LC Exchange Guide+School Toolkit - Flipbook - Page 14
Town Twinning
Carndonagh Community School has a number of students who have done work
experience in their twin town in Brittany. Some have stayed with host families from the
school exchange, and others have stayed with homestays organised through the town
twinning committee. The reverse has also happened, so they have hosted students
from Brittany, sometimes the French students have stayed with host families from the
school exchange, and sometimes through homestays organised by the town twinning
committee. If there is a town twinning in place then students should contact their
local town twinning committee.
Alumni
There is a past student from Lucan Community College who wanted to give
something back, so he has paid for a fifth year student to fly to Germany, the school
selected the student, he and his family are hosting the student and he has arranged
for them to do three weeks of work experience at the company he works for. This is an
inspiring example of how alumni can assist with work experience opportunities.
Most schools will have lots of alumni who have moved abroad, they will not
necessarily want to follow exactly the same path, but they are contacts, a starting
point, and could potentially lead to further opportunities. Schools who do not have
alumni associations, should consider setting one up. Do have a look at the Lucan
Community College video clip which introduces this topic.
Volunteering
If pupils are involved with an international volunteer organisation, such as the Red
Cross, they might be able to arrange volunteering abroad through the organisation.
European Solidarity
Corp
The European Solidarity Corps allows young people aged 18–30 to be full‑time
volunteers in a range of countries. European Solidarity Corps is part of the Volunteering
Projects (KA125) strand of Erasmus+. Projects can last from two weeks to 12 months.
Young people can take part in two ways:
• As an individual volunteer
• As part of a volunteering team
For further details see https://www.leargas.ie/volunteer/
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How-to Manual for School Exchanges
