A student delegation from Rabat (Morocco) travelled to Brussels from 26 to 31 January 2015 for a student exchange, based on the principle of “Mens sana in corpore sano”. The Brussels students, meanwhile, travelled to Rabat from 5 to 10 March.
Since 2011, the Brussels-Capital Region and the Region of Rabat have promoted active partnerships between schools, with intercultural exchanges organised twice a year between young people from Brussels and Rabat. Every school year, a new theme is suggested. After the environment and sustainable development in 2013-2014, this year, the emphasis was on sport and health.
As a result, the theme of this year’s exchanges was
“Mens sana in corpora sano”. From 26 to 31 January 2015, the delegation of Moroccan pupils enjoyed a full programme of fun and sporty activities (ice-skating, an introduction to Zumba, bowling) as well as academic and professional exchanges relating to healthy cooking. The students of the hospitality section of the Frans Fischer community school organised an introduction to cheese making while their counterparts from CERIA organised a workshop on the hotel industry, bakery and chocolate making.
The programme for the Moroccan students also included several cultural activities, comprising a fascinating tour of the exhibition “À vos cerveaux” in the Museum of Natural Science of Brussels and a guided tour of the centre of Brussels prepared and organised by the students of the Tourism section of the Frans Fischer school!
The official evening event of the visit was attended by
Minister-President Rudi Vervoort, who praised the contribution of these cross-cultural and human exchanges to a better understanding and knowledge of the other.
The young Brussels students arrived in Rabat for a return visit on 5 March, looking forward to catching up with their new friends. The programme featured sun, sports and cultural visits. But the young students were especially touched by the warm welcome and the legendary Moroccan hospitality of their guest families.
The young students from Rabat and Brussels both returned to their home countries with a lot of fond memories and new friendships, thanks to this wonderful experience.
