Falkirk	Créteil

November 2009 Visit to Falkirk by Members of Anciens Combattants of Creteil Three Members of the Anciens Combattants of Creteil visited over the weekend of 6th to 9th November. Yves Casalis (son of a former Mayor of Creteil), Emile Dieudonne (former Standard Bearer and well kent face in Falkirk area) and Jean- Claude Janusik (Standard Bearer) took part in the Falkirk Festival of Remembrance. On Remembrance Sunday they took part in Services and Parades in Falkirk, Denny and Bonnybridge with their French Standard. During their visit they were able to make contact with friends in the ex-service Community and meet with Members of the Twinning Committee. The Anciens Combattants is the French equivalent to the Royal British Legion Scotland.

Creteil Youth Exchange Extract from Report produced Exchange Participants Background  - In October 2007 the Youth Learning team embarked on a new and exciting opportunity to develop and deliver a one week exchange with a youth group from Creteil in France.   This was developed as part of Falkirk Twinning Association.   Seven young people from Creteil participated in a week long visit.  The group took part in a variety of activities and educational visits.  These included the Wallace monument, Stirling Castle, the Falkirk Wheel and Callendar House.   The young people participated in arts workshops at Delta Studios and drumming sessions.  The group also met up with Scottish young people from Kersiebank Youth Club, Bo’ness Fire Cadets and Larbert High School. The French young people also carried out a research project by interviewing the Scottish young people on their opinion of being a young European. The visit ended with a reception at the Falkirk Municipal Buildings with a live theatre production by Sleeking productions with their version of a history of Scotland in 60 minutes, enjoyed by both groups of young people. The Next Stage – Planning a visit to France Due to the success of the visit by the French, it was agreed to build on the link which had now been established.   In March 2008 delegates from the Twinning Association visited Creteil to discuss further opportunities for exchanges.   It was agreed that the Comite de Jumelage de Creteil (Creteil Twinning Committee) would  support a returning visit from a Scottish youth group in the Summer of 2009.   In January 2009 planning began to recruit young people and establish planning meetings. Over six months a group of six young people, alont with two full time youth learning team staff, formed a planning group to develop the programme, identify funding and agree a theme.   As most of the group were already involved in volunteering and peer education in alcohol education, it was decided that the group would use this as an opportunity to compile a comparative study on alcohol and young people. The Creteil Youth Exchange Group agreed to meet on a weekly basis and decided on a programme which would meet their needs and aspirations.  The programme included research on France, its history, culture, food and demographics.   The group also had the opportunity to meet four girls from Creteil who were staying in Falkirk as part of a student work placement programme.  As part of the programme each group member had to take responsibility to translate correspondence and help the others learn a few French words.   Ideas for the programme were then passed to a French colleague who then agreed to organise them. The main places of interest that the group wanted to visit was Paris, the Eiffel Tower and Euro-Disney! Expected Outcomes It was expected that the learning outcome of the programme would be; an increase in confidence and self-esteem an increase in awareness and understanding of alcohol and its effects an increase in awareness of differing attitudes and values in European countries to alcohol consumption and its impact on a country’s health a better understanding of other people’s culture and to have a more open attitude to people from other countries, their culture and ethnic background an increase in language skills Youth Achievement Award The young people would also record their learning by keeping a diary and building a portfolio of evidence which would be used to credit them with a silver Youth Achievement Award as part of a National Award Scheme run by Youth Scotland. Each of the group members had agreed individual responsibilities for which they had to ensure that they fulfilled the requirements for each challenge. Some of the individual challenges were; translating questionnaires planning gift list planning and organising transport to Euro Disney organising transport to the airport applying for grants and funding    The exchange was planned for week 22nd-27th June. The programme was agreed with the French and the young people emailed their preferenced from the options that were offered. The group requested time and the opportunity to hand out a questionnaire they had translated on attitudes to alcohol. Day 1 Travelled to Creteil, France Day 2 Visit to local art gallery;  a social community centre;  a traditional market and in the evening a visit to the Town Hall to meet the Mayor.  The group also sat in on a Youth Council Meeting. Day 3 A most enlightening visit to a Mosque with an explanation of the main themes of Islam and Muslin and a meeting with the Imam.   Also a visit to a local High school. Day 4 A visit to Paris, a boat trip on the Seine, a trip by Metro to the Eiffel Tower which proved to be the highlight of the trip. Day 5 On the last day – a trip by coach to Euro Disney with 10 girls from the Conseil de Jeunes. The Town Hall and farewells said to hosts and thanks for a great time before traveling home. Evaluation The group reviewed and evaluated the programme on a daily basis. This provided the opportunity for the young people to state their views on the day’s activities. These daily meetings produced a more detailed feedback which would have been lost or forgotten if no recordings had been made at the time. The group was also filmed throughout the programme. Feedback Event After a French cooking session from their training officer, photo boards were produced, a final report written and a French themed meal prepared in preparation for an evening Feedback Event attended by the Provost, Director of Community Services, members of the Falkirk Twinning Association, parents of the participants and members of staff involved in the exchange. A video presentation was made with each of the girls orally contributing, highlighting the aspects of the trip which made an impression on them and the areas of  responsibility in which they led.

Créteil - Primary School Children and Video-Conferencing Did you know? That children in primary schools in the Falkirk area already link with Créteil?. Children as young as primary 1 class at Kinnaird Primary School in Larbert are learning the benefits of an exchange of culture as well as language, participating in fun tasks and games and finding out about each other's traditions.    Here's how it works.    The French school sends information about a particular tradition, for example, the Fête de Rois celebrated in France in January.  The children here then dress up and act out the festival according to the information received from their French partners. There is great fun and the children go home and talk to their families about it, spreading the news and information. In return, the Falkirk children sent information on how we celebrate Burns Night, sending photos associated with Burns, poems the children were learning at school and a CD of songs, encouraging the French children to sing along. The children are able to do all of this using video conferencing! It is exciting for the children to be using the most up to date technology allowing them to see and speak to their partners in France and is an innovative step for the schools in Falkirk. This is not available to all schools however and is a great opportunity for those experimenting with its use. How does video-conferencing work? This is done by using a safe, approved site for schools.  A day is decided and a meeting is booked.  Preparation and plans are made in advance of the video-conference and works by taking it in turn to speak.   The French partners talk and ask a question, then our children reply.   The topic is decided beforehand and questions prepared.   Recently, the children discussed weather.   'Weather discs' were made in school so that when the French children were asked questions about the weather and responded in French, then all the  children had to set their disc to the correct weather and hold it up.  The same then happens with our children being asked questions. Other links Primary 7 have also begun video-conferencing, using topics they have been learning about. Parcels of various items are sent to France and there is great excitement for the children when a parcel arrives from France. Staff from Charles Beuvin B came to Falkirk in May 2007 with the exchanged formed by Stenhousemuir  Primary are still involved in the exchange continued with the new Kinnaird Primary. Who benefits from these exchanges? The children who are involved with the video-conferencing enjoy a unique experience through new technology to be able to see and talk to their French partners.   The topics are prepared in school and the children go home and involve family members.   The staff are in contact regularly by e-mail and swap ideas and plan together.    It is a lot of work, but those involved feel it is well worth it for the opportunity to learn and to enjoy.