The project aimed to pilot educational mobility and to exchange knowledge, methodologies, and good practices among VET centers in Africa and Europe, improving knowledge, technical and pedagogical skills of VET centers, staff, and students.
24 countries were involved in the project, including 8 EU Member States (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Finland) and 16 African countries (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Côted’Ivoire, Eritrea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia).
Over 40 months, 36 partners took part in almost 400 mobilities: more than 80 mobilities of African VET staff to Europe, more than 70 mobilities of EU staff to Africa, 198 students mobilities in EU VET centres and EU companies, more than 40 experts mobilities to Africa.
During the past four years, partners and participants overcame three main challenges: the Covid-19 pandemic, educational inequalities, bureaucracy, and logistics issues. However, there have been many lessons learned: diversity and cultural enrichment, flexibility and adaptation, personal skills development, and interinstitutional collaboration.
During 2024, the following final activities were organised:
– Between 13-15 February, the SAAM Final Conference took place in Praia (Cabo Verde), hosted by the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Cabo Verde (EHTCV). In these days, partners engaged in fruitful debates about enhancing student and staff skills, assessing the impact on general school management, proposing specific guidelines for comprehensive reporting on SAAM's and dissemination actions. The ‘How to be a SAAM leader?’ Toolkit was promoted to implement an international strategy, and the SAAM short documentary was streamed during the final celebration.
– On 15 February, the EHTCV team organized a public event with the presence of the authorities: Mr Olavo Correia (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance), Ms Carla Grijó (Ambassador of the European Union to Cabo Verde), Ms Ana Paredes Prieto (Ambassador of Spain) and representatives of the Embassies of Portugal and Luxembourg. Ms Sara Sechi, Executive Secretary of Don Bosco International, and Fr Maximus Okoro, Director of Don Bosco Tech Africa had the opportunity to present the perspective of the Salesian family and highlight the potential of EU mobility programmes in overcoming social and educational gaps. The event concluded with a networking cocktail prepared by the school students.
– On 23 April, the SAAM Final closing took place online to present the Report with the main results and activities of the projects, as well as its relevance in the context of global challenges. Among the panelists: Claire Herrmann (EU Commision - DG EAC), Manuela Alfé (EACEA), Alfredo Garmendia, Béatrice Bellet, Sergio Lagarde Cabañero and Begoña Inchaurraga Grijelmo (SAAM Team), Thomas Faber (Don Bosco Tech Africa).
– In May, the SAAM promoter (San Viator) and coordinator (Mundus) met the EU Commission to share lessons learned and provide recommendations for future intercontinental mobility programs, underlining the importance of collaborating with the institutions such as the European Delegation, the Erasmus National Focal Points, ambassies and the ministries.
As a pilot project, SAAM proved that Vocational Education and Training can create an ecosystem where each area of the society such as schools, VET centres, NGOs, international networks, ambassies, and EU agencies can collaborate to achieve a common goal based on concrete socio-economic demands. The Salesian Family played a key role for implementing synergies and systemic partnerships, showing with determination that international mobilities between Africa and Europe are possible despite the challenges. For many students and teachers SAAM has represented a life-change experience, in which they discover themselves and they came back to their communities empowered and inspired. In VET centres, organisations and companies, SAAM opened doors to welcoming, cultural exchange, combination of different worldviews, international strategies, and new collaborations.
DBI and DBTech Africa, together with their partners, will continue to advocate towards policymakers to shape future mobility schemes that are able to build equal partnerships, highlighting how mobility programmes are key tools to promote dialogue and peace beyond borders through humanity and understanding.
Don Bosco International
Don Bosco Tech Africa
