European identity and the important role of Erasmus+ programme
In May, among the others, we will host for the first time three groups coming from Austria and Poland. It will be a good chance for them to visit Sicily, and as they are going to have an internship in the hotels sector it’s also the best season to improve their skills.
For all year long we host many young people in the tourism and catering sectors. The participants are very happy at the end of their internship, especially in this sectors, as they get to know new destinations and new healthy Mediterranean Diet recipes.
We would like to thank all the companies that will collaborate with us to implement the projects and, in particular, in the hotel and tourism sector, Cassisi Hotel (Milazzo), Hotel La Bussola (Milazzo), Parco Augusto (Terme Vigliatore), George Hotel (Barcellona pozzo di Gotto), Mojito’s Cafè (Terme Vigliatore) and Il Gabbiano Hotel (Terme Vigliatore) with their young and proactive staff always willing to receive new interns, contributing to build a European community.
We are very proud for the results that Sicily reached in terms of mobilities within the Erasmus+ Programme, both for people who participated in a mobility project outside Italy and for those who came to have an internship in Sicily.
“… Erasmus has created the first generation of young Europeans. I call it a sexual revolution: a young Catalan man meets a Flemish girl – they fall in love, they get married and they become European, as do their children. The Erasmus idea should be compulsory – not just for students, but also for taxi drivers, plumbers and other workers. By this, I mean they need to spend time in other countries within the European Union; they should integrate.” (U. Eco)
It’s important, nowadays, to underline the role of the Erasmus+ programme. Despite the current temptation to return to the national barriers and the vulnerability of the European unity, the Erasmus+ mobility is one of the most successful contribution to strengthen the common European identity. Furthermore, it encourages mutual exchange of knowledge, enriches the individual training and it promotes employment of those involved.
It’s absolutely true that employers these days are looking for young people with transversal skills such as, problem solving, curiosity, knowledge of, at least, two languages and flexibility. Skills that you can easily gain having a working or training experience abroad.
Every year, as intermediary organisation, we host over 300 European interns in the frame of the Erasmus+ Programme. They come from different part of Europe to do an internship in various sectors (depending on their field of interest), to put into practice the knowledge they gained at schools or universities.
For us, beyond the traineeships we provide, it’s also a way to keep the idea of Europe alive in our beautiful island.