5 Days, 4 Countries, Endless Growth!

A group of middle school students and two teachers from the International School of Älmhult recently took part in a five-day Erasmus+ mobility in Dunkirk, France. Together with their French peers, students experienced a week of cultural exchange, sustainable travel, history, active citizenship, and personal growth.

From crossing four countries on Day 1 to cycling across borders, exploring Dunkirk's wartime history, meeting the Mayor of Bergues, and challenging themselves with sand yachting, every day brought new learning beyond the classroom.

Day 1 – Crossing Borders

The journey took students through Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and France. Managing tight schedules, transfers and unfamiliar travel routes taught students the importance of organisation, teamwork and independence.

Day 2 – New Friends and Sustainable Travel

Students broke the ice with games and activities alongside their French hosts before sharing lunch at the school. They then cycled towards the Belgian border, experiencing first-hand how cycling can be a practical, sustainable and social way to travel.

Day 3 – History and Adventure

Students explored Dunkirk's historic dunes and bunkers and learned about Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II. At the Dynamo Museum, they deepened their understanding of this important chapter of European history.

The day also brought an exciting challenge: sand yachting. Battling strong coastal winds, students stepped outside their comfort zones and developed resilience, adaptability and teamwork.

Day 4 – School, Cycling and Active Citizenship

At Lycée Vauban, students experienced school life in France before taking the lead on a student-guided tour of Dunkirk.

They later cycled through the rain to Bergues, where they met the Mayor of Bergues. Students interviewed him about local governance, cycling infrastructure and sustainable transport, gaining a real-world insight into active citizenship and how local decisions affect communities.

Day 5 – Home with New Perspectives

After five busy days, students began the long journey home — tired but full of memories, new friendships and new perspectives.

Throughout the mobility, they developed confidence, communication, teamwork, independence and intercultural understanding while exploring important themes such as sustainability, inclusion, European history and active citizenship.

Learning Without Borders

This Erasmus+ mobility showed how powerful learning can be when it moves beyond the classroom. Through shared experiences, challenges and conversations, Swedish and French students built meaningful connections and strengthened their understanding of what it means to be part of a wider European community.

The partnership will continue in the spring, when the French students visit Sweden for the next part of this exciting Erasmus+ journey.

Five days. Four countries. New friendships. Countless lessons — and learning without borders.