REPORTER-Manuela Dan
Mrs. Sujdea, how did you manage to become a voluntary ambassador of Romania’s image and coordinate European Erasmus projects?
I would start by revealing to you that I love Romania, and everything related to my country, I love the people of these Mioritic lands and I am proud that I was born and live in this “corner of heaven”. That is why it is a great honor for me, when I have this opportunity, to share with everyone how beautiful my country is and what wonderful people live here. So, people call me a voluntary ambassador of Romania, because I carry, everywhere in the world, the tricolor flag with me, and I share with foreigners’ glimpses of the beauties of our homeland.
Regarding the coordination of Erasmus projects, I could say that the desire to discover and learn from others made me dare to dream and made me ambitious to learn English alone, quite late. The beginning was quite difficult and many times I wanted to give up, but with the encouragement of the management of the school where I work, and of my colleagues, I have managed to implement 3 Erasmus+ projects so far
What was the main reason that led you to get involved in international projects and promote cooperation between countries?
The primary reason for my involvement was that I wanted to give myself and my students the chance to travel to other countries, to discover the beauty of the traditions and cultures of those countries. I have always considered that a well-done, high-quality work can only be achieved through collaboration, learning from each other, helping each other. Many times, I collaborated with colleagues from the country, from other schools…but the thought that this cooperation can take another dimension, made me research new ways to take this dream of mine further. So, in my spare time, I got involved in different online projects with schools from different parts of the world. I am an open-minded person, I think, who can work very well with. I like to discover the culture of other peoples, from which I could observe that, although we have different skin colors, different religions or speak different languages, we are, at the same time, similar. We feel the same love for the family, the country, the birthplaces, we express our pain and happiness in the same way, we care about the good of our students’ education with the same passion. That’s why I considered that this international cooperation can bring nothing but benefits for all of us.
What was the biggest challenge you encountered in implementing Erasmus projects and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was to overcome my fear of speaking in English in front of others… You must know that almost all Erasmus coordinators are English teachers, and I had that inner fear that I would not be able to make myself understood or to understand what I am asked to do. That is why, in the first mobility that took place in Belgium in October 2017, one of the English teachers from the school accompanied me. My surprise was great when I saw that the other partners from the other countries encouraged me warmly, and thus I overcame this obstacle quite easily.
On the other hand, there was that fear of the unknown, but, as I told you, with the support of my directors and colleagues, everything became simpler.
How did you manage to obtain grants from the European Union for Erasmus projects and how did you use these funds to provide travel and interaction opportunities for students and teachers?
I worked a lot… I don’t think anyone can imagine how much until they implement an Erasmus project. But I’m not the type of person to run away from work. I often left school in the evening, I spent my vacations in the office where I have the Erasmus documents, together with my colleagues from the implementation team. And so, step by step, we managed to obtain 3 times funds from the European Union, approximately 75,000 EUR, money with which we managed each mobility in a European country, where, as a rule, 6 students went and 2 teachers. From 2017 until 2023, approximately 50 students and 20 teachers got the chance to travel abroad, and to come with a new knowledge bag about the education and culture of the country they visited.
What impact did the meetings and activities within Erasmus projects have on the students and teachers involved?
You can’t even imagine how big the impact was on the students and teachers who participated in the Erasmus mobilities! On the one hand, for many students, it was the first time they crossed the country’s borders and met colleagues from other countries, with whom they made strong lifelong friendships. Their families keep in touch even now, plan vacations together, visit each other.
On the other hand, our teachers broadened their vision, learned new teaching methods and techniques, which they now apply in class. In a word, the Erasmus experiences are a dream come true for everyone who participates, which they will never be able to forget.
How have you managed to improve yourself and improve your working and thinking methods through international experiences?
Through work, advanced courses, exams and self-learning. As I said before, we have something to learn from everyone, and international experiences have opened up new horizons for me, which I never get tired of discovering. And these experiences have a positive impact on my students and not only.
What plans do you have for the future in terms of international projects and promoting Romania’s image?
Of course, I will continue! I have already submitted several applications for new Erasmus projects and I hope to receive good news soon. Because, through these projects, we have the chance to promote our country all over the world.
How did the Relttaw project come about, what are its implications and at what stage of development is it currents?
How did the Relttaw project come about, what are its implications and at what stage of development is it currents?
Unfortunately, Erasmus projects are for European countries… that’s why, more than 2 years ago, the idea of implementing such a project on a large scale, at an international level, came to my mind. Thus, I shared this idea with several colleagues from different continents, and they were pleasantly surprised and assured me that I would have their full support.
This is how the RELTTAW-Research on Environment: Learning, Training, Teaching Activities Worldwide project was born. I conceived it roughly as an Erasmus project, because I had the experience. We planned 6 meetings in 2 years but, unfortunately, there is no funding for such projects, so the participating delegates pay their own expenses. However, among the colleagues from abroad with whom I have been working for years, many were interested in participating, even under these conditions. So, in April 2023, the first mobility took place in Denmark, where delegates from 6 countries participated. There I had a special program, from the international conference to meetings with officials and representatives of an NGO that deals with the environment, with the help of my friend and partner, Manuela Dan.
After the success in Denmark, more and more teacher showed interest in participating in the next meeting, therefore, in October 2023, we organized RELTTAW 2, in New Delhi, India, where 23 delegates from 17 countries were present.
You were recently included in the prestigious British organization in India-New Delhi World Book of Records London, you being the only Romanian citizen who received this honorable distinction…
How did the meeting with the cultural elites of New Delhi-India go and what activities of interest did the visit agenda include?
There we had an exceptionally lavish reception, from the very first day, by the World Book of Records London family, who awarded each of us as the most exceptional teachers in the world, who brought value and a contribution outstanding education.
The work agenda was full: I visited 2 schools and a college, where I carried out various activities, from assistance to classes, workshops, to the televised international conference. Besides that, we had the pleasure of discovering the beauties of India, the culture of this country, but also the warmth and love with which these people know how to receive their guests.
How do you feel when you wear the tricolor and represent Romania in international meetings?
Proud! Happy! Lucky! I think these words cannot describe in words the real feelings when you have the chance to carry your country’s flag with you.
What was the most memorable experience you had on international projects and how did it influence you?
The most memorable experience… I don’t know what to say, because there are many. But I remember with pleasure, when, in one of the mobilities with the students in Turkey, when the plane took off from the airport, the excitement, enthusiasm and joy of the students who were flying for the first time in their lives. I will never forget the expression on their faces, which marked me in a more than pleasant way.
How did you manage to keep your enthusiasm and passion for the teaching profession despite the challenges and obstacles encountered?
Exactly what I told you earlier, such moments make me go further, with even more enthusiasm. Working with children is a blessing, and the idea of being a teacher comes from childhood. I love children, I love every moment I spend in their company, because they make me forget about life’s troubles and with their help I can travel among the stories of Romanian writers, thus becoming a literary character.
What advice and guidance would you give to other teachers who want to get involved in international projects and promote cooperation between countries?
Dear colleagues, everything in this life is possible, and dreams can come true, if you work professionally, you are serious about what you do, and you don’t do things by halves. Try and you will succeed! The world is yours!
© 2023, DetectivPress. Toate drepturile rezervate.
