enjoyed meeting everyone. Joji told me that he networked with most of the group and sees now that there are many opportunities for career development in the enlarged Europe.
The European evening was fantastic and I was able to capture quite a lot of the dancing and the audience on video. I was surprised how the Portuguese country dancing of another era and the chords of music had some similarity with 19th century dancing in Malta and folklore dancing of Mazurian-Polish folk dancing.
The next morning we learnt much from our presentations about our diverse institutions during the first workshop and I had good feedback on improvements for my power point presentation. We learn from mistakes best. It was a good start for a team building exercise.
Following earlier suggestions of Frank Fabri, Kevin split us into groups and we worked and got down to further business.
It was interesting to see how our different Grundtvig National Agencies interpret differently the rules about finances.
I was happy that we were still in agreement about our objectives and that there is commonality though our institutions are so diverse.
Our institution found good rapport with Lukas Richterek of Czech Republic over mathematics and science and we agreed that language awareness in communication of these topics both in the mother tongue and foreign tongue should not be too simplistic. It was good to meet with Jonathan again and talk about innovation and creativity in sustainable development. It was good to meet with Frank Fabri and Franco from Theresa College. Their Maltese expertise in European projects was very useful.
Our audience varied from 23 to one or two hundred and more depending on the type of activity that Ana Amaral had organised for the 10th anniversary of Arte Via. I learnt quite a bit about their motivation and enthusiasm and joy of living and learning. This is not genetics; it is in their environmental and educational training.
The two days were packed full but I have already forgotten so many of the visually experiences. I remember the workshop activities, and all the singing and dancing but my memory of what we ate is missing. I have the visual recall of drinking hot chocolate in a bar in Porto; I have the visual memory of preparing the foods and eating the other European delicacies but maybe next time we could have a postcard by the dishes explaining what it is and a short recipe in English and the mother tongue. This is a photo opportunity for language awareness. I remember that my great grandfather's recipe attracted a lot of comment. I remember tasting the coffee in the coffee shop during break but most of all I remember the animals made from pastry in the Lousa cafe window by the library.
Unfortunately I don't remember what I tasted during lunch and dinner. I remember it was a lot, too much and very little fruit as we networked so much during these meals. My personal routine is for a large breakfast, a light lunch and an even lighter evening meal. Joji told me that the feedback he got from veterans of international projects is that large meals is normal. I remember that in the ancient hotel / restaurant, that we reorganised the tables, drank some corked wine and I found a bone in the meat which looked like a small molar tooth but the light was too bad and I too tired to complain about it. Sorry the light was not bad it was romantic but some light theme music from the 18/19th century might have given the room more mood.
The Fado singing organised by Arte Via later relaxed us. The eloquent full pronunciation by the singer in comparison to modern popular songs was interesting to hear and see.. When I closed my eyes, though the words were not understood; the assonances and consonants and the Fado tune of the mandolin relaxed and unwound.
I shall remember the dancing at the disco on the other side of the road. I think the keyboard player/singer enjoyed our interaction as an audience and we encouraged the best out of him. Jonathan , Pepe and Frank used this opportunity to disseminate about Grundtvig and our let’s project in an innovative way. The owner / barman and waitresses (who are reading degrees or diplomas) and pianist were recruited to our project and we hope that Ana Amaral can encourage them to join her centre. I wonder what the pink Floyd song leave the kids alone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUASiDg-kg4 or the Just Do It song would sound rewritten as a Fado and played on a mandolin. Maybe here is an opportunity for a future gold disc and I hope that the young man and the Fado singer can be motivated to rewrite the two songs together.
My best memory will always be recycling handfuls of maize leaves and the Berlin Wall to coax the fire and D----- K---- complaining about the danger and then seeing her face as she enjoyed the heat of blaze. I enjoyed grilling a cob of maize to the rhythm of drums and accordion.
I shall always feel sorry for the ghost of the princess of Lousa castle and her two lovers who died in a duel. At least her two lovers settled it privately unlike the Greeks and Trojans who fought bloody battles over Helen of Troy.
I shall treasure forever the memory of sharing an impromptu meal of sweet figs and salted whole grain bread with 3 Lousan children, in the dark night by the exhausted glow of a brazier on the cul de sac before Castle Lousa, after the dancing, on the tenth anniversary of Arte Via; and sharing a shot of fig moonshine with a Lousan mother and buying her half empty bottle of this moonshine with a kiss..
The restaurant at the bottom of a 1 in 20 gradient of Castle Lousa was amazing but I had been already jaded by the feast with the Lousan mother and her children. The features of the restaurant converted from a watermill are astounding. The Portuguese children, the I---- participants , remarked were better behaved then those back home. The first course was delicious and consisted of traditional sausages with beans and a salad of goat cheese. Unfortunately my appetite had been spoilt by the figs and salted bread and I could not do justice to the traditional salted cod and boiled potatoes in skins or the mess of different sweet deserts.
The evening in the restaurant ended well with the handing out of certificates of participation by Kevin and Ana. Our farewells in the evening and morning were emotional and we parted like sisters and brothers of the very large family we had become.
Joji John and I arrived safely in the UK. We walked to Lousa A station at 8 am and reached home in Uxbridge after 9 pm. 6 hours of that was actual travel time. The other six hours was waiting. As there were only us two: keeping up a conversation; attempting some evaluation, developing thoughts for the future was an easy matter. I think that taking a larger group of adult learners is going to need many alternative plan B’s for each organiser just incase there are delays. I think that learners like Ana Amaral's village which has such cohesion and esprit will not have a problem (I can picture them doing an impromptu dance class at an airport or at bus or train station).
Our Easy jet plane had 100% occupancy, we had to sit separately. It was so tight that once I sat down, I had no chance to take off my coat and jacket or find my belt.(I can hear the sniggers about my weight already:-)) The flight was very bad and we both had headaches.
The metal foil of my aspirin set off the alarm in the airport. The security refused to allow our breakfast orange juice into the airport even though it was packaged and sealed. For whose benefit this is supposed to be I do not know; I think the airplane benefits the most because the price of a soft drink starts at 1.50 Euro.
The worst to happen to us, was in freezing London, where tube delays were caused by weekend engineering works of the circle underground, failure of the metropolitan and traffic jams near Chelsea football stadium. The building works at Heathrow airport and engineering problems on the Underground of the Circle and Metropolitan brought us back to earth. The Portuguese treat life in a different way.
Krzysztof
12th November 2009
"This Grundtvig project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."
Grundtvig Lifelong learning Partnership: Let's Do It Creatively...for the Benefit of Adult Learners.
Like Jonathan Borg of Malta, I believe UK left Portugal with a high "esprit de corps". This two year project has given us many challenges but I do not feel we should be afraid and that we should be encouraged by any obstacles. My message to those that have some private fears is that in anything negative can be found something positive.
The first few weeks leading to the Arte Via workshop in Lousa Portugal have been a steep learning curve for JPE especially in the administration of the preparation of Schengen Visas for our non EU staff.
There has also been a learning curve and revaluation of how we should organise our journeys to the international workshops. We went for the most economic travel plans but we found them most time consuming. We crossed London in the early hours of the morning on Thursday the 5th of November 2009 and found that our most direct “Underground” link the Piccadilly line had failed us due to signal failure so we missed our Easy Bus link to Gatwick Airport. Even so we had an adventure. At Victoria station a kind information receptionist told us that the Southern to Gatwick is far cheaper than the Gatwick Express. At Gatwick airport we disseminated about our Grundtvig project to the Easy Jet lady at the baggage check- in. As we had jars of home fermented gherkins and edibles for our European Gastronomic buffet donated by one of our adult learner Edwiga and a preparation of my great grandfather’s “recipe”, the Easy Jet lady kindly slapped a few orange fragile labels on a bag and wished us a “bon appetite”. We had to buy a few bottles of water at W H Smith due to the dryness caused by the air conditioning at Gatwick South. We boarded the easyjet plane smoothly. We slept through the flight and reached Porto fresher and less anxious.
At Porto airport: a very efficient, clean airport, Joji John passed through the non EU passport control easily. I think that my presence at his immigration desk also supported his Schengen visa. Her eyes arched when Joji told her that we are going to a Grundtvig workshop in Lousa, he spelt it and she corrected our pronunciation to Losa. The Porto terminal is airy, open plan and laid out in marble and other durable stone. It’s a very beautiful building.
There is a very good and efficient information centre on the ground level of the airport which was able to sell us tickets for the light railway- "Metro" and give us information on how to get from Coimbra University City to Lousa pronounced Loza.
The light railway connection to the railway station was very quick and took twenty minutes. We found that we had plenty of time to catch express from Porto to Coimbra B pronounced kuˈĩbɾɐ or Kwimbra. I was surprised by the strong security and police presence on the line. We had good hot chocolate for one euro at a family owned bar across the road from the railway station.
The train left Porto station and went across a long high bridge and we were able to photograph the city and river below. As the train sped along its way I captured Atlantic white waves beating the coast on video. Very quickly it went dark and when it reached Coimbra B nothing could be seen except the twinkle of lights in this University City. At the station we tried to get information about reaching Coimbra A, the next station, but we had a language problem however a young woman told us that the next train was at 18.13. After a few minutes we arrived and again in a mixture of French, Spanish and Italian, we got information in English for walking directions to the next station. On the way we were lucky to meet Miguel (Michael) who told us that the next train to Lousa (Loza) was in nine minutes. We ran to the Coimbra Parques station and I think that this local train was held up for us whilst we bought tickets. Miguel was interested in our reason for visiting Lousa (Loza) and we talked to him about Grundtvig and our project. He was very interested in our project and later we passed his telephone number to Ana. He was keen to improve his English and he invited us to the annual honey fair in Lousa. His scout group had a stall selling honey, edible chestnuts, sweet cakes and key rings made of knots. We were overwhelmed by his hospitality and he and his wife Thelma offered to drive us from the station to our accommodation.
Joji and I enjoyed meeting everyone. Joji told me that he networked with most of the group and sees now that there are many opportunities for career development in the enlarged Europe.
The European evening was fantastic and I was able to capture quite a lot of the dancing and the audience on video. I was surprised how the Portuguese country dancing of another era and the chords of music had some similarity with 19th century dancing in Malta and folklore dancing of Mazurian-Polish folk dancing.
The next morning we learnt much from our presentations about our diverse institutions during the first workshop and I had good feedback on improvements for my power point presentation. We learn from mistakes best. It was a good start for a team building exercise.
Following earlier suggestions of Frank Fabri, Kevin split us into groups and we worked and got down to further business.
It was interesting to see how our different Grundtvig National Agencies interpret differently the rules about finances.
I was happy that we were still in agreement about our objectives and that there is commonality though our institutions are so diverse.
Our institution found good rapport with Lukas Richterek of Czech Republic over mathematics and science and we agreed that language awareness in communication of these topics both in the mother tongue and foreign tongue should not be too simplistic. It was good to meet with Jonathan again and talk about innovation and creativity in sustainable development. It was good to meet with Frank Fabri and Franco from Theresa College. Their Maltese expertise in European projects was very useful.
Our audience varied from 23 to one or two hundred and more depending on the type of activity that Ana Amaral had organised for the 10th anniversary of Arte Via. I learnt quite a bit about their motivation and enthusiasm and joy of living and learning. This is not genetics; it is in their environmental and educational training.
The two days were packed full but I have already forgotten so many of the visually experiences. I remember the workshop activities, and all the singing and dancing but my memory of what we ate is missing. I have the visual recall of drinking hot chocolate in a bar in Porto; I have the visual memory of preparing the foods and eating the other European delicacies but maybe next time we could have a postcard by the dishes explaining what it is and a short recipe in English and the mother tongue. This is a photo opportunity for language awareness. I remember that my great grandfather's recipe attracted a lot of comment. I remember tasting the coffee in the coffee shop during break but most of all I remember the animals made from pastry in the Lousa cafe window by the library.
Unfortunately I don't remember what I tasted during lunch and dinner. I remember it was a lot, too much and very little fruit as we networked so much during these meals. My personal routine is for a large breakfast, a light lunch and an even lighter evening meal. Joji told me that the feedback he got from veterans of international projects is that large meals is normal. I remember that in the ancient hotel / restaurant, that we reorganised the tables, drank some corked wine and I found a bone in the meat which looked like a small molar tooth but the light was too bad and I too tired to complain about it. Sorry the light was not bad it was romantic but some light theme music from the 18/19th century might have given the room more mood.
The Fado singing organised by Arte Via later relaxed us. The eloquent full pronunciation by the singer in comparison to modern popular songs was interesting to hear and see.. When I closed my eyes, though the words were not understood; the assonances and consonants and the Fado tune of the mandolin relaxed and unwound.
I shall remember the dancing at the disco on the other side of the road. I think the keyboard player/singer enjoyed our interaction as an audience and we encouraged the best out of him. Jonathan , Pepe and Frank used this opportunity to disseminate about Grundtvig and our let’s project in an innovative way. The owner / barman and waitresses (who are reading degrees or diplomas) and pianist were recruited to our project and we hope that Ana Amaral can encourage them to join her centre. I wonder what the pink Floyd song leave the kids alone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUASiDg-kg4 or the Just Do It song would sound rewritten as a Fado and played on a mandolin. Maybe here is an opportunity for a future gold disc and I hope that the young man and the Fado singer can be motivated to rewrite the two songs together.
My best memory will always be recycling handfuls of maize leaves and the Berlin Wall to coax the fire and D----- K---- complaining about the danger and then seeing her face as she enjoyed the heat of blaze. I enjoyed grilling a cob of maize to the rhythm of drums and accordion.
I shall always feel sorry for the ghost of the princess of Lousa castle and her two lovers who died in a duel. At least her two lovers settled it privately unlike the Greeks and Trojans who fought bloody battles over Helen of Troy.
I shall treasure forever the memory of sharing an impromptu meal of sweet figs and salted whole grain bread with 3 Lousan children, in the dark night by the exhausted glow of a brazier on the cul de sac before Castle Lousa, after the dancing, on the tenth anniversary of Arte Via; and sharing a shot of fig moonshine with a Lousan mother and buying her half empty bottle of this moonshine with a kiss..
The restaurant at the bottom of a 1 in 20 gradient of Castle Lousa was amazing but I had been already jaded by the feast with the Lousan mother and her children. The features of the restaurant converted from a watermill are astounding. The Portuguese children, the I---- participants , remarked were better behaved then those back home. The first course was delicious and consisted of traditional sausages with beans and a salad of goat cheese. Unfortunately my appetite had been spoilt by the figs and salted bread and I could not do justice to the traditional salted cod and boiled potatoes in skins or the mess of different sweet deserts.
The evening in the restaurant ended well with the handing out of certificates of participation by Kevin and Ana. Our farewells in the evening and morning were emotional and we parted like sisters and brothers of the very large family we had become.
Joji John and I arrived safely in the UK. We walked to Lousa A station at 8 am and reached home in Uxbridge after 9 pm. 6 hours of that was actual travel time. The other six hours was waiting. As there were only us two: keeping up a conversation; attempting some evaluation, developing thoughts for the future was an easy matter. I think that taking a larger group of adult learners is going to need many alternative plan B’s for each organiser just incase there are delays. I think that learners like Ana Amaral's village which has such cohesion and esprit will not have a problem (I can picture them doing an impromptu dance class at an airport or at bus or train station).
Our Easy jet plane had 100% occupancy, we had to sit separately. It was so tight that once I sat down, I had no chance to take off my coat and jacket or find my belt.(I can hear the sniggers about my weight already:-)) The flight was very bad and we both had headaches.
The metal foil of my aspirin set off the alarm in the airport. The security refused to allow our breakfast orange juice into the airport even though it was packaged and sealed. For whose benefit this is supposed to be I do not know; I think the airplane benefits the most because the price of a soft drink starts at 1.50 Euro.
The worst to happen to us, was in freezing London, where tube delays were caused by weekend engineering works of the circle underground, failure of the metropolitan and traffic jams near Chelsea football stadium. The building works at Heathrow airport and engineering problems on the Underground of the Circle and Metropolitan brought us back to earth. The Portuguese treat life in a different way.
Krzysztof
12th November 2009
"This Grundtvig project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."
Friday 15 January 2010
?Snow in Spain?
Until very recently we were suffering badly in our region because we didn't have much water left. The beautiful rivers you could see in the pictures were almost dry, and there was great concern about the water to drink. However, the new year has been so wonderful...
First, it has been raining slowly, but steadily time and again. The land is soaking wet for the first time in a long time. The reservoirs are almost full, granting water for more than a year, and the best, the underground deposits must be replenished. To complete the picture, last Sunday, the end of the school holiday, everything got covered on snow. The last time was more than twenty years ago. It has been like Christmas. My little daughter got out with the first drops of snow, in the early afternoon, and only got back home at ten in the evening. She was dancing and running and shouting as if she were mad.Everybody in town were mad with happiness about the snow. In addition, it didn't freeze, and we didn't have many problems. People took lots of pictures, to keep for the record.
Now we are back on track, working hard again.
Take care.
Pepe
First, it has been raining slowly, but steadily time and again. The land is soaking wet for the first time in a long time. The reservoirs are almost full, granting water for more than a year, and the best, the underground deposits must be replenished. To complete the picture, last Sunday, the end of the school holiday, everything got covered on snow. The last time was more than twenty years ago. It has been like Christmas. My little daughter got out with the first drops of snow, in the early afternoon, and only got back home at ten in the evening. She was dancing and running and shouting as if she were mad.Everybody in town were mad with happiness about the snow. In addition, it didn't freeze, and we didn't have many problems. People took lots of pictures, to keep for the record.
Now we are back on track, working hard again.
Take care.
Pepe
Thursday 14 January 2010
We need your help!
Joanna Pinewood Education wants to meet adult learners who have successfully overcome their learning difficulties. We are interested in the story about how you did this and would like to share your experience with project partners and other learners . Please get in touch! Email headmaster@jpetutors.com
JPE adventures in Romania and Portugal
Welcome to the Joanna Pinewood Education blog. This is our first blog and a learning experience for us. If you are a learner wanting to write, this is a good place to put in some practice and gain some web skills too! Last year JPE was in Malta, Portugal, Romania and Poland promoting the European Union's Lifelong Learning Campaign with fascinating results. For more information, please visit www.jpetutors.com
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