Shetland schools" long tradition of maintaining strong international links was reflected in a recent visit to Brae High School by 28 students from four European countries.
The pupils, all aged 13 to 18 years of age, travelled to Shetland from schools in Turkey, Latvia, Sardinia and Norway. Accompanied by eight teachers, they spent a week in Shetland, learning about different aspects of life in the islands, including the fishing and oil industries, knitwear and textiles, coastal walks and Up Helly Aa.
The project has been funded by the European Erasmus+ programme, which aims to encourage staff and pupils to travel around Europe to experience life, culture and education in different countries. All participating countries lie on the fringes of Europe, and one of the themes of the visit was to explore what it means to be a young person living on the edge of the continent.
The pupils stayed with local families in the north mainland and many local businesses provided generous sponsorship for the visit, and assisted with the provision of transport, meals and tours of workplaces. Shetland Islands Council hosted a civic lunch reception at Lerwick Town Hall.
Council Convener, Malcolm Bell welcomed the visit and expressed the hope that the young people would experience some of the best that Shetland can offer. He added: “This type of youth exchange project provides a platform for innovative global education and encourages international understanding which helps to safeguard and improve all our futures.”